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Criminal Records - Most Wanted |
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Profile |
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Name: Michael Wolfgang Berger
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Race: White |
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Age Now: 37 |
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Height: 5'5" |
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Weight: 180 lbs. |
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Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair): Blond
Hair is blond-light brown
Usually was clean-shaven, but has been known to sport a light beard. |
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Eyes (Color and Correction): Blue |
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Wanted for :
Securities Fraud, New York, NY;
Mar 01, 2002
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Location(s) |
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Last Seen : Long Island, NY
Berger's resort home in the Hamptons |
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Possible Location : New York, NY
New York
International
Caribbean
Austria,
Dominica |
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Last Known : Unkown |
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Traits |
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Charismatic, brilliant command of high finance and investment tools.
Loves expensive cars, boats and beautiful women.
Might speak with a slight Austrian accent. |
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Case Story |
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Big Business And Bold Lies |
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Michael Berger is missing. And so is $575 million dollars.
Berger had pleaded guilty to charges of securities fraud in November of 2000, but when it came time for sentencing on March 1, 2002, he was nowhere to be found.
The long trail of lies and deceit began in 1995, when Berger established a company called Manhattan Investment Fund Ltd. (MIF) in New York City. MIF was a hedge fund opened primarily to offshore investors with a minimum of $250,000 to invest. Berger also established a subsidiary company that was open to investors based in the United States. In April of 1996, Berger began raising money for MIF and invested the money in various trading programs. From 1996 through the end of 1999, MIF raised over $575 million from investors.
But cops say this was all a sham. |
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Covering Up Failure |
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Beginning in September of 1996, the value of MIF's assets began to drop significantly. Berger concealed the losses by giving false statements and other documents to clients. These altered documents made it seem that MIF's performance was much better than it actually was. Altered documents were also forwarded to MIF's auditors.
By the end of 1999, Berger had lost more than $400 million of MIF's money entrusted to him by investors. In November 2000, Berger pleaded guilty to federal securities fraud charges and was allowed to remain free until sentencing. He was facing a possible sentence of 20 years in prison.
Michael Berger didn't show up in court, and has not been seen since.
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Life in the Fast Lane |
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Berger is known to date models and loves the high life. He has an affinity for expensive cars from companies like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and loves yachts and the nautical life of luxury lifestyle. He once owned a house in the Hamptons on Long Island where he loved to spend weekends with his girlfriends.
Berger was originally believed to have been born in England, but agents now believe he may have actually been born in Austria.
Berger has relatives in Europe and authorities say he still has millions of dollars to finance his fugitive run. |
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