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DIVISION OF REAL ESTATE vs WASHINGTON MOISES QUINONES, 98-003545 (1998)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Sebring, Florida Aug. 05, 1998 Number: 98-003545 Latest Update: Mar. 23, 1999

The Issue At issue is whether Respondent's Florida real estate license should be disciplined upon charges that: (1) Respondent is guilty of 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 violation of Section 475.25(1)(b), Florida Statutes, as set forth in Count I of the Administrative Complaint; and (2) Respondent is guilty of having had a registration suspended, revoked, or otherwise acted against in any jurisdiction in violation of Section 475.225(1)(s), Florida Statutes, as set forth in Count II of the Administrative Complaint.

Findings Of Fact Petitioner is the state licensing and regulatory agency charged with the responsibility and duty to prosecute administrative complaints pursuant to Chapters 455, and 475, Florida Statutes. Respondent, Washington Moises Quinones, is and was at all times material to the Administrative Complaint a licensed Florida real estate salesperson, issued license number 0650737 in accordance with Chapter 475, Florida Statutes. Respondent, Washington Moises Quinones, was also a member of the Florida Bar. On or about August 29, 1997, the Florida Bar petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for an emergency suspension of Respondent's bar license. The petition filed with the Florida Supreme Court reflects that Respondent's "trust records reveal losses which approximate $350,000.00." On or about September 11, 1997, the Florida Supreme Court granted the petition for emergency suspension of Respondent's bar license, and suspended Respondent from the practice of law for the reasons set forth in the Petition.

Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that Respondent be found guilty of violation Section 475.25(1)(b), Florida Statutes, and 475.25(1)(s), Florida Statutes, as charged in the Administrative Complaint, and that Respondent's real estate license be revoked in accordance with Section 475.25(1), Florida Statutes. DONE AND ENTERED this 8th day of December, 1998, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. RICHARD A. HIXSON Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 8th day of December, 1998. COPIES FURNISHED: Ghunise Coaxum, Senior Attorney Department of Business and Professional Regulation 400 West Robinson Street, Suite N-308 Orlando, Florida 32801 Washington Moises Quinones 5119 Agora Street Sebring, Florida 33872 James Kimbler, Acting Division Director Division of Real Estate Department of Business and Professional Regulation Post Office Box 1900 Orlando, Florida 32802-1900 Lynda L. Goodgame, General Counsel Department of Business and Professional Regulation 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792

Florida Laws (2) 120.57475.25 Florida Administrative Code (1) 28-106.106
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KEVIN VAUGHAN, JR. vs FLORIDA REAL ESTATE COMMISSION, 11-004979 (2011)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:West Palm Beach, Florida Sep. 26, 2011 Number: 11-004979 Latest Update: Mar. 28, 2012

The Issue Whether Respondent should take final action to deny Petitioner's application for a real estate sales associate license on the ground that Petitioner was found guilty, in the State of Georgia, of the crime of theft by taking.

Findings Of Fact Based on the evidence adduced at hearing, and the record as a whole, the following findings of fact are made: On June 12, 2006, Petitioner was working as a clerk at a UPS store in Cherokee County, Georgia, when he "gave in to temptation" (as he described it at hearing) and stole $500.00 in cash from an envelope given to him by a customer for shipment to the customer's former wife in Kansas. When the customer's former wife received an empty envelope, she notified the customer, who, in turn, called the police. On June 16, 2006, the police went to the UPS store to investigate the matter. When questioned by the police during their visit to the store, Respondent admitted to stealing the $500.00. He was thereupon placed under arrest and, thereafter, criminally charged. On October 16, 2007, in Cherokee County, Georgia, State Court, Petitioner was found guilty of the misdemeanor crime of theft by taking and sentenced to 12 months' probation. Among the conditions of his probation was that he provide "proof of repay[ment]" of the $500.00 he had stolen. Petitioner has not been arrested again, and he has returned to its rightful owner the $500.00 he had stolen and has otherwise completed his probation. The record evidence, however, does not reveal how long ago Petitioner's probation was completed; nor, more importantly, does it shed any light on what Respondent has done with his life (other than completing his probation and not getting arrested) since the theft which led to his being placed on probation, or what his present reputation is for honesty, trustworthiness, and fair dealing. The record evidence, therefore, is insufficient to establish that there is reason to believe that, notwithstanding his commission of the aforementioned theft, it is not likely he would act dishonestly or in any other manner endangering the public were he to be granted the real estate sales associate license he seeks.

