The Issue The issue is whether the Petitioner, Walter L. Jordan, (Jordan) is entitled to licensure as a real estate salesman in the State of Florida. Petitioner presented his own testimony. Respondent, Department of Professional Regulation, Florida Real Estate Commission, (Commission) had two exhibits admitted in evidence. The transcript of the proceedings was filed on November 18, 1987. At hearing the parties agreed to file proposed orders within ten days of the filing of the transcript The Commission's proposed order was filed on December 2, 1987, and is therefore untimely. Jordan has failed to file a proposed order. Accordingly, while the Commission has filed a proposed order, it has not been considered and no rulings will be made on the Commission's proposed findings of fact.
Findings Of Fact Jordan filed an application for a real estate salesman's license on or about February 14, 1987. In that application, Jordan acknowledged an arrest and conviction for possession of marijuana on February 12, 1976; an arrest and conviction for possession of a firearm in October, 1983; an arrest for aggravated assault in October, 1983, which was allegedly withdrawn by the prosecuting authority; and an arrest and conviction for breach of peace and disorderly intoxication in April, 1984. Based upon these convictions, the Commission denied Jordan's application by letter dated August 27, 1987. Jordan acknowledges these arrests and convictions, but does not believe he should be disqualified from licensure based on "two misdemeanors and one adjudication withheld." Further Jordan testified that it [the convictions] "doesn't prove I'm the best character in the world, but that's no real mar on my character, I wouldn't assume." Jordan presented no evidence of rehabilitation except that he worked for a company named Hubbard from June, 1986, to December, 1986; he was self- employed or unemployed from December, 1986, to April, 1987; he has worked for his father doing construction work since April, 1987; and he is the father of four children that he is taking care of alone.
Recommendation Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Florida Real Estate Commission enter a Final Order denying Walter L. Jordan's application for licensure as a real estate salesman. DONE AND ENTERED this 8th day of December, 1987, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. DIANE K. KIESLING Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 8th day of December, 1987. COPIES FURNISHED: Mr. Walter L. Jordan 3225 Rosselle Street Jacksonville, Florida 32205 Lawrence S. Gendzier Department of Professional Regulation Fla. Real Estate Comm. 400 West Robinson, Room 212 Orlando, Florida 32801 Tom Gallagher, Secretary Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750 Harold Huff, Executive Director Department of Professional Regulation Division of Real Estate Post Office Box 1900 Orlando, Florida 32801
Findings Of Fact Respondent, Hillard J. Meinstein, is the holder of real estate salesman license number 0174789 issued by petitioner, Department of Professional Regulation, Florida Real Estate Commission. The license was issued on September 1, 1981 and remains current as of this date. On or about March 16, 1982 the circuit court for Hillsborough County, Florida entered an order accepting a plea of nolo contendere from one Hillard J. Meinstein for the offense of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. Adjudication of guilt was withheld and Meinstein was placed on probation for 15 years and required to pay a $10,000 fine to the Hillsborough Country Sheriff's Office within one year after date of sentence. A certified copy of the order has been received in evidence as petitioner's exhibit 3. It was not disclosed whether the respondent and the defendant in the above case were the same individuals. On April 30, 1982 the supervisor for application certification of the then Board of Real Estate wrote the sheriff of Hillsborough County and requested him to search his records to determine if a Hillard Jeffrey Meinstein had been arrested by his agency for various charges including conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. The letter also indicated that Hillard Jeffrey Meinstein was an applicant for licensure as a real estate salesman. The response of the sheriff, if any, was not disclosed.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED that the administrative complaint be DISMISSED with prejudice. DONE and ENTERED this 31st day of January, 1984, in Tallahassee, Florida. DONALD R. ALEXANDER Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 31st day of January, 1984. COPIES FURNISHED: Gary Lee Printy, Esquire P. O. Box 1900 Orlando, Florida 32802 Richard J. R. Parkinson, Esquire 602 East Central Avenue Orlando, Florida 32801
The Issue Whether the petitioner meets the qualifications for licensure as a real estate salesman.
