Belize Real Estate Scam Defendant Denied Joint Defense Privilege

A defendant in an overseas real estate scam case who is representing himself has ten days to hand over documents to the Federal Trade Commission after a federal district court ruled that none of his communications with two other defendants are privileged.

Andris Pukke’s arguments in favor of privilege are “novel” but “doubtful,” Judge Peter J. Messitte of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland wrote in a Dec. 10 opinion.

Defendants Pukke, Peter Baker, and Michael Santos are all representing themselves in a case brought by the FTC, which dubs it “the largest overseas real estate investment ...