FTC Wins Appeal Over Luxury Real Estate Scheme in Belize

The Federal Trade Commission won most of its lawsuit against the perpetrators of a real estate investment scheme that swindled consumers out of millions of dollars through promises to develop a luxury resort in Belize.

Andris Pukke and his team with Sanctuary Belize violated the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule through their misrepresentations that the venture carried no debt, that it would have many luxury amenities, that it would be completed within two to five years, and that Pukke—who previously pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice based on false statements to the FTC—wasn’t involved in the ...