The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is mailing out nearly $23 million to consumers who invested in the fraudulent Sanctuary Belize and Kanantik real estate developments. This initiative aims to compensate 1,659 defrauded investors, with average checks of $16,462 for Sanctuary Belize and $6,346.39 for Kanantik.

This announcement marks the second round of payments to victims of the Sanctuary Belize scheme, following an initial distribution of approximately $10 million. The current checks are being sent to both Sanctuary Belize and Kanantik investors, as well as others affected by the court's relief measures.

The FTC's legal action began in November 2018 when it charged Andris Pukke and several co-defendants with deceiving consumers by falsely marketing Sanctuary Belize as a luxury development. The defendants promised amenities and a safe investment but failed to deliver, leading to significant financial losses for investors.

A federal court confirmed the deceptive practices after a trial in 2020, ruling that the defendants had misled consumers into believing they were making a secure investment. The court ordered the distribution of funds from previous settlements to compensate the victims.

The total amount being distributed in this second round is $22,865,008.34, with $20,028,170.25 going to 1,202 claimants from Sanctuary Belize and $2,836,838.09 to 447 claimants from Kanantik and other covered areas. Consumers are advised to cash their checks within 60 days and can reach out to the redress administrator for any inquiries.