Findings Of Fact On July 6, 1984, the petitioner filed an application for licensure as a real estate salesman with the Department of Professional Regulations Division of Real Estate. The petitioner responded in the affirmative to question 6, which asked whether the applicant had "ever been convicted of a crime, found guilty, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. . .", and set forth the details as follows: "Attempted Possession of Stolen Property" (New York) Bronx Date of Probation May 29, 1984 Date of Conviction November 16, 1983 Probation Officer Ms. English 212-590-3101 By letter dated September 24, 1984, and undated letter filed October 31, 1984, the petitioner was informed that the Commission had denied his application for licensure. In pertinent part the letter stated as follows. "The power of the Commission to review and deny applications is based upon Sections 475.17 and 475.25, Florida Statutes. Subsection 475.17(1) calls for the applicant to be "honest, truthful, trustworthy, and of good character, and shall have a good reputation for fair dealing. . ." The reason for the Commission's action is based on your answer to Question(s) 6 of the licensing application and/or your criminal record according to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The petitioner owned a secondhand jewelry business in New York, similar to a pawn shop. He dealt with people all over the world, mainly wealthy people, and they sold him antiques and jewelry. He informed anyone coming in his store that he did not buy stolen goods and had a sign on his wall so stating. One gentleman, that had been a client for approximately three years, came into the store about every six or seven months to sell something. The last time this individual came into the store, about four weeks before the petitioner closed his business and moved to Florida, the individual implied that the gold he was selling might not belong to him. However, petitioner wasn't paying particular attention at that time to what the individual was saying since the petitioner had had previous dealings with him. After moving to Florida, in February of 1983, Petitioner was notified that he had been indicted in Bronx, New York. He flew back to New York and turned himself into the authorities. He discovered that the gentleman with whom he had been dealing for three years was a New York police officer and that their conversations had been taped. The tape revealed that during the last transaction the officer had implied that the gold he was selling did not belong to him. Petitioner pleaded guilty to attempted possession of stolen property, a felony, and was placed on probation for five years beginning in December, 1983. Petitioner has had a very good record while on probation. The petitioner held a real estate license in New York for over 10 years which has now expired. The license was never suspended or revoked and petitioner never had any other type of problem while in the real estate business. Since petitioner has been in Florida he has held responsible jobs handling large amounts of money. His employers, friends and coworkers have been impressed with his reliability, integrity and honesty. Petitioner presented sufficient evidence to show that since living in Florida he has been honest, truthful, trustworthy, of good character, and has a good reputation for fair dealing. Nevertheless, respondent pleaded guilty to the crime of attempted possession of stolen property and is still on probation for that crime. Although an isolated unlawful act or criminal conviction in the past does not necessarily mean that an individual is presently dishonest, untrustworthy or of bad character, 1/ it must be concluded that when an individual is presently on probation for a crime involving dishonest dealing, the unlawful act or conviction is not so remote that it can be deemed an isolated incident in the past. Because Petitioner is still on probation for a crime that involves dishonesty and a lack of trustworthiness, petitioner has not established that he meets the requirements of Section 474.17(1)(a), Florida Statutes.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law it is RECOMMENDED that petitioner's application for licensure be DENIED. DONE and ENTERED this 12th of December, 1985, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. DIANE A. GRUBBS Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 FILED with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 12th day of December, 1985.
Findings Of Fact The Petitioner applied to the Board of Real Estate for licensure as a real estate saleswoman on or about July 28, 1980. After due deliberation the Board informed the Petitioner, on October 31, 1980, that she had been denied licensure due to her answers to question 6 of the application which revealed that she had a criminal record involving an arrest for larceny. The Petitioner exercised her rights to a formal proceeding pursuant to Chapter 120.57, Florida Statutes, and appeared at the hearing pro se, without witnesses, being permitted to testify on her own behalf. The Petitioner admitted that in 1977 she had been arrested and convicted in Leon County for the crime of grand larceny by embezzlement. She was employed as Manager of a Burger King restaurant at the time and was, in effect, convicted of embezzling bank deposits for the restaurant. The Petitioner pled not guilty to the charge but was found guilty pursuant to jury verdict. Upon her conviction she was sentenced to six months in the Florida State Prison at Lowell, Florida, followed by four years probation. The Petitioner remains on probation for that conviction and is making restitution payments to replace the money stolen. She was unable to testify precisely when her probationary period will expire, but it is to be approximately in October, 1981, and would have been sooner had she not fallen in arrears in making restitution payments. She is now making her payments currently and regularly and there is no other impediment to her being released from probation once full restitution is made. During the course of her cross-examination the Petitioner also admitted that she had been arrested by the Tallahassee Police Department in 1972 for the crime of larceny and further admitted that she had not disclosed this arrest on her application with the Board of Real Estate. The Petitioner indicated she had forgotten about the arrest and she felt that it was so remote in time as to not be pertinent to the application process. She was found guilty of the charge of larceny in connection with the 1972 arrest, the sentence being payment of a fine and restitution to the victim. Subsequent to her release from prison, the Petitioner has married, and is the mother of two young sons. She is currently employed by the Polk County School Board as a teacher's aid for disabled children. In order to qualify for this employment position she had to have a high school degree and sufficient college credit hours to meet the requirements for employment as a teacher's aid. Prior to this job she was employed in Polk County as a substitute teacher. The Petitioner is a member of a church and attends regularly and her general demeanor and the overall tenor of her testimony demonstrates that she has matured significantly since the unfortunate criminal behavior in which she engaged end has achieved a stable family life and employment pattern. She has demonstrated significant maturity of character since the time of the arrest and conviction, measured by the fact that she has accepted and successfully discharged the responsibility of marriage, the rearing of two children, and the concomitant duties and responsibilities of employment for the partial support of her family.
