Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, a 65-year-old resident of Malibu, California, has been added to the FBI’s newly launched Most Wanted Fraudsters list. Fritsch, the founder and chief executive of the Santa Monica-based technology company StarClub Inc., was previously convicted of wire fraud by a Los Angeles federal court jury in April 2025. He is wanted for defrauding investors of more than $20 million by falsely representing the financial performance of his company. Fritsch convinced victims to invest in an application he claimed would help celebrities and influencers monetize brand endorsements and share advertising revenue. Instead, he allegedly used the funds to support a luxurious lifestyle, including purchasing a McLaren, a Rolls-Royce, and renovating his Malibu mansion near Carbon Beach. Although the FBI seized the vehicles and yacht, Fritsch fled the United States in June 2025 while awaiting sentencing. He initially escaped to Los Mochis, Mexico, where he was briefly detained but later fled to Munich, Germany. A federal judge subsequently sentenced him in absentia to 15 years in prison, fined him $35,000, and ordered $26.8 million in restitution. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his apprehension. Authorities note that Southern California is a target-rich environment for fraudsters, and Fritsch’s case highlights the agency’s commitment to pursuing fugitives regardless of how long it takes. His girlfriend, Lucinda Jane Weist Manera, 63, also pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact for assisting in his escape. The Most Wanted Fraudsters list, created in June, focuses exclusively on fugitives wanted for major fraud offenses.