Real Estate Developer Sentenced to Eight Years for Belize Fraud

Developer Andris Pukke has been sentenced to eight years in prison for leading a real estate scam that defrauded hundreds of victims, many of whom were retirees, of approximately $77 million.

Judge J. Paul Oetken announced the sentence Monday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to a press release.

Prosecutors had asked for a 20-year sentence. Lawyers for Pukke said the “extraordinarily harsh punishment” sought by the government was premised on “demonstrably false allegations abut the supposed failure to provide promised amenities,” and victim impact statements that claimed “devastating financial loss and ...