Business & Finance
FBI places convicted executive Bernhard Fritsch on most wanted fraudsters list
Federal authorities offered a $150,000 bounty after Fritsch fled the country following his fraud conviction.
The short version
- The FBI placed Bernhard Fritsch on its Most Wanted Fraudsters list with a $150,000 bounty following his flight from the United States.[Business Insider]
- Fritsch was convicted of wire fraud after federal prosecutors alleged he diverted at least $7.3 million of investor funds into personal luxury purchases.[Business Insider]
- After cutting his ankle monitor and traveling through Mexico, Fritsch returned to Germany, where the FBI believes he remains in Bavaria.[Business Insider]
- A federal judge sentenced Fritsch in absentia to 15 years in prison, while his partner pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact.[Business Insider]
Key facts
- The FBI added 65-year-old Bernhard Fritsch to its Most Wanted Fraudsters list with a $150,000 bounty.[Business Insider]
- Prosecutors alleged Fritsch raised $20 million to $30 million from investors and diverted at least $7.3 million to personal accounts for luxury spending.[Business Insider]
- A jury convicted Fritsch on one count of wire fraud following a nine-day trial.[Business Insider]
- Fritsch cut his ankle monitor in June 2025, traveled to Mexico, and boarded a flight to Munich in October.[Business Insider]
- A federal judge sentenced Fritsch in absentia to 15 years in prison, a $35,000 fine, and nearly $26.8 million in restitution.[Business Insider]
- Fritsch's partner, Lucy Weist, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact.[Business Insider]
What remains uncertain
- Authorities believe Fritsch is currently residing in Bavaria, though his exact whereabouts remain unconfirmed.[Business Insider]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
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