Recommendation In consideration of the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, as well as the candor and demeanor of the witness, it is RECOMMENDED that a final order be entered by the Board of Real Estate denying the application of Earnestine D. Davis for licensing as a real estate saleswoman at this time, but that she be given prompt and beneficial consideration for licensure upon appropriate reapplication when her current criminal probationary status has terminated. DONE AND ENTERED this 7th day of May, 1981 in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. P. MICHAEL RUFF Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 7th day of May, 1981. COPIES FURNISHED: Earnestine D. Davis 880 Parkham Court Bartow, Florida 33830 Jeffrey A. Miller Assistant Attorney General Department of Legal Affairs Office of Attorney General Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Nancy Wittenberg, Secretary Department of Professional Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Recommendation Deny the application of Petitioner for Registration as a salesman for the Florida Real Estate Commission. DONE and ENTERED this 6th day of December, 1978, in Tallahassee, Florida. DELPHENE C. STRICKLAND Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings Room 101, Collins Building MAIL: 530 Carlton Building Tallahassee, Florida 32304 (904) 488-9675 COPIES FURNISHED: Manuel E. Oliver, Esquire Florida Real Estate Commission 400 West Robinson Street Orlando, Florida 32801 Dwaine Eugene Spann Route 2, Box 376S Sarasota, Florida 33582
Findings Of Fact Prior to the hearing, counsel for the parties orally stipulated that the allegations set forth in the administrative complaint filed against the Respondent on October 1, 1980, were true and correct. The purpose of the hearing was to present testimony explaining the circumstances surrounding the Respondent's guilty plea to one count of income tax evasion and attesting to the good character and reputation of the Respondent within the South Florida community where he and his family presently reside. In 1975, the Respondent was part owner and treasurer of Blanchard Associates, a small company located in Portland, Maine, which dealt in fire apparatus and supplies. In the spring of 1975, the company was audited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a number of discrepancies were found during the course of a continuing three year audit. One of the discrepancies involved the failure to report as income the sale of two used fire trucks worth approximately $4,700.00 each. The audit resulted in an eight count information being filed on January 17, 1979, in the Southern District of Maine charging both the Respondent and his partner, Shirley T. Hamel, with two counts and the Corporation, Blanchard Associates, with four counts of income tax evasion. On January 19, 1979, the Respondent pled guilty to one count of income tax evasion for the year 1973 and was placed on probation for two years and ordered to pay a fine of $5,000.00 and any interest and penalties found to be due. Additionally, a 30-day jail sentence was imposed. The Respondent voluntarily advised the Florida Real Estate Commission and his broker of his conviction, which action resulted in the filing of the administrative complaint. No administrative complaint or criminal indictment or information has been filed against the Respondent regarding any misconduct occurring as a real estate salesman. The Respondent enjoys an excellent reputation in the Ft. Myers area and has been a successful salesman since moving to Florida in January, 1977. While residing in Portland, the Respondent was involved in numerous civic activities including serving on the South Portland School Board, the Portland City Council and the Maine School District Commission.
The Issue The issue posed for decision herein is whether or not the Respondent's license to practice real estate should be revoked based on conduct set forth hereinafter.
