When LeWinter produced the documents at the meeting in Vienna, he was arrested, but at least two others fled. The documents were judged forgeries and LeWinter was convicted of fraud. He served over two and a half years in prison, and was released in December, 2000. Karl Koecher, a friend of LeWinter, had booked the room in Bamburg at which LeWinter was staying, fled prior to any meeting between LeWinter and McNamara, and, later, denied that he had any involvement in the scheme.