U.S. District Judge Issues Warrant For Arrest Of Fugitive In Wire Fraud Case

SAN JOSE – U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila signed a warrant for the arrest of Christian Reimer Stukenbrock (also spelled as Stuckenbrock), the defendant in a 9-count wire fraud case who failed to appear yesterday at what was supposed to be the first day of a jury trial, announced United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.  

On January 14, 2015, a federal grand jury indicted Stukenbrock, 62, a citizen of Germany, with nine counts of wire fraud.  According to court documents, the government intended to prove that Stukenbrock misappropriated several million dollars that was supposed to be invested on behalf of a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur.  According to the government, Stukenbrock created a company called Silicon Valley Technology Group (“SVTG”) in 2000 to raise investment capital, but Stukenbrock never operated SVTG as a bona fide corporate entity.  Between 2005 and 2011, the defendant allegedly received nearly $23 million from the entrepreneur to invest in several companies.  The government intended to demonstrate at trial that only some of the investor’s money was invested as promised and that Stukenbrock diverted millions of dollars to himself.  In furtherance of that scheme to defraud, Stukenbrock allegedly made numerous misrepresentations in bank records, business records, and filings made with public entities.  Stukenbrock was charged with nine counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343.  An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The trial in the case was scheduled to begin yesterday morning.  On Monday, however, defendant’s counsel forwarded to the government and the court a message from Stukenbrock in which he stated “Please contact the court and tell them that I will not be there tomorrow and cancel the proceedings.  I already left the jurisdiction . . . .”  Judge Davila read the email into the court record and issued a bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest. 

Anyone with information regarding the defendant’s whereabouts should contact the FBI at 415-553-7400.