Actress Admits to Aiding Fugitive Tech CEO in Fraud Case
Hollywood actress, recognized for her performances in films like Blown Away and Predator 2, has confessed to assisting the boyfriend of a fugitive tech CEO. This occurred after he fled the United States to dodge prison time linked to fraud charges involving a celebrity-backed startup.
Lucinda Jane West Manera, commonly known as Lucy West, entered a guilty plea on Monday, admitting to one count of aiding and abetting Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, who had been previously convicted. She acknowledged providing financial support during his escape in Mexico and researching potential routes to Germany, where he might avoid extradition.
The actress, previously married to director Jim Manella, may face a sentence of up to five years in federal prison. Reports indicate that the 63-year-old West knowingly assisted Fritsch after his April 2025 conviction for wire fraud.
Fritsch, aged 64 and the CEO of Santa Monica-based StarClub Inc., was found guilty of defrauding investors out of more than $20 million through misleading promotions of technology ventures from 2014 to 2017.
His company marketed an app called StarSite, which claimed to help celebrities and influencers monetize their endorsements and social media activity.
Prosecutors argue that Fritsch misled investors, falsely asserting that the firm had substantial revenue and was attracting significant offers from major entertainment companies such as Disney.
Fritsch cultivated a glamorous image through extravagant Hollywood events featuring celebrities like Tyrese Gibson. However, prosecutors allege that this was merely a front to support Fritsch’s opulent lifestyle.
Instead of investing the funds into his technology projects, Fritsch reportedly spent millions on a lavish Malibu mansion and luxury items like a McLaren supercar and a yacht. Federal authorities seized these assets during the investigation.
The scheme resulted in estimated losses of at least $25 million for investors, with one victim alone investing over $20 million based on Fritsch’s deceptive assurances.
West was present when Fritsch’s guilty verdict was announced. Although he was found guilty, he managed to evade custody before being sentenced. Instead, he crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and became a fugitive.
According to West’s plea agreement, she took measures to help keep Fritsch hidden from federal authorities. She even lied to FBI agents about her conversations with him around the time of his departure.
West reportedly made at least 10 payments totaling about $7,475 to third parties, aware that Fritsch was in hiding. Additionally, she authorized charges to her account for a hotel in Mexico.
Beyond financial aid, prosecutors claim she actively searched for options for Fritsch to flee Mexico to Germany, a country known for not extraditing its citizens.
Fritsch was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in federal prison and ordered to pay approximately $26.8 million in restitution and fines. His efforts to appeal the conviction while on the run were unsuccessful, and his case was dismissed on the basis of his fugitive status.
If he returns by August 21, 2026, he could request the court to reopen his appeal.
