The court also entered a final default order and monetary judgmentagainst defendants John Usher, 14 corporate entities, and the estate of Andris Pukkes father, John Pukke. World reacts to death of Brazilian soccer king Pele, Lionel Messi finally wins a World Cup and, after years of heartache, Argentinas love, Argentina wins World Cup, caps month of record spending and viewership, A World Cup of chaos has yielded a final for the ages: Argentina vs. France, FIFA World Cup semifinal matchups set with just four teams remaining, World Cup 2022 quarter-finals: Which teams are left, who is out and the knockout fixtures. PUKKE directed and controlled Sanctuary Belize, which was a vacation and retirement community under development in Belize. [21-1521] JSN [Entered: 05/04/2021 12:36 PM], Docket(#1) Case docketed. Date and method of service: 12/23/2020 US mail. BG MARKETING, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company, SANCTUARY BELIZE PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATION, d/b/a The Reserve Property Owners' Association, a Texas non-profit corporation, PRODIGY MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company, NEWPORT LAND GROUP, LLC, a/k/a Laguna Palms, a/k/a Sanctuary Belize, a/k/a Bamboo Springs, a/k/a The Reserve, a Wyoming limited liability company, POWER HAUS MARKETING, a California corporation, ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL BANK, LTD, a company organized under the laws of Belize, ANGELA CHITTENDEN, BRANDI GREENFIELD, individually and as an officer or owner of Global Property Alliance, Inc. (also doing business as Sanctuary Bay, Sanctuary Belize, The Reserve, Kanantik, Laguna Palms, Bamboo Springs, Eco Futures, Eco Futures Development, Eco Futur, ECO-FUTURES BELIZE LIMITED, d/b/a Sanctuary Bay, d/b/a Sanctuary Belize, d/b/a The Reserve, a California Corporation, SOUTHERN BLAZE REALTY, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Belize, FOUNDATION DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT INC., a California corporation, PAMELA PUKKE, a/k/a Pamela Shuster, ECO FUTURES DEVELOPMENT, d/b/a Sanctuary Bay, d/b/a Sanctuary Belize, d/b/a The Reserve, a company organized under the laws of Belize, BEACH BUNNY HOLDINGS, LLC, a California limited liability company, PETER BAKER, individually and as an officer or owner of Global Property Alliance, Inc. (also doing business as Sanctuary Bay, Sanctuary Belize, The Reserve, Kanantik, Laguna Palms, Bamboo Springs, Eco Futures, Eco Futures Development, Eco Futures Bel, BELIZE REAL ESTATE AFFILIATES, LLC, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Belize, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Southern Belize, a limited liability company organized under the laws of St. Kitts and Nevis, ROD KAZAZI, individually and as an officer or owner of Global Property Alliance, Inc. (also doing business as Sanctuary Bay, Sanctuary Belize, The Reserve, Kanantik, Laguna Palms, Bamboo Springs, Eco Futures, Eco Futures Development, Eco Futures Beli, MICHAEL SANTOS, a/k/a Sanctuary Bay, a/k/a Sanctuary Belize, a/k/a The Reserve, a/k/a Kanantik, a/k/a Laguna Palms, a/k/a Bamboo Springs, a/k/a Eco Futures, a/k/a Eco Futures Development, a/k/a Eco Future Belize, a/k/a Sittee River Wildlife Reserve,, SITTEE RIVER WILDLIFE RESERVE, d/b/a Sanctuary Bay, d/b/a Sanctuary Belize, d/b/a The Reserve, an entity organized under the laws of Belize, THE ESTATE OF JOHN PUKKE, a/k/a The Estate of Janis Pukke, a/k/a The Estate of John Andris Pukke, FOUNDATION PARTNERS, f/k/a Red Crane Advisors, Inc., a California corporation, DEBORAH CONNELLY, AMERIDEBT, INCORPORATED, LUKE CHADWICK, individually and as an officer or owner of Global Property Alliance, Inc. (also doing business as Sanctuary Bay, Sanctuary Belize, The Reserve, Kanantik, Laguna Palms, Bamboo Springs, Eco Futures, Eco Futures Development, Eco Futures B, JOHN USHER, individually and as an officer or owner of Sittee River Wildlife Reserve (also doing business as Sanctuary Bay, Sanctuary Belize, and The Reserve) and Eco-Futures Belize Limited (also doing business as Sanctuary Bay, Sanctuary Belize, and, BUY INTERNATIONAL, INC., d/b/a Sanctuary Bay, d/b/a Sanctuary Belize, d/b/a The Reserve, d/b/a Kanantik, d/b/a Laguna Palms, d/b/a Bamboo Springs, a California corporation, GLOBAL PROPERTY ALLIANCE, INC., a California corporation, also doing business as Sanctuary Bay, Sanctuary Belize, The Reserve, Kanantik, Laguna Palms, Bamboo Springs, Eco Futures, Eco Futures Development, Eco Futures Belize, Sittee River Wildlife Res, FRANK COSTANZO, a/k/a Frank Green, a/k/a Frank Peerless Green, a/k/a Frank Connelly, a/k/a Frank Connelly-Costanzo, individually and as officer or owner of Ecological Fox, LLC, Buy International, Inc. (also doing business as Sanctuary Bay, Sanctuary, JOHN VIPULIS, ECOLOGICAL