Petitioner: OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION
Respondent: WORLD FOREIGN EXCHANGE, INC., AND MARIA M. DIAZ, A.K.A. MARIA MERCEDES CABALLERO
Judges: JUNE C. MCKINNEY
Agency: Office of Financial Regulation
Locations: Miami, Florida
Filed: Sep. 25, 2015
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, January 22, 2016.
Latest Update: Dec. 25, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION
IN RE: Administrative Proceeding Docket
Number:
WORLD FOREIGN EXCHANGE, INC. and 56994
MARIA M. DIAZ, a.k.a. MARIA MERCEDES
CABALLERO, Individually
Respondents
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
The State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation, (“Office”) files this Administrative
Complaint against World Foreign Exchange, Inc. and Maria M. Diaz, a.k.a. Maria Mercedes
Caballero, individually, (“Respondents”), alleging:
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
1. Pursuant to section 560.105, Florida Statutes, the Office is charged with the
responsibility of administering and enforcing the provisions of Chapter 560, Florida Statutes.
2. Pursuant to section 560.109, Florida Statutes, the Office may conduct examinations
and investigations to determine whether any provision of Chapter 560, Florida Statutes, has been
violated.
3. Pursuant to section 560.114(1)(a), Florida Statutes, failure to comply with any
provision of Chapter 560, Florida Statutes, any rule or order adopted pursuant thereto, or any
written agreement entered into with the Office by a money services business or money services
World Foreign Exchange, Inc., Administrative Proceeding Docket Number 56994
Administrative Complaint
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business affiliated party, constitutes grounds for discipline as specified in section 560.114(1),
Florida Statutes.
4. At all times material, World Foreign Exchange, Inc. is or has been a Part III Money
Transmitter licensee pursuant to Chapter 560, Florida Statutes, and specifically a “money
services business” as defined in section 560.103(22), Florida Statutes, having been issued license
number FT340000038.
5. Atno time material were Respondents a Part II Money Transmitter licensee pursuant
to Chapter 560, Florida Statutes. World Foreign Exchange Inc. formerly had a Part II money
transmitter license, license number FT20700091, which expired on April 30, 2009.
6. At all times material, Maria M. Diaz, also known as Maria Mercedes Caballero, was
an affiliated party of World Foreign Exchange, Inc. Specifically, Maria M. Diaz has served as
President and 100% owner of World Foreign Exchange Inc. from May 17, 2002 to present. As
such Diaz further possessed the power to direct the management or policies of World Foreign
Exchange, Inc. and was in fact actively engaged in the business activities of World Foreign
Exchange, Inc.
7. At all times material hereto, Respondents’ address of record is and has been 103
N.E. 3" Ave., Miami, FL 33132.
8. On or about February 4, 2014, the Office conducted an examination (#44538) of
Respondents’ business records and operations.
9. During said examination, the office reviewed, or attempted to review all of
Respondents’ business records for the examination period material to its money services business
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activities, including but not limited to records regarding all payment instruments cashed by
Respondents.
10. Pursuant to rule 69V-560.1000(150), Florida Administrative Code, the range for a
“B” level fine is between $3,500 and $7,500; and, pursuant to rule 69V-560.1000(151), Florida
Administrative Code, the range for a “B” suspension is 10 to 20 days.
COUNT I
11, The above general allegations 1 through 10 are hereby re-alleged and incorporated
by reference as if fully stated herein.
12. Between April 3, 2013 and April 30, 2013, which is a period spanning 27 days,
Respondents engaged in the activity of a money transmitter for compensation.
13. Thus, Respondents engaged in the activity of a money transmitter for compensation
without being licensed, in violation of section 560.125(1) and 560.204(1), Florida Statutes.
14. Pursuant to section 560.114(8), Florida Statutes, the Office may impose a fine of up
to $1,000 per day for each day that a person engages in the business of a money services
business without being licensed.
15. Therefore, the Office is seeking an administrative fine of $27,000.00
COUNT II
16. The above general allegations 1 through 10 are hereby re-alleged and incorporated
by reference as if fully stated herein.
17. From December 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013, Respondents cashed payment
instruments over $1,000.