Recommendation Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is hereby RECOMMENDED that the Florida Real Estate Commission issue a Final Order denying Petitioner's application for licensure as a real estate sales associate. DONE AND ENTERED this 5th day of December, 2011, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. S STUART M. LERNER Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 5th day of December, 2011. COPIES FURNISHED: Kevin Vaughn, Jr. 931 Village Boulevard, Apartment 905-203 West Palm Beach, Florida 33409 Tom Barnhart, Esquire Special Counsel Office of the Attorney General Plaza Level 01, The Capitol Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050 Roger P. Enzor, Chair, Florida Real Estate Commission 400 West Robinson Street, N801 Orlando, Florida 32801 Layne Smith, General Counsel, Department of Business and Professional Regulation Northwood Centre 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792

Florida Laws (5) 120.569120.57475.161475.17475.25
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RICHARD BADOLATO vs FLORIDA LAND SALES, CONDOMINIUMS, AND MOBILE HOMES, 98-005655 (1998)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Tallahassee, Florida Dec. 30, 1998 Number: 98-005655 Latest Update: Oct. 01, 1999

The Issue Whether the Petitioner's application for licensure as a yacht and ship salesman should be approved or denied.

Findings Of Fact Based on the oral and documentary evidence presented at the final hearing and on the entire record of this proceeding, the following findings of fact are made: The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums, and Mobile Homes, is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating yacht and ship brokers and salespersons in Florida. Section 326.003, Florida Statutes (1997). On July 28, 1998, the Division received an application for a yacht and ship salesperson's license from Richard Badolato. Question 13 on the application solicits information of the applicant's criminal history as follows: Have you ever been convicted of a crime, either pled or been found guilty, or entered a plea of nolo contendere (no contest), even if adjudication was withheld? NOTE: This question applies to any violation of the laws of any municipality, county, state, or nation, including traffic offenses (but not parking, speeding, inspection or traffic signal violations), without regard to whether you were placed on probation, had adjudication withheld, paroled, or pardoned. Your answer to this question will be checked against local and state records. Failure to answer this question accurately could cause denial of licensure. After Question 15 of the application, the following statement appears in bold type: "If your answer to question 13, 14, or 15 is Yes, attach your complete signed statement of the charges and facts, together with the dates, name and location of the court in which the proceedings were held or are pending." Mr. Badolato answered Question 13 in the affirmative, and he signed the application, thereby certifying that "the foregoing information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief." Mr. Badolato did not provide the statement of particulars which must be submitted by those answering Question 13 in the affirmative. In a letter dated July 28, 1998, the Division notified Mr. Badolato that his application was incomplete and that he should, among other things, provide a complete written explanation of his criminal history. In response to this letter, Mr. Badolato provided a signed statement in which he stated: "I was arrested and charged with possession of marj. in 1981." Mr. Badolato also provided a telephone number on the statement, indicating that he could be contacted at that number if the Division had any questions. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 326.004(15), the Division issued a 90-day temporary license to Mr. Badolato, pending completion of the criminal history analysis that is done on all applicants by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The Division subsequently received a report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation which revealed that Mr. Badolato had three drug-related felony convictions, as well as an arrest on June 22, 1977, which resulted in a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. On August 24, 1981, Mr. Badolato was convicted in federal district court in Brunswick, Georgia, of conspiracy to smuggle marijuana; he was sentenced to ten years in prison and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine. On October 23, 1981, Mr. Badolato was convicted in federal district court in Miami, Florida, of conspiracy to distribute cocaine; he was sentenced to thirty months in prison, to run consecutively with the ten-year sentence in the Georgia