A 54-year-old German national, wanted since 2007 for operating what authorities say was a $1.2 million Ponzi scheme on Kauai, was tired of being on the run and turned himself in Tuesday morning, FBI Special Agent Tom Simon said.
On the car ride to court from Honolulu Airport where he surrendered, Peter Heckmann said that while in Indonesia he was constantly looking over his shoulder, and it was impossible for him to leave the island of Bali, Simon said.
In January, when the FBI launched a social media campaign to attract international attention to the case — offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Heckmann’s capture — Simon said he sent a message to what he thought was an old email account asking Heckmann whether he’d like to give up.
To his surprise, Simon said, Heckmann responded, saying he was willing to talk. They eventually worked out an agreement that culminated with Tuesday’s arrest.
At U.S. District Court, Heckmann pleaded not guilty to seven counts of wire fraud. U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi set his trial for May.
Heckmann agreed to remain in custody without the opportunity for bail while he awaits trial.
A federal prosecutor had charged Heckmann in May 2007 with one count of wire fraud. Heckmann was scheduled to plead guilty, but he never showed up for the July hearing.
Later that month a grand jury returned an indictment charging him with seven counts of wire fraud.
Simon said he has spent the past four years trying to catch Heckmann and in 2010 tracked him to Bali.
Indonesia doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the U.S. The FBI then tried to lure Heckmann from Indonesia but was unsuccessful until January, Simon said.
The indictment says Heckmann owned an entertainment production studio and computer business on Kauai. In February 2003 he solicited investors for the stated purpose of expanding the studio, promising returns of 10 and 15 percent, the indictment says. But Heckmann knew he was using later investments to pay off initial investors, the indictment says.
