A contractor charged for deception in San Pedro now faces serious legal trouble after disappearing with over $16,000 from a U.S. client. The incident began in April 2024, when 47-year-old Chris Ray Burton traveled from Tennessee to Belize.
Burton met with 35-year-old Mark Alexander Botes, a contractor from Libertad Village who lives in San Pedro. The two discussed building a house and agreed to meet at a resort in Caye Caulker on April 17, 2024. There, they toured the site and finalized the construction plan.
According to Burton, Botes presented a contract and requested $15,000 Belize dollars to begin piling. He also asked for a $1,750 down payment to design the house. Burton agreed and handed over the full $16,750 in cash.
However, things quickly changed. After September 27, 2024, Burton claims Botes stopped responding to calls and messages. Nearly eight months passed with no updates.
Eventually, on May 12, 2025, Burton visited the Crimes Investigation Branch in Caye Caulker. He filed an official report and provided both the contract and receipts as evidence.
Following the complaint, police acted quickly. They detained Botes and transferred him to the Queen Street Police Station. There, officers formally charged the contractor for deception involving the stolen funds.
This isn’t Botes’ first legal issue. In 2022, the San Pedro Sun reported that he had previously faced charges for taking $23,000 to build a home in Secret Beach—but never delivered.
Now, authorities urge anyone dealing with contractors to always verify credentials and get legal advice before exchanging money.