case. On January 31, 1989, Mr. Badolato was convicted in federal district court in Maryland of conspiracy to distribute marijuana; he was sentenced to thirty-six months in prison, to run concurrently with any sentence imposed for a violation of parole. Mr. Badolato was released from prison in 1991 and successfully completed parole in December 1996 with respect to the 1989 conviction. In late 1997, Mr. Badolato received a letter advising him that he might be eligible for clemency. An attorney acting on behalf of Mr. Badolato filed an application for clemency with the Florida Parole Commission. Although Mr. Badolato has never seen this application, he assumes that the file developed during review of the application contains complete information regarding his criminal history.2 When the Division received the Federal Bureau of Investigation report, Peter Butler, head of the Division's general enforcement section, contacted Mr. Badolato by telephone, read to him the statement in the application quoted in paragraph 4 above, and asked him if he wanted to amend his application. Because he could not remember the exact dates of his three felony convictions, Mr. Badolato responded by referring Mr. Butler to the Clemency Board if Mr. Butler wanted to obtain further information about Mr. Badolato's criminal history. Mr. Badolato acknowledged in his testimony that he should have been more thorough in completing his application for licensure, that he was lazy and stupid for not being more forthcoming in the application, and that he did not intend to mislead the Division. He believed that, by answering "Yes" to Question 13 and admitting that he was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana in 1981, he had provided enough information to alert the Division that he had a criminal history. He also assumed that it would be very easy for the Division to obtain complete information about his background merely by running a computer check and by reviewing the information in his clemency application file. From 1991, when he was released from prison, until December 1998, Mr. Badolato was involved in the restaurant business in a managerial capacity, and, as part of his duties, he handled large sums of money. No money in his care was ever found missing, and no adverse employment actions were taken against him during this time. In addition, during the time he was on parole, Mr. Badolato periodically submitted to random drug-testing and never failed a test. The evidence presented by Mr. Badolato is not sufficient to establish that he is of good moral character. He admitted in his answer to Question 13 on the application that he had been convicted of a felony, yet he included in the statement which he filed as part of the application a vague, incomplete, misleading, and inaccurate reference to an arrest and charge of possession of marijuana in 1981.3 Furthermore, Mr. Badolato certified by his signature on the application form that the information he provided was "true and correct to the best of [his] knowledge and belief," when he was certainly fully aware that he had three separate felony convictions. Mr. Badolato presented evidence of his good employment history subsequent to his release from prison in 1991, his successful termination of probation, and his faithful payments on the $30,000 fine imposed in 1981, all of which tend to show rehabilitation and good moral character. However, Mr. Badolato's failure to include in his application complete and accurate information regarding his criminal history tends to show lack of rehabilitation and lack of good moral character. On balance, Mr. Badolato's failure to disclose in his application his complete criminal history outweighs the evidence he presented to show rehabilitation and good moral character.

Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Land Sales, Condominiums, and Mobile Homes, enter a final order denying Richard Badolato's application for licensure as a yacht and ship salesperson. DONE AND ENTERED this 16th day of August, 1999, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. PATRICIA HART MALONO Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 16th day of August, 1999.

Florida Laws (3) 120.569326.003326.004 Florida Administrative Code (2) 28-106.20461B-60.003
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STEPHEN M. MORRIS vs DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING, 05-002408 (2005)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Deland, Florida Jul. 05, 2005 Number: 05-002408 Latest Update: Mar. 03, 2006

The Issue The issues are: (1) whether Petitioner is qualified for a pari-mutuel wagering occupational license as a greyhound owner; and, (2) whether Petitioner is entitled to waiver of the provisions in accordance to Chapter 550, Florida Statutes (2004).