FOX, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company, DEBTWORKS, INCORPORATED, BUY BELIZE, LLC, d/b/a Sanctuary Bay, d/b/a Sanctuary Belize, d/b/a The Reserve, d/b/a Kanantik, d/b/a Laguna Palms, d/b/a Bamboo Springs, a California limited liability company and EXOTIC INVESTOR, LLC, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Belize, d/b/a Coldwell Banker Southern Belize, a limited liability company organized under the laws of St.Kitts and Nevis, FOLEY & LARDNER LLP and CROSS-FREDERICK ASSOCIATES, LLC, JERRY BROWN, CLIFF SMITH, THE HAMPSHIRE GENERATIONAL FUND LLC, PENNY SCRUTCHIN, TERRI SMITH, PHILLIP WATFORD, THERESA EDELEN, JOHN A. SARACENO, DELANEY CARLSON, THOM SCRUTCHIN, STEPHANIE BROWN, DAVID PORTMAN, RICHARD MULVANIA, CHERYL EWING, TRISHA HIBBERT, BILL EWING, HARVEY SCHULTZ, CINDY REEVES, CRAIG HIBBERT, DAVID REEVES, ANGELA WATFORD, LISA MULVANIA, JONATHAN B. SCHULTZ and STEVEN M. SCHULTZ, ANDRIS PUKKE, a/k/a Marc Romeo, a/k/a Andy Storm, individually and as an officer or owner of Global Property Alliance, Inc. (also doing business as Sanctuary Bay, Sanctuary Belize, The Reserve, Kanantik, Laguna Palms, Bamboo Springs, Eco Futures, Eco. The case status is Pending . The charges brought against Pukke after the unsealing of the indictment in Manhattan Federal Court could result in a total prison sentence of up to 30 years for Pukke if he is convicted. 19-2306 | 2019-11-19, U.S. Courts Of Appeals | Other | Lessons Learned. ), FTC Opposition to Emergency Motion, 19-2306, 19-2366, X040009, Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Judgment against Defendants Rod Kazazi and Foundation Partners, Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Judgment against Defendants Brandi Greenfield and BG Marketing, LLC, Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Judgment against Defendants Frank Costanzo and Ecological Fox LLC and Relief Defendant Deborah Connelly, [Proposed] Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Judgment Against Defendant Atlantic International Bank Limited, Belizean Bank to Pay $23 Million and Cease Operations to Settle FTC Charges It Provided Substantial Assistance to the Sanctuary Belize Real Estate Scam, Memorandum Opinion in Support of Preliminary Injunction, Federal Trade Commission v. Atlantic International Bank, Ltd. (4th Cir. Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. Originating case number: 1:18-cv-03309-PJM. Click to reveal INRAE center Clermont-Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes But, instead of investing in the development with the monies received, Pukke made off with millions of dollars that he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. Best Things to Do in Auvergne Rhne-Alpes, France AIBL urged the telemarketers to sell its banking services to American consumers as part of the Sanctuary Belize sales pitch.. [1000963063] [20-2215, 21-1454, 21-1520, 21-1521, 21-1591, 21-1592] Theodore (Jack) Metzler [Entered: 06/03/2021 11:44 AM], Docket(#9) ORDER filed consolidating case 21-1591, 21-1592 with 20-2215(L). PUKKE, 54, of Newport Bach, California, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Originating case number: 1:18-cv-03309-PJM. Federal Trade Commission v. The Estate of John Pukke, Federal Trade Commission v. Luke Chadwick. Back in November 2018, news broke of a multimillion-dollar real estate scam that had been operating in Belize for the better part of fifteen years. Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation. Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. [20-2215] JSN [Entered: 11/12/2020 01:31 PM], (#3) INFORMAL BRIEFING ORDER filed. PUKKE used the embezzled funds for his personal benefit, including the renovation of his home in Newport Beach, California; investments in various entities unrelated to Sanctuary Belize; investments in unrelated real estate developments; repayment of personal debt; and payments to PUKKEs family members. Type of Brief: OPENING. Email us at [emailprotected] for more information. Sanctuary Bay point man charged with embezzlement Federal Trade Commission v. Global Property Alliance, Inc. Federal Trade Commission v. Luke Chadwick. Appeals court hears case of Belize real estate scam Andris Pukke Indicted in the U.S. For Multimillion Dollar Sanctuary Bay Ushers assets and bank accounts were frozen shortly after. Copies to all parties. In fact, Sanctuary Belize had more than $12 million in debt, and PUKKE stole more than $13 million of the $124 million that Sanctuary Belize received from sales of residential lots. The .gov means its official. [1000950446] [21-1521] Neil Koslowe [Entered: 05/11/2021 11:46 PM], Docket(#4) APPEARANCE OF COUNSEL by Theodore (Jack) Metzler for Federal Trade Commission. [20-2215] JSN [Entered: 12/21/2020 02:26 PM], (#7) INFORMAL OPENING BRIEF by Andris Pukke. [1000870666] [20-2215] JSN [Entered: 12/23/2020 11:38 AM], (#10) MOTION by Federal Trade Commission to extend filing time for informal response brief until January 25, 2021.. Copies to all parties. Fee or application to proceed as indigent due 12/14/2020. [1000966423] [20-2215, 21-1454, 21-1520, 21-1521, 21-1591, 21-1592] JSN [Entered: 06/09/2021 01:12 PM], (#11) BRIEF by Peter Baker in 21-1454, Buy Belize, LLC, Buy International, Inc., Eco Futures Development, Eco-Futures Belize Limited and Foundation Development Management Inc. in 21-1591 in electronic and paper format. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. [1000870662] [20-2215] Theodore (Jack) Metzler [Entered: 12/23/2020 11:34 AM], Docket(#9) ORDER filed granting Motion to proceed in forma pauperis [8]. In the Lyon and Grenoble metropolitan areas, and the Haute-Savoie department, INRAE units contribute to research activities at the Lyon-Saint-Etienne, Grenoble-Alpes, and Savoie Mont Blanc . [20-2215] JSN [Entered: 12/21/2020 02:24 PM], Docket(#6) ASSEMBLED ELECTRONIC RECORD docketed. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and the unlawful monetary transactions charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. The Bank had to repay US$23 million from its funds after the FTC went after it and Sanctuary Bays partners in court. They were ordered to take control of the receivership assets all the unsold land and areas of development that do not belong to specific persons. PUKKE and his salespeople falsely represented to lot buyers that Sanctuary Belize was free of debt and that all income from lot sales would go to the development of Sanctuary Belizes infrastructure. He . 21-1452 | 2021-04-22, U.S. Courts Of Appeals | Other | We enforce federal competition and consumer protection laws that prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. Informal Opening Brief due 12/07/2020. N/A. According to the FTC, Pukke, Baker, and Chadwick controlled, or illegally benefitted from, Lastly, the court issued a final contempt order holding defendants Pukke, Baker, and Usher in contempt of court for violating a prior court order prohibiting them from making misrepresentations while telemarketing. Lyon is France's third-largest city and a major tourist destination. According to FTC documents, AIBL representatives visited SBEs California offices and coached SBEs telemarketers about the services the bank could provide U.S. consumers interested in Sanctuary Belize lots, including lower interest rates and relaxed underwriting for buyers wishing to finance Sanctuary Belize home construction. Exactly one week ago, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) charged Andris Pukke with wire fraud and embezzlement in connection with what has been dubbed the largest land scam uncovered by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to date. Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. At FTC's Request, Court Finalizes Orders and Monetary Judgments against The court also determined that Pukke failed to comply with the monetary relief provisions of an, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at, sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts, An Inquiry into Cloud Computing Business Practices: The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comments, FTC Lawsuit Leads to Permanent Ban from Debt Relief, Telemarketing for Operators of Debt Relief Scam, Is Franchising Fair? PUKKE, 54, of Newport Bach, California, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Pukke, 54, was arrested in Los Angeles, California, and appeared in court there on the strength of an indictment in the Federal Court in Manhattan (New York County), New York City, New York. The list of best things to do in Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes includes sightseeing, pretty towns, history, and natural wonders! [20-2215] JSN [Entered: 12/10/2020 12:21 PM], Docket(#5) APPEARANCE OF COUNSEL by Theodore (Jack) Metzler for Federal Trade Commission. Record reviewed? Record reviewed? In January 2021, a federal district court entered final orders against the three primary individual defendantsAndris Pukke, Peter Baker, and Luke Chadwick, and related corporationsin the FTCss case involving the allegedly deceptive sale of real estate properties in Belize to U.S. consumers. The courts final order against the men, including Usher, also imposes bans that prohibit them from engaging in activities pertaining to marketing and telemarketing sales, and selling or assisting others in selling most real estate, as well as from any involvement with Sanctuary Belize. He faces a combined maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment. Mailed to: Andris Pukke. 20-2215 | 2020-11-12, U.S. Courts Of Appeals | Other | 20-1594 | 2020-05-28, U.S. Courts Of Appeals | Other | Copies to all parties. Mailed to: Andris Pukke. