Arrest Warrant Issued For German Man Accused Of Wire Fraud

SAN JOSE, CA -- A federal judge in San Jose issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for a man accused of wire fraud who did not appear for his trial this week. Christian Reimer Stukenbrock, a 62-year-old resident of Germany, allegedly committed nine counts of wire fraud through the illicit Silicon
Valley Technology Group between 2005 and 2011.

He received about $23 million from a successful local entrepreneur and promised to invest the money, but allegedly diverted the money to his own bank account, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Stukenbrock was indicted in January 2015 and a jury trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday but prosecutors received a letter forwarded from his defense lawyer on Monday.

"Please contact the court and tell them that I will not be there tomorrow and cancel the proceedings. I already left the jurisdiction," Stukenbrock wrote, according to prosecutors.
U.S. District Judge Edward Davila signed the bench warrant.

Defense lawyers Erica Connolly, Adam Crider and Matthew Jacobs could not be reached for comment.

Anyone with information about Stukenbrock's location is asked to call the FBI at 415-553-7400.

--Bay City News/Image via Shutterstock