Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, DIVISION OF REAL ESTATE
Respondent: VICTOR SECONDO ESCALONA
Judges: ROBERT L. KILBRIDE
Agency: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Jul. 19, 2019
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.
Latest Update: Nov. 14, 2024
FILED
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Deputy Agency Clerk
CLERK Evetle Lawson-Proctor
Date 3/21/2019
STATE OF FLORIDA File #
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION,
Petitioner,
v. Case No. 2018-015036
VICTOR SECONDO ESCALONA,
Respondent.
ji
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
The Department Of Business And Professional Regulation (‘Petitioner’) files this
Administrative Complaint before the Florida Real Estate Commission against Victor Secondo
Escalona (“Respondent”), and alleges:
L Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating the practice of real estate
pursuant to Section 20.165, Florida Statutes, and Chapters 120, 455, and 475, of the Florida
Statutes.
2: At all times material hereto, Respondent was licensed as a Real Estate Broker in
the State of Florida, having been issued license number BK 3178768.
3. Respondent’s address of record with Petitioner is 11338 NW 72" Lane, Doral,
Florida 33178.
4. At all times material hereto, Respondent was a licensed qualifying broker of
record for Global Kingdom LLC (“Global”), a licensed real estate corporation in the State of
Florida, having been issued license number CQ 1044602.
5. In April of 2016, Respondent met with Alejandra Garcia, Maria Merces Lora, and
Maria Lucia Gallego, (collectively “Complainants”) to discuss purchasing foreclosed properties
at court auctions for the purpose of re-selling said properties for a profit in Florida.
6. Respondent assured Complainants that he would investigate each foreclosed
property and remove all risk involved in purchasing a foreclosed property in Florida.
7. On or about April 19, 2016, based on these assurances, Complainants agreed to
allow Respondent and/or Global to purchase a foreclosed property at auction in Florida.
8. Respondent required from Complainants the amount of the purchase price at
auction for a foreclosed property in Florida, along with any other costs involved in the purchase.
9. Respondent required from Complainants a $1,000.00 fee to access the list of
foreclosed properties available at auction in Florida, which was prepaid by Complainants.
10. Respondent required from Complainants a $1,500.00 fee for eviction proceedings
in the event there was a tenant in a foreclosed property to be purchased at auction in Florida,
which was prepaid by Complainants.
11. Respondent required from Complainants a commission payable to Respondent
and/or Global for the purchase of a foreclosed property at auction in Florida.
12. On or about April 28, 2016, on behalf of the Complainants, Respondent and/or
Global purchased a foreclosed property in Florida commonly known as 15560 SW 104" Terrace,
#626, Miami, Florida 33196 (“Subject Property”), for a total of $70,724.40 including bid price,
costs, and fees.
13. The Subject Property did not have a tenant; however, Respondent and/or Global
did not refund the $1,500.00 fee prepaid in the event an eviction proceeding was needed.
14. Respondent and/or Global charged Complainants $1,500.00 for “Gastos
Administrativos” or Administrative Expenses in the purchase of the Subject Property.
15, Respondent and/or Global charged Complainants $5,512.00 for “Servicio de
Subasta” or Auction Service in the purchase of the Subject Property.
16. | Respondent and/or Global did not inform Complainants prior to the purchase of
the Subject Property that the Biscayne Beach Club Condominium Association (“Biscayne”) had
a claim of approximately $43,000.00 to $44,000.00 for unpaid maintenance assessment for the
Subject Property. As of June 29, 2016, the total claim was $44,378.94.
17. Respondent and/or Global did not resolve, or assist in the resolution of the unpaid
maintenance assessment claim from Biscayne, nor did Respondent and/or Global re-sell the
Subject Property for a profit. Respondent and/or Global ceased all communication with the
Complainants shortly after the purchase of the Subject Property.
18, On or about June 9, 2017, a Final Judgment of Foreclosure was entered in case
number 16-023741-CA in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida
wherein Biscayne was awarded $58,176.59 from Complainants to be paid by July 27, 2017, or
the Subject Property would be sold at auction.
19. During the course of an official investigation, on or about June 26, 2018,
Petitioner requested from Respondent and/or Global a complete and accurate copy of the
transaction file for the purchase of the Subject Property. To date, Petitioner has received no
response from Respondent and/or Global.
COUNT ONE
20. This is an action for violation of Section 475.25(1)(b), Florida Statutes.
21. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in
paragraphs one (1) through seventeen (17), as if fully set forth herein.
22. Section 475.25(1)(b), Florida Statutes, subjects a real estate licensee to discipline
for committing fraud, misrepresentation, concealment, false promises, false pretenses, dishonest
dealing by trick, scheme, or device, culpable negligence, or breach of trust in any business
transaction in this state or any other state, nation, or territory; has violated a duty imposed upon
her or him by law or by the terms of a listing contract, written, oral, express, or implied, in a real
estate transaction; has aided, assisted, or conspired with any other person engaged in any such
misconduct and in furtherance thereof; or has formed an intent, design, or scheme to engage in
any such misconduct and committed an overt act in furtherance of such intent, design, or scheme.
23. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section 475.25(1)(b), Florida
Statutes.