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. PUKKE stole the money by directing Sanctuary Belize employees to transfer the funds to recipients he designated. Lastly, the court issued a final contempt order holding defendants Pukke, Baker, and Usher in contempt of court for violating a prior court order prohibiting them from making misrepresentations while telemarketing. The Sanctuary Bay scheme is said to have banked US$124 million through its marketing of housing in a luxury retirement community on a 14,000-acre tract of land in southern Belize. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. In January 2021, a federal district court entered final orders against the three primary individual defendantsAndris Pukke, Peter Baker, and Luke Chadwick, and related corporationsin the FTC's's case involving the allegedly deceptive sale of real estate properties in Belize to U.S. consumers. PUKKE was arrested this morning in Los Angeles and will be presented in the Central District of California later today. [21-1521] JSN [Entered: 05/04/2021 12:40 PM], (#2) FEE NOTICE issued to Andris Pukke - initial notice. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. Number of days granted: 21. Date and method of service: 12/23/2020 US mail. Sanctuary Bay point man charged with embezzlement. Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. N/A. [1000870662] [20-2215] Theodore (Jack) Metzler [Entered: 12/23/2020 11:34 AM], (#9) ORDER filed granting Motion to proceed in forma pauperis [8]. Copies to all parties. Use our visualizations to explore scam and fraud trends in your state based on reports from consumers like you. Cancellation and Refund Policy, Privacy Policy, and 20-1594 | 2020-05-28, U.S. Courts Of Appeals | Other | Advertise with the mt vtd nw t n Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. [20-2215] JSN [Entered: 11/12/2020 01:26 PM], (#1) Case docketed. Copies to all parties. Assistant U.S. Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. Originating case number: 1:18-cv-03309-PJM. In re Sanctuary Belize Litigation | Federal Trade Commission Located in a very diverse region rich in assets, not only geographically (relief, climate), but also economic and human, the Lyon-Grenoble Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes is the latest INRAE centre to be created. In fact, Sanctuary Belize had more than $12 million in debt, and PUKKE stole more than $13 million of the $124 million that Sanctuary Belize received from sales of residential lots. BG MARKETING, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company, SANCTUARY BELIZE PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATION, d/b/a The Reserve Property Owners' Association, a Texas non-profit corporation, PRODIGY MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company, NEWPORT LAND GROUP, LLC, a/k/a Laguna Palms, a/k/a Sanctuary Belize, a/k/a Bamboo Springs, a/k/a The Reserve, a Wyoming limited liability company, POWER HAUS MARKETING, a California corporation, ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL BANK, LTD, a company organized under the laws of Belize, BRANDI GREENFIELD, individually and as an officer or owner of Global Property Alliance, Inc. (also doing business as Sanctuary Bay, Sanctuary Belize, The Reserve, Kanantik, Laguna Palms, Bamboo Springs, Eco Futures, Eco Futures Development, Eco Futur, ECO-FUTURES BELIZE LIMITED, d/b/a Sanctuary Bay, d/b/a Sanctuary Belize, d/b/a The Reserve, a California Corporation, SOUTHERN BLAZE REALTY, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Belize, Docket(#14) BRIEFING ORDER filed. PUKKE directed and controlled Sanctuary Belize, which was a vacation and retirement community under development in Belize. Pukke, 54, was arrested in Los Angeles, California, and appeared in court there on the strength of an indictment in the Federal Court in Manhattan (New York County), New York City, New York. The orders announced today finalize a September 2020 memorandum opinion requiring Pukke and Baker jointly to pay $120.2 million to the Commissionrepresenting the amount of money consumers lost through the Sanctuary Belize real estate development schemewith Chadwick also jointly responsible for $91.9 million of that amount. 22-1738 | 2022-07-13, U.S. Courts Of Appeals | Other | Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI. PUKKE used the embezzled funds for his personal benefit, including the renovation of his home in Newport Beach, California; investments in various entities unrelated to Sanctuary Belize; investments in unrelated real estate developments; repayment of personal debt; and payments to PUKKE's family members. [1000953478] [20-2215, 21-1454, 21-1520, 21-1521] JSN [Entered: 05/18/2021 10:15 AM], Docket(#6) MOTION by Andris Pukke to consolidate case 20-2215, 21-1454, 21-1520 with 21-1521.