Findings Of Fact Based on the oral and documentary evidence adduced at hearing, the following Findings of Fact are made: Petitioner, Stephen M. Morris, submitted an application for a pari-mutuel wagering occupational license as a greyhound owner on or about February 24, 2005. On his application for a pari-mutuel wagering occupational license, Petitioner accurately reported that he had been convicted of the following three felonies: (1) possession and sale of a controlled substance, (2) trafficking in controlled substance (cannabis) in excess of 100 pounds, and (3) dealing in stolen property. The foregoing felony convictions were in or about 1976, 1984, and 1993, respectively, and were the result of offenses that occurred in Florida. Due to Petitioner's felony convictions, as noted in paragraph 2 above, his application for a pari-mutuel wagering occupational license was subject to denial. Consequently, on February 24, 2005, in addition to his application for a pari-mutuel wagering occupational license, Petitioner also requested that a waiver be granted so that he could obtain the license. Petitioner's application and his request for waiver did not include any information which would establish his rehabilitation or demonstrate that he has good moral character. As part of the Division's review of Petitioner's request for waiver, on or about April 5, 2005, Mr. Toner interviewed Petitioner. During the interview with Mr. Toner, Petitioner had the opportunity to present information that established his rehabilitation and demonstrated his present good moral character, but he did not produce such information. In light of the information regarding Petitioner's felony convictions, which are undisputed and included in Petitioner's application, Petitioner does not meet the eligibility requirements for the license which he seeks. By Petitioner's own admission, he was convicted of the felony offenses noted in paragraph 2 above. The number of felony convictions and the times that the offenses were committed, show a pattern of serious criminal behavior and recidivism. Petitioner may be rehabilitated and may have present good moral character. However, Petitioner did not testify at the final hearing and presented no evidence that he has been rehabilitated and has present good moral character. Absent from the record is any testimony from Petitioner or from Petitioner's friends, relatives, business associates, employers, or church members regarding Petitioner's good conduct and reputation subsequent to the date of his last felony conviction. In absence of any evidence that Petitioner has been rehabilitated and has present good moral character, the Division has no basis to grant Petitioner a waiver.

Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that Respondent, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, enter a final order denying Petitioner, Stephen M. Morris', application for a pari-mutuel wagering occupational license and his request for waiver. DONE AND ENTERED this 30th day of December, 2005, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. S CAROLYN S. HOLIFIELD Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 30th day of December, 2005. COPIES FURNISHED: Stefan Thomas Hoffer, Esquire Department of Business and Professional Regulation Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2202 Stephen M. Morris 162 Warren Avenue New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168 David J. Roberts, Director Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering Department of Business and Professional Regulation 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792 Josefina Tamayo, General Counsel Department of Business and Professional Regulation Northwood Centre 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2202

Florida Laws (4) 120.569120.57550.0251550.105 Florida Administrative Code (2) 61D-10.00161D-5.006
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF PHARMACY vs CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN SWITLYK, R.PH., 14-000883PL (2014)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Tallahassee, Florida Feb. 24, 2014 Number: 14-000883PL Latest Update: Nov. 04, 2014

The Issue The issue in this case is whether the Respondent’s license to practice pharmacy should be revoked or otherwise disciplined based on conduct that resulted in criminal convictions and his failure to report the convictions to the Board of Pharmacy (Board), as required.