COUNT TWO
24. This is an action for violation of Section 475.25(1)(d)1., Florida Statutes.
25. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in
paragraphs one (1) through four (4), ten (10), and thirteen (13), as if fully set forth herein.
26. Section 475.25(1)(d)1., Florida Statutes, subjects a real estate licensee to discipline
for failing to account or deliver to any person, including a licensee under this chapter, at the time
which has been agreed upon or is required by law or, in the absence of a fixed time, upon
demand of the person entitled to such accounting and delivery, any personal property such as
money, fund, deposit, check, draft, abstract of title, mortgage, conveyance, lease, or other
document or thing of value.
27. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section 475.25(1){d)1., Florida
Statutes.
COUNT THREE
28. This is an action for violation of Section 475.25(1)(e), Florida Statutes.
29. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in
paragraphs one (1) through four (4), and nineteen (19), as if fully set forth herein.
30. Section 475.25(1)(e), Florida Statutes, subjects a real estate licensee to discipline for
violating any provision of Chapter 475, and any lawful order or rule made or issued under the
provisions of Chapters 475 or 455, Florida Statutes.
31. — Section 475.5015, Florida Statutes provides that “[e]ach broker shall keep and
make available to the department such books, accounts, and records as will enable the
department to determine whether such broker is in compliance with the provisions of this
chapter. Each broker shall preserve at least one legible copy of all books, accounts, and records
pertaining to her or his real estate brokerage business for at least 5 years from the date of receipt
of any money, fund, deposit, check, or draft entrusted to the broker or, in the event no funds are
entrusted to the broker, for at least 5 years from the date of execution by any party of any listing
agreement, offer to purchase, rental property management agreement, rental or lease agreement,
or any other written or verbal agreement which engages the services of the broker.”
32. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section 475.25(1}(e), Florida
Statutes, by failing to comply with Section 475.5015, Florida Statutes.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests the Florida Real Estate Commission enter
an order imposing one or more of the following penalties: suspension or permanent revocation
of Respondent’s license, restriction of practice, imposition of an administrative fine, issuance of
a reprimand, placement of Respondent on probation, corrective action, assessment of costs
related to the investigation and prosecution of the case, and any other relief that the Commission
deems appropriate.
Signed this 11° day of March, 2019,
HALSEY BESHEARS, Secretary
Department of Business and
Professional Regulation
By: _/s/ Daud W. thing
PCP Date: 03.11.19
PCP Members: D. Fryer / C. Boring
David W. Aring
Assistant General Counsel
Florida Bar No. 0621471
Office of the General Counsel
2601 Blair Stone Rd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
(850)717-1216 Telephone
(850)617-4412 Facsimile
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
PLEASE BE ADVISED that mediation under section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not
available for administrative disputes involving this type of agency action.
PLEASE BE FURTHER ADVISED that Respondent has the right to request a hearing to
be conducted in accordance with sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, to be represented
by counsel or other qualified representative, to present evidence and argument, to call and cross-
examine witnesses, and to have subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued on his or her
behalf if a hearing is requested. Rule 28-106.111, Florida Administrative Code, provides in part
that if Respondent fails to request a hearing within twenty-one (21) days of receipt of an agency
pleading, Respondent waives the right to request a hearing on the facts alleged.
NOTICE REGARDING ASSESSMENT OF T:
Respondent is placed on notice that Petitioner has incurred costs related to the
investigation and prosecution of this matter. Pursuant to section 455.227(3)(a), Florida Statutes,
the Board, or the Department when there is no Board, may assess costs related to the
investigation and prosecution of the case excluding costs associated with an attorney's time,
against Respondent in addition to any other discipline imposed.
Docket for Case No: 19-003880PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Aug. 21, 2019 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Aug. 20, 2019 |
Joint Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
Aug. 08, 2019 |
Notice of Court Reporter filed.
|
Aug. 08, 2019 |
Order Granting Motion to Amend Initial Agency Referral.
|
Aug. 08, 2019 |
Joint Motion to Amend Initial Agency Referral filed.
|
Aug. 02, 2019 |
Amended Notice of Appearance filed.
|
Aug. 02, 2019 |
Notice of Appearance (James Fortunas) filed.
|
Jul. 30, 2019 |
Order Granting Continuance and Rescheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for October 11, 2019; 9:00 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Jul. 30, 2019 |
(Amended) Joint Motion for Continuance for Hearing by Teleconference filed.
|
Jul. 29, 2019 |
Joint Motion for Continuance for Hearing by Teleconference filed.
|
Jul. 29, 2019 |
Notice of Appearance (David Aring) filed.
|
Jul. 29, 2019 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Jul. 29, 2019 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for August 30, 2019; 9:00 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Jul. 25, 2019 |
Joint Response to Initial Order - Conferral with Respondent filed.
|
Jul. 25, 2019 |
Petitioner's and Respondent's Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Jul. 24, 2019 |
Notice of Petitioner's First Interlocking Discovery Requests filed.
|
Jul. 22, 2019 |
Petitioner's First Interlocking Discovery Request filed.
|
Jul. 19, 2019 |
Initial Order.
|
Jul. 19, 2019 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Jul. 19, 2019 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jul. 19, 2019 |
Agency referral filed.
|