In re Sanctuary Belize Litigation

  1. October 13, 2020

    FTC Drops Bid For Sanctuary Belize Attys' Funding Info

    The Federal Trade Commission has withdrawn its request that a Maryland federal court force counsel for an operator of a purported Belize real estate scam to have a "sincere" phone conversation about documents showing who funds his defense, saying it and the law firm had reached a compromise.

  2. September 22, 2020

    FTC Says Sanctuary Belize Attys Won't Give Funding Info

    The Federal Trade Commission has asked a Maryland federal court to force counsel for an operator of a purported Belize real estate scam to have a "sincere" phone conversation about documents showing who funds his defense, saying the law firm is obstructing its attempt to open a dialogue.

  3. August 28, 2020

    Sanctuary Belize Execs Face $120M Judgment In Scam Suit

    The operators of purported luxury development Sanctuary Belize will have to pay more than $120 million in addition to facing bans from certain business sectors after a Maryland federal judge ruled Friday that they had run a real estate scam that swindled American consumers.

  4. July 07, 2020

    FTC Targets Belizean Executive In Real Estate Scam Suit

    The Federal Trade Commission has urged a Maryland federal judge to hold a Belizean man liable for more than $138 million in an alleged Belize real estate scam, accusing him of trying to escape his part in running a fraudulent operation that deceived American consumers.

  5. February 25, 2020

    Sanctuary Belize Execs Lose 4th Circ. Bid To Unfreeze Assets

    The Fourth Circuit has affirmed a lower court decision granting the Federal Trade Commission's bid to halt the operation of an alleged $140 million Belize real estate scam and to freeze the founders' assets during litigation, saying that protecting the status quo will help ensure a fair judgment.

  6. February 12, 2020

    FTC Targeted Sanctuary Belize To Punish Founder, Judge Told

    A Federal Trade Commission suit targeting the operators of purported luxury development Sanctuary Belize was sparked by a personal vendetta against the project's mastermind — and not legitimate consumer concerns — one of the executives told a Maryland federal court Wednesday on the last day of trial.

  7. February 11, 2020

    Sanctuary Belize Judge Mulling Criminal Case Against Execs

    Three men facing Federal Trade Commission allegations that they ran a $140 million Belize-based real estate scam may soon face criminal charges as well, as a Maryland federal judge handling the civil case intimated Tuesday that he's considering recommending criminal prosecutors look into the operation.

  8. February 10, 2020

    Sanctuary Belize Execs Point Fingers As Trial Winds Down

    One of three executives on trial on allegations of running a $140 million Belize-based real estate scam tried to pin the blame on his alleged co-conspirator Monday morning, testifying that his former partner funneled corporate funds to personal uses, including for a Harley Davidson and his child's braces.

  9. January 29, 2020

    Sanctuary Belize Judge Chides Developers For Playing Dumb

    The Maryland federal judge overseeing the trial of three men who purportedly ran a $140 million Belize-based real estate scam chewed out the accused developers on Wednesday for "feigning ignorance" about a nondisclosure agreement that undermines key evidence for the defense.

  10. January 21, 2020

    Surprise Attorney Shakes Up Sanctuary Belize Trial

    The bench trial of three individuals accused of running a $140 million Belize-based real estate scam got off to a chaotic start Tuesday morning when the appearance of a brand-new attorney for the purported mastermind of the scheme threw a Maryland federal judge for a loop.