Malibu fraudster fled the U.S. to avoid prison. His girlfriend faces jail time for helping him
Key takeaways
- After he was convicted of defrauding investors out of more than $20 million, Bernhard Eugen Fritsch fled the U.S. to avoid an expected 15-year prison sentence.
- Now, his girlfriend has been ensnared in the scheme, and she could serve up to five years behind bars while he remains abroad, according to a news release from the U.S.
- Prosecutors say that Manera helped Fritsch hide from federal law enforcement in Mexico before he escaped to his native Germany.
Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, pictured at a 2014 event in Santa Monica, fled the country after he was convicted of defrauding investors out of more than $20 million, prosecutors say. (Mike Windle / Getty Images for Star Club) By Grace Toohey Staff Writer Follow June 30, 2026 1:08 PM PT 3 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
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After he was convicted of defrauding investors out of more than $20 million, Bernhard Eugen Fritsch fled the U.S. to avoid an expected 15-year prison sentence.