Damian Williams, the US Lawyer for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Cost of the New York Subject Workplace of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), introduced right now the unsealing of an Indictment in Manhattan federal court docket charging ANDRIS PUKKE with wire fraud and with participating in illegal financial transactions in connection together with his embezzlement of greater than $13 million from Sanctuary Belize, an actual property growth in Belize that he directed and managed. PUKKE was arrested this morning in Los Angeles and will probably be introduced within the Central District of California later right now.
U.S. Lawyer Damian Williams mentioned: “Andris Pukke bought residential heaps in Belize with a promise to construct out an reasonably priced trip and retirement neighborhood in a tropical paradise. As a substitute, Pukke’s deliberate paradise turned out to be only a mirage, as he allegedly stole the very funds the event wanted to pay for roads, utilities, and different infrastructure, leaving the lot consumers with nothing however land they can not entry or use. This Workplace will proceed to aggressively pursue shopper fraud to make sure that companies ship on their guarantees to their prospects.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll mentioned: “The defendant, as alleged, bought his victims desires of a tropical haven, as a substitute he used their cash for his personal pursuits. Investigating and holding monetary fraudsters like Mr. Pukke accountable within the felony justice system stays a prime precedence for the FBI.”
In accordance with the Indictment unsealed right now in Manhattan federal court docket:[1]
PUKKE directed and managed Sanctuary Belize, which was a trip and retirement neighborhood below growth in Belize. PUKKE marketed and bought residential heaps within the growth to U.S. residents with guarantees that the event, when completed, could be close to a world airport and hospital and would come with a marina, a wildlife reserve, a seaside membership, and an equestrian middle, amongst different facilities. Lot consumers may assemble houses on their heaps as soon as the infrastructure, comparable to roads and electrical energy, was constructed out by Sanctuary Belize.
PUKKE and his salespeople falsely represented to lot consumers that Sanctuary Belize was freed from debt and that each one earnings from lot gross sales would go to the event of Sanctuary Belize’s infrastructure. In reality, Sanctuary Belize had greater than $12 million in debt, and PUKKE stole greater than $13 million of the $124 million that Sanctuary Belize obtained from gross sales of residential heaps. PUKKE stole the cash by directing Sanctuary Belize workers to switch the funds to recipients he designated. These transfers of funds have been hid on the books and data of Sanctuary Belize as enterprise bills, comparable to skilled charges, authorized charges, consulting charges, loans receivable, and internet marketing bills.
PUKKE used the embezzled funds for his private profit, together with the renovation of his house in Newport Seashore, California; investments in varied entities unrelated to Sanctuary Belize; investments in unrelated actual property developments; compensation of private debt; and funds to PUKKE’s relations.
PUKKE, 54, of Newport Bach, California, is charged with one rely of wire fraud, which carries a most sentence of 20 years in jail, and one rely of participating in illegal financial transactions, which carries a most sentence of 10 years in jail.
The utmost potential sentences on this case are prescribed by Congress and are supplied right here for informational functions solely, as any sentencing of the defendant will probably be decided by the decide.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI. Mr. Williams additionally thanked the Federal Commerce Fee for his or her help with the case.
This case is being dealt with by the Workplace’s Complicated Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James McMahon and Jeffrey C. Coffman are answerable for the prosecution.
The fees contained within the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed harmless except and till confirmed responsible. – Supply
