The High Court of Belize has sentenced former National Sports Council (NSC) accountant Ivan Ayuso to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering.
Between 2013 and 2016, Ayuso stole over $1 million from the NSC by making unauthorized salary payments to himself. He used the stolen funds to buy a home, a luxury vehicle, and cover personal expenses.
Justice Nigel Pilgrim accepted a plea agreement imposing five-year sentences on each of the four counts, to be served concurrently. The court emphasized that Ayuso’s fraudulent activities significantly harmed the NSC’s ability to secure funding and maintain donor trust.
Alongside his prison term, Ayuso has agreed not to contest the government’s seizure of his Belama property, which was allegedly bought with stolen funds. However, a third party has challenged the forfeiture, delaying a final ruling.
