Print subscriber but without online access? Activate your Digital Account now.
The FBI has announced a new $10,000 reward for information leading to the capture of a 63-year-old German national who allegedly operated a $1.2 million Ponzi scheme on Kauai and was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2007.
Peter Heckman, who also uses the first name Hans and sometimes spells his last name Heckmann, was indicted on seven counts of wire fraud relating to an investment scheme. The indictment alleges that Heckman ran a failing recording studio on Kauai and offered potential investors guaranteed returns of 10 to 15 percent for terms as short as two weeks. He allegedly raised more than $1.2 million from investors while creating the illusion of legitimate investment returns by paying early investors with funds from later investors in what is commonly known as a Ponzi scheme.
Heckman fled the islands before he was indicted.
In 2010 the FBI was able to track Heckman to the Indonesian island of Bali where he was running another recording studio and had begun a record label producing albums for musical artists in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Heckman is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 200 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes.
The statutory maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison per count.
Anyone recognizing Heckman or having information on his location is asked to call the Honolulu FBI at 566-4300.
83