Andris Pukke

ERA 2011

When my judge sentenced me in 1987, the laws allowed me to earn more credit for avoiding disciplinary infractions. However, uncertainty about my release date lingered. Instead of a specific date, I had a range. By the fall of 2011, I was within striking distance of that release window. To prepare for the next steps, the Bureau of Prisons transferred me from a federal prison camp near Bakersfield to another in Atwater, California.

After settling in at Atwater, I met Andris Pukke. His last name, pronounced to rhyme with “lucky,” was a challenge for many to get right. Andris and I became friends. He told me that before his surrender, he had followed the work I’d been publishing on a website Carole maintained for me. Through my writings, I hoped to help others understand the prison system and how it influences all people.

As we got to know each other, I learned about Andris’s impressive career. He had founded Ameridebt while still a student at the University of Maryland. The company grew rapidly, serving more than 500,000 customers and generating enormous profits. At one point, Bear Stearns offered Andris more than $100 million for a minority equity stake in the company—an offer he accepted. Unfortunately, when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) learned of the impending sale, it launched an investigation, blocking the transaction.

Like many cases where civil investigations escalate, the FTC’s inquiry led to a settlement between Andris and his company. The settlement, in turn, triggered a criminal investigation. Andris pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to an 18-month federal prison term. Despite the challenges, his story fascinated me and aligned with the curriculum I was developing. I asked if he’d participate in interviews for a manuscript I was writing, White Collar, and he agreed.

Through these interviews, I learned more about business and resilience. After the FTC litigation with Ameridebt, Andris pivoted to a new venture: property development in Belize. He acquired 14,000 acres of oceanfront land and a private island, creating a planned community where buyers could purchase property with favorable financing.

Discussions I had with business leaders I met in prison often led to new opportunities. Andris asked me to write a manuscript about his experiences, as he felt his side of the story was often misunderstood. He resented how the civil litigation forced him into a settlement, requiring him to forfeit the right to a trial. Believing he had done nothing wrong, he wanted to tell his story through a book that would help set the record straight. We passed time collaborating to write his manuscript.

Building Opportunities Post-Release

During our time at Atwater, Andris offered me a job once I completed my sentence. Although I declined the job, because I had already built a support network in the San Francisco Bay Area, he assured me he’d help in any way he could. 

True to his word, Andris was helpful after my release. While I focused on real estate investments and accepted a teaching position at San Francisco State University, he offered me a $100,000 annual salary to join his business in Newport Beach. He believed my story would inspire others and offered to create a role for me.

When Carole and I relocated to Orange County, the arrangement with Andris didn’t go as planned. I had a personality conflict with a team member in his business, which made collaboration difficult. Despite this, Andris remained supportive. He told me he’d continue paying my salary, provide an office, and grant me access to his marketing team so I could build the career I wanted. With his encouragement, I launched Prison Professors while continuing my work in real estate.

In early 2018, Andris called with another offer. He had removed the team member with whom I had conflicts and asked if I’d consider returning to help with business development. He planned to expand into new properties in the Bahamas, Cabo San Lucas, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica. After careful consideration, I agreed to collaborate on a new venture called Prison to Paradise. My goal was to teach strategies I had used to rebuild my life and offer investors opportunities to acquire properties in Andris’s developments.

To show my commitment, Carole and I invested $1.4 million in the Costa Rica project. Unfortunately, within months, the FTC sued Andris again, freezing all related assets. This included our investment. Hoping to recover the funds, I hired legal counsel. However, the FTC amended their complaint, naming me as a defendant. They alleged that I “knew or should have known” about violations of FTC rules.

A Painful Setback

As a felon, I couldn’t afford the risk of litigation that might lead to a judgment exceeding $100 million. To mitigate the potential damage, I settled the case, forfeiting $3 million in equity and $5 million in assets I had built during my first five years of freedom. It was a crushing blow for both Carole and me, but I knew that I had the skills to rebuild–skills I learned from leaders while I served 26 years in prison. 

I’ve documented the experience extensively, and I encourage others to review the record for transparency.

Lessons in Resilience

Despite the setback, I leaned on lessons I had learned from leaders and mentors during my incarceration. Life is filled with challenges and setbacks. What matters is how we respond and learn to overcome obstacles. Although I lost a significant portion of my financial gains, I remained determined to rebuild.

Reflecting on my relationship with Andris, I’m grateful for his willingness to help me. With regard to the allegations the FTC made against him, I would not be in a position to add anything of value–as I had been in prison when they launched their allegations against him. All I know about Andris was that he was always honorable with me, and he only wanted to help.


Self-Directed Learning Question

  • How do you respond to setbacks or unexpected challenges in your journey? 
  • What steps can you take to turn obstacles into opportunities for growth?