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18. When payment instruments of greater than $1,000.00 are cashed, section
560.310(2)(d)', Florida Statutes and rule 69V-560.704(5)(a), Florida Administrative Code,
require licensees to create and maintain a detailed electronic payment instrument (check) log that
includes at least eleven categories of information.
19. Respondents failed to maintain a complete payment log in violation of section
560.310(2)(d), Florida Statutes and rule 69V-560.704(5)(a), Florida Administrative Code.
20. Pursuant to rule 69V-560.1000(98), Florida Administrative Code, a licensee cited for
the first time for failing to maintain a complete payment log is subject to a “B” fine and a “B”
suspension.
21. Therefore, the Office is seeking an administrative fine of $4,200.00.
WHEREFORE, Respondents, World Foreign Exchange, Inc. and Maria M. Diaz, are
hereby notified that the Office intends to enter an Order imposing an administrative fine of
$31,200.00.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
' Formerly numbered as section 560.3 10(1)(c), Florida Statutes
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NOTICE OF RIGHTS
The licensee is entitled to be represented by counsel or other qualified representative.
The licensee also has the right to request a hearing pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57,
Florida Statutes. Such request must comply with rules 28-106.2015 and 28-106.104, Florida
Administrative Code. An Election of Proceeding form is attached for your convenience.
Any such request must be filed as follows:
By Mail or Fax OR By Hand Delivery
Office of Financial Regulation Office of Financial Regulation
P.O. Box 8050 General Counsel’s Office
Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050 The Fletcher Building, Suite 118
Phone: (850) 410-9987 101 East Gaines Street
Fax: (850) 410-9914 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0379
Phone: (850) 410-9987
TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO A HEARING, A WRITTEN RESPONSE MUST BE
FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION WITHIN TWENTY-ONE
(21) DAYS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT. SAID
RESPONSE MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON
THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLAINT. A FAILURE TO TIMELY RESPOND IN WRITING WILL
CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF THE LICENSEE’S RIGHT TO REQUEST A HEARING
AND A FINAL ORDER MAY BE ENTERED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE.
You may not make an oral request for an administrative hearing. With regard to a written
request, if you fail to follow the outlined procedure, your request may be dismissed. Any request
for an administrative proceeding received prior to the date of this notice is deemed abandoned
and to be considered, must be timely renewed in compliance with the procedure set forth above.
Mediation of this matter pursuant to section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not available.
World Foreign Exchange, Inc., Administrative Proceeding Docket Number 56994
Administrative Complaint
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DATED and SIGNED this day of“ y ) L , 20 3
ai
By:
Office of Financial Regulation
Fla. Bar No. 0506877
400 W. Robinson St., S-225
Orlando, Florida 32801-1799
(407) 245-0601; fax (407) 245-0806
jennifer.lozano@flofr.com
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Administrative
Complaint has been furnished by certified U.S. mail, Return Receipt Requested, to World
Foreign Exchange, Inc. and Maria M. Diaz, a.k.a. Maria Mercedes Caballero, at 103 N.E. 3"
Ave., Miami, FL 33132, this _| day of \L)\ «j_,20\>
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41 7199 9991 7035 2??5 889?
World Foreign Exchange, Inc., Administrative Proceeding Docket Number 56994
Administrative Complaint
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Docket for Case No: 15-005400
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 22, 2016 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jan. 20, 2016 |
Joint Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
Nov. 19, 2015 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for February 24, 2016; 9:30 a.m.; Miami, FL).
|
Nov. 13, 2015 |
Joint Motion to Continue - World Foreign Exchange, Inc. - Case No. 15-005400 filed.
|
Oct. 05, 2015 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Oct. 05, 2015 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for December 21, 2015; 9:30 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Oct. 02, 2015 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Sep. 29, 2015 |
Petitioner's First Set of Request for Adfmissions to Respondent filed.
|
Sep. 29, 2015 |
Petitioner's First Request to Produce to Respondent filed.
|
Sep. 25, 2015 |
Initial Order.
|
Sep. 25, 2015 |
Election of Proceeding filed.
|
Sep. 25, 2015 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Sep. 25, 2015 |
Agency referral filed.
|