Los Angeles-based tech company founder has become the number one wanted criminal on the FBI’s list: he used the ill-gotten gains from fraud to purchase luxury cars, upgrade yachts, and renovate mansions, living an extremely extravagant lifestyle. The FBI believes he has fled to Germany.
According to the wanted notice, the FBI is offering a reward of $150,000 for information leading to the arrest of 65-year-old German national Bernhard Eugen Fritsch. He stands at 6 feet 2 inches (approximately 1.88 meters) tall and weighs 220 pounds (about 100 kilograms).
The FBI stated that Fritsch is the founder and CEO of the tech company StarClub Inc., headquartered in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County. In August 2017, he faced federal charges in Los Angeles for falsely reporting the company’s finances and defrauding investors of over $26 million from 2014 to 2017.
According to information provided by the FBI, Fritsch claimed that an application developed by his company, “StarSite,” could help celebrities and internet celebrities monetize brand endorsements. He also alleged partnerships with several major global media and entertainment companies to induce victims to invest.
During the process, Fritsch also falsely claimed that StarClub had generated $15 million in revenue in 2015, with existing investors including major media companies and a global investment bank.
Court documents revealed that investors’ funds were not used for application development; most were embezzled by Fritsch to maintain a lavish lifestyle, including purchasing luxury cars like McLaren and Rolls-Royce, upgrading yachts, and renovating mansions near Malibu.
Prosecutors estimated that Fritsch’s scheme resulted in victims losing at least $26.8 million. The FBI has seized the yacht, McLaren supercar, and Rolls-Royce luxury car.
In April 2025, Fritsch was found guilty by a jury. However, two months later, on the eve of a hearing to revoke his bail, he fled to Los Mochis, Mexico. Subsequently, the Los Angeles United States Federal Court issued a federal arrest warrant for him. On October 6 of the same year, he fled from Mexico to Munich, Germany.
On October 20, Fritsch was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and a $35,000 fine in absentia, while also being ordered to pay approximately $26.8 million in restitution. The FBI Los Angeles office is seeking public assistance in providing information on Fritsch.