Findings Of Fact The Respondent has been a licensed pharmacist in Florida and held Florida license PS 36908 at all pertinent times, until it expired on September 30, 2013. On December 14, 2010, the Respondent was indicted in federal court in the Middle District of Florida, Case No. 8:10- CR-530-T-33AEP. On September 5, 2012, the Respondent pled guilty to one count of conspiring to violate 21 U.S.C. sections 841(a)(1), 843(a)(2), 843(a)(3), and 856(a)(1), all of which also constituted violations of 21 U.S.C. section 846, and to two counts of knowingly engaging in monetary transactions, in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, in property of a value of greater than $10,000, which was derived from a felonious criminal conspiracy to traffick in controlled substances, in violation of 18 U.S.C. section 1957. The plea also admitted to the factual basis of the charges--namely, that the Respondent conspired to allow the pharmacy he owned and operated in Tampa, Florida, to be used by the criminal conspiracy to fill and dispense forged, and otherwise illegal, prescriptions for over a million doses of Schedule II controlled substances, mostly oxycodone. The cash proceeds of the illegal sales were treated as income of the pharmacy, and the Respondent and others participated in monetary transactions whereby the illegally- obtained cash was used to purchase cashier’s checks and other assets and to conceal the illegal source of the money. Based on his guilty pleas, the Respondent was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 108 months in prison. The special conditions of supervision in the Judgment require the Respondent to “refrain from engaging in any employment related to dispensing prescriptions drugs either in a pharmacy, pain clinic, or other medical environment.” The Respondent’s convictions clearly were related to his practice of pharmacy. The Respondent now maintains that he should not have pled guilty and would not have done so but for the incompetence of his attorney, who advised him to enter into the plea agreement. Based on this ground and others, he has been seeking to have his convictions vacated or his sentence reduced. There is no evidence that he has been successful in altering his convictions or sentence in any way, and the evidence does not suggest that it is likely that he will succeed in accomplishing either objective. The Respondent did not report his guilty pleas to the Board in writing within 30 days. The Respondent contends that his incarceration since his arrest made it impossible for him to do so. However, the greater weight of the evidence was to the contrary. More likely, compliance with the technical requirement to report to the Board in writing was not in the forefront of his mind. The Respondent has been licensed since July 31, 2002. This is the first time action has been taken by DOH and the Board to discipline his license. The Respondent’s actions had the potential to expose numerous people to harm from the misuse and abuse of oxycodone and other controlled substances. This violated the trust placed in him by the State of Florida when he became licensed as a pharmacist. His violation of the public trust demonstrated unsound judgment and a lack of integrity. As a result, the Respondent’s professional standing among his peers was lowered. (The only direct evidence of this was the testimony of DOH’s expert witness, but this fact can be inferred from the nature of his convictions and sentence, as well as the comments of the sentencing federal judge, who viewed the Respondent’s actions as an abuse of the public trust and undeserving of a second chance to be a pharmacist.) The Respondent also contends that he should be treated leniently in this case because alcohol abuse and long-standing emotional and psychological problems were primary reasons for his actions. His contention belies the criminal convictions, which were for intentional crimes and based on voluntary guilty pleas. To the extent that these problems were contributory factors, it is commendable that the Respondent is taking them seriously, and he will benefit in the long run from continuing to seek treatment and counseling to address them. Neither the problems, in themselves, nor the start of treatment and counseling warrants lenient license discipline. The Board has guidelines for the imposition of penalties for license violations. DOH submitted Petitioner’s Exhibit 4 as evidence of the guidelines in effect at the time of the Respondent’s guilty pleas and convictions. However, the exhibit actually purports to certify the guidelines in effect at various times from January 1, 2011, until December 31, 2013. It appears from the exhibit that as of the time of the Respondent’s guilty pleas and convictions, the range of penalties for a first violation of section 456.072(1)(c), Florida Statutes (2012), for a felony conviction or guilty plea was from a year probation and a $3,000 fine to a year suspension to revocation and a $5,000 fine. Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B16-30.001(o)3. (revised Nov. 29, 2006). The range of penalties for a first violation of section 456.072(1)(x), Florida Statutes (2012), is from a $1,000 fine to a $2,500 fine and a year probation. Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B16-30.001(o)(18) (revised Nov. 29, 2006). The guidelines in effect at that time also included aggravating circumstances that would justify deviating above the guidelines and mitigating circumstances that would justify deviating below the guidelines. The aggravating circumstances included: a history of previous violations; in the case of negligent acts, the magnitude and scope of the damage or potential damage inflicted on a patient or the general public; and violations of professional practice acts in other jurisdictions. The mitigating circumstances included: in the case of negligent acts, the minor nature of the damage or potential damage to the patient’s or the general public’s health, safety, and welfare; the lack of previous discipline; restitution of monetary damage suffered by the patient; the licensee’s professional standing among his peers; the steps taken by the licensee to ensure the non-occurrence of similar violations in the future, including continuing education; and the degree of financial hardship incurred by the licensee. In this case, there are no aggravating circumstances justifying a deviation above the guidelines. As for mitigating circumstances: the minor nature of the damage or potential damage to the patient’s or the general public’s health, safety, and welfare from his failure to report his convictions and guilty pleas to the Board might justify a deviation below the guidelines for that violation, but not for the convictions and pleas, themselves; the Respondent’s lack of previous discipline is a mitigating circumstance; restitution of monetary damage to the patient is not relevant; the Respondent’s professional standing among his peers has suffered and does not justify a deviation below the guidelines in this case; the Respondent forfeited all ill-gotten gains to the federal government and has incurred financial hardship as a result of the forfeitures and his incarceration, but that does not justify a deviation below the guidelines in this case; the Respondent has taken several continuing education courses since he has been incarcerated, but that does not justify a deviation below the guidelines in this case.

Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Board of Pharmacy enter a final order finding the Respondent guilty as charged and revoking his license to practice pharmacy. DONE AND ENTERED this 23rd day of June, 2014, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. S J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 23rd day of June, 2014. COPIES FURNISHED: Mark Whitten, Executive Director Board of Pharmacy Department of Health 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-04 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3254 Jennifer A. Tschetter, General Counsel Department of Health 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-02 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1701 Yolanda Y. Green, Esquire Lucas L. May, Esquire Department of Health 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-65 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3265 Christopher S. Switlyk Register No. 53913-018 Federal Satellite Camp Post Office Box 779800 Miami, Florida 33177-9800

USC (1) 21 U.S.C 846 Florida Laws (4) 120.569120.57120.68456.072
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DIVISION OF LICENSING vs VANCE H. BRITTO, 99-002606 (1999)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Orlando, Florida Jun. 30, 1999 Number: 99-002606 Latest Update: Dec. 21, 1999

The Issue An Administrative Complaint dated February 8, 1999, alleges that Respondent committed violations of Section 493.6118, Florida Statutes, when he performed armed security officer services without a proper license and when he failed to cooperate with an official investigation and gave false information regarding his identity and address. The issues in this proceeding are whether the alleged violations occurred and, if so, what penalty is appropriate.

Findings Of Fact Respondent, Vance H. Britto, was licensed by the Florida Department of State as a security officer some time prior to 1993. His license expired and he was deemed ineligible for re- licensure because of an unpaid disciplinary fine. On August 27, 1998, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Richard Yates, an investigator with the Florida Department of State, conducted a pro-active investigation at Windhover Apartments in Orlando, Orange County, Florida. Investigator Yates was accompanied by his colleague, Ed Sundberg. The investigators approached an individual wearing a security officer's uniform and badge and carrying a 38-caliber revolver. They identified themselves and asked the individual for his name and security officer's license. The individual gave his name as David Wilson but said that his license was at his employer's office being laminated. Although he was in a white Ford sedan with security markings, the individual denied having his driver's license or social security card with him. He gave his address as 2203 Page Street in Orlando. He gave his supervisor's name as Ricky Heath and his employer as Security Enforcement Services, Inc. After a brief exchange with the investigators, the individual sped away in his vehicle. Investigator Yates made a note of the license plate and made further notes on an inspection checklist. When he returned to his office and described the individual and the encounter to his supervisor, and with the aid of a file photograph, Investigator Yates was able to identify the individual as Vance Britto, a former licensee. In 1998 and to the present time, Mr. Britto has not been licensed with either a "Class G" or "Class D" license. No one knew Mr. Britto at the Page Street address he gave the investigators and when they checked his address in the computer file they learned that he had not lived there in over two years.

Recommendation Based on the foregoing, it is RECOMMENDED: that the agency enter its formal order finding Respondent guilty of violating Sections 493.6118(1)(g) and (o), Florida Statutes, and assessing an administrative fine of $1,000. DONE AND ENTERED this 8th day of November, 1999, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. MARY CLARK Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 8th day of November, 1999. COPIES FURNISHED: Douglas D. Sunshine, Esquire Department of State Division of Licensing The Capitol, Mail Station 4 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250 Vance H. Britto 6525 Pompeii Drive Orlando, Florida 32822 Honorable Katherine Harris Secretary of State Department of State The Capitol, Plaza Level 02 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250 Deborah K. Kearney, General Counsel Department of State The Capitol, Lower Level 10 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250

Florida Laws (3) 120.569120.57493.6118
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