Malibu Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Wire Fraud
Bernhard Eugen Fritsch was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and ordered to pay over $26 million in restitution.
2 reports on this incident · first at Sep 2, 2026, 6:20 p.m. ET
This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.
We last searched for new coverage of this at Sep 2, 2026, 6:39 p.m. ET — checked 1h ago.
Earlier reports
Sep 2, 2026, 6:20 p.m. ETFirst report
Malibu Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Wire Fraud
Bernhard Eugen Fritsch was sentenced on September 2, 2026, to 15 years in federal prison, fined $35,000, and ordered to pay $26,806,901 in restitution, according to Lamag.com. The sentencing took place in the Central District of California.
The government alleged that Fritsch made false statements about StarClub Inc. with intent to defraud, using investor funds for personal expenses. The charges included wire fraud, which carries a statutory maximum of 20 years. Co-defendant Lucinda Jane Weist Manera was also named in the case.
The FBI investigated the case. The sentencing concludes the proceedings, though the full details of the allegations have not been independently confirmed.
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- Version 12 Sept 2026, 22:20current
First published.
- Version 12 Sept 2026, 22:22current
First published.
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