Findings Of Fact Based upon the testimony adduced at the hearing and the witnesses' demeanor while testifying, the documentary evidence received and the entire record compiled herein, the following relevant facts are found. Based on its Administrative Complaint filed herein dated July 28, 1981, the Florida Real Estate Commission (Petitioner) seeks to revoke Respondent's license to practice real estate based on his having been found guilty of a crime involving moral turpitude and fraudulent or dishonest dealing, in violation of Subsection 475.25(1)(f), Florida Statutes (1979), and his (Respondent) having been confined to a state or federal prison, in violation of Subsection 475.25(1)(m), Florida Statutes (1979). The Respondent, Joel L. Steiner, is a registered real estate salesman and has been issued License No. 0150824 by the Petitioner. The Administrative Complaint filed herein alleges that during the period June 1, 1976, and continuing through March 23, 1977, Respondent, for the purpose of executing a scheme and artifice to defraud the public, caused mails and other matters to be sent from the New York office of Crown Colony in New York, New York 1/ , to be placed in post offices and authorized depositories for mail matter to be delivered by mail by the United States Postal Service. As a result of those actions, Respondent was indicted by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and charged with a violation of Title XVIII, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 1342, to wit, the use of the mails in a scheme to defraud. Following a trial, Respondent, on January 28, 1981, was found guilty as charged of the offense of the use of the mails in a scheme to defraud and was committed for imprisonment for a period of eighteen (18) months and ordered to pay a fine to the United States in the amount of $12,000.00. (Petitioner's Exhibits 2 and 3 and testimony of Postal Inspector John Muhelberg.) Respondent appeared through counsel; however, no evidence was offered by Respondent in defense of the charges after Petitioner's case in chief.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is hereby RECOMMENDED: That the Respondent's License No. 0150824 to practice real estate as a salesman be REVOKED. RECOMMENDED this 18th day of August, 1982, in Tallahassee, Florida. JAMES E. BRADWELL, Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 18th day of August, 1982.
Findings Of Fact Based upon my observation of the witness and their demeanor while testifying, the following; relevant facts are found. Mitchell E. Verdell is registered with the Florida Board of Real Estate as a salesman. On or about July 17, 1978, the Respondent, Mitchell E. Verdell, filed with the then Florida Real Estate Commission, now Board of Real Estate, an application for registration as a Real Estate Salesman. (Petitioner's Composite Exhibit 2.) On the Respondent's application for licensure, he failed to disclose that he had been arrested in Daytona Beach, Florida, on May 7, 1974, and tried for unlawful possession of marijuana. Respondent entered a plea of guilty to possession of a controlled substance over five (5) grams for which he was place on probation for a period of two (2) years and an adjudication of guilt was withheld. (Petitioner's Exhibit 3.) Mitchell E. Verdell appeared and testified that his only witness, his probation officer, was ill and thus could not appear at the hearing. Mr. Verdell acknowledged his failure to disclose on his application for licensure with the Board the fact that he appeared in court on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. He also acknowledged the fact that he was placed on two (2) years probation. His probation officer, Bill Gross, advised Mr. Verdell with reference to his conviction and the manner in which he should handle it that since the judge withheld adjudication, he should never disclose it for a job when questions respecting his arrest were asked. He testified that he relied on Officer Gross, who bad been a probation officer for a few decades. (TR 9-10)
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is hereby, RECOMMENDED: That the Respondent, Mitchell E. Verdell's license to practice real estate as a salesman be REVOKED without prejudice to filing an application that is proper. RECOMMENDED this 11th day of October, 1979, in Tallahassee, Florida. JAMES E. BRADWELL, Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings Room 101 Collins Building Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 COPIES FURNISHED: Fred Langford, Esquire Department of Professional Regulation Board of Real Estate Post Office Pox 1900 Orlando, Florida 32802 Glenn Anderson, Esquire Post Office Pox 9159 Winter Haven, Florida 33880
Findings Of Fact At all times material to these proceedings, the Respondent was the holder of Florida real estate license number 0201688. The last license issued was as a nonactive broker with a home address of 2281 Euclid Avenues Fort Myers, Florida. On December 10, 1986, the Respondent entered a plea of guilty to the offense of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud in Case No. 861034CF in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Florida. The crime did not involve any business dealings in which the Respondent was acting as a real estate salesman or broker. The Respondent did not notify the Petitioner in writing of his plea within the thirty-day period because he believed he had entered a plea to a misdemeanor, which was exempt from the reporting requirement of 475.25(1)(p), Florida Statutes. A letter from his attorney before the plea was entered reflected an intent to enter a plea to a misdemeanor, subject to acceptance by the court. On July 15, 1987, in Case No. 86-1790CF in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Florida, the Respondent entered nolo contendere pleas to uttering a forged instrument in Counts I, III, V, VII, IX, XI, and XIII and grand theft in Counts II, VI, VIII, X, XII, and XIV. These charges involved personal business affairs and did not involve misconduct by the Respondent as a real estate salesman or broker. The Respondent notified the Florida Real Estate Commission of his adjudication of guilt for the grand thefts and the utterings of forged instruments in Case No. 86-1790CF by letter dated August 7, 1987. There are no specific findings of mitigating or aggravating circumstances as none were presented during the hearing of this case.
