It’s hundreds of millions of euros
Fraud? Former Hertha investor charged
Updated 10/20/2025 – 12:16 p.mReading time: 1 min.
In the summer, investor 777 Partners had to sell its shares in several football clubs, including second division Hertha BSC. Now the co-founder is being charged because he is said to have defrauded lenders.
American businessman Joshua Wander has been charged in New York in connection with an alleged fraud case worth 429 million euros. Wander’s investment company 777 Partners had invested in several football clubs, including second division Hertha BSC.
Wander is said to have used 777 Partners “to defraud private lenders and investors of hundreds of millions of euros by pledging assets that did not belong to his company, falsifying bank statements and making other material misrepresentations about 777’s financial condition,” US Attorney Jay Clayton is quoted as saying. As the FBI in New York announced, Wander turned himself in to the authorities during the week and has already been brought before a judge.
Wander’s lawyer told the AP news agency that Wander looks forward to “making the matter right.” In a written statement, the lawyer wrote: “This is a business dispute disguised as a criminal case.”
In 2023, 777 Partners took over Lars Windhorst’s shares and was the main shareholder of Hertha BSC GmbH & Co. KGaA with 78.8 percent. The two company founders, Joshua Wander and Steven W. Pasko, then joined the supervisory board.
In the summer, the US holding company A-CAP took over 777 Partners’ shares in several football clubs. In addition to the Berlin club, CFC Genoa, Standard Liège and Vasco da Gama from Brazil were also part of 777’s football portfolio.