Disciplinary Actions
ALPINE PROPERTIES, INC. (Raleigh)
– – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the firm license of
Alpine Properties for a period of one year effective August 10, 2006. The
Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Alpine Properties had
violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. Alpine
Properties neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
JANE D. BARNES
(Dunn) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Barnes
for a period of one year effective September 1, 2006. Three months of the
suspension were active with the remainder stayed for a probationary period of
two years. The Commission found that Ms. Barnes, as the owner and landlord of
residential rental property, falsely stated to a prospective tenant who offered
to lease the property that the property had already been leased when it had
not. The Commission also found that Ms. Barnes then leased the property to two
successive tenants and failed to maintain security deposits from those tenants
in a trust account as required by Commission rules.
BATTS & RAMSEY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC (Raleigh) – By Consent, the Commission suspended
the firm license of Batts & Ramsey Property
Management for a period of six months effective June 29, 2006. The Commission
then stayed the suspension for a probationary period of one year. The
Commission found that Batts & Ramsey Property
Management failed to supervise its employees in the maintenance of the trust
accounts and records relating to such accounts and did not maintain the trust
accounts and records for these funds in the manner required by Commission
rules. The Commission noted that the firm cooperated with the Commission’s
investigations and took substantial corrective measures to bring the firm’s
records into compliance and that no consumer incurred any financial losses as a
result of the firm’s conduct.
BETTINA G. BATTS (Raleigh) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Ms. Batts effective June 29, 2006. The Commission found that Ms.
Batts, as an active salesperson affiliated with a
real estate firm, was placed in charge of managing trust money, but did not
maintain the trust accounts and records as required by Commission rules. The
Commission noted that Ms. Batts cooperated with the
Commission’s investigations and took substantial corrective measures to bring
the firm’s records into compliance and that no consumer incurred any financial
losses as a result of her conduct.
JANICE H. BESCHE (Fletcher) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of
Ms. Besche for a period of six months effective
August 1, 2006. Ninety days of the suspension were active with the remainder
stayed for a probationary period of three years. The Commission found that Ms. Besche was convicted of Attempted Voter Fraud in April 2003
and failed to report the conviction within sixty days of final judgment.
GERALD P. BROCKMAN (Charlotte)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Mr. Brockman effective October 1,
2006. The Commission found that Mr. Brockman pled guilty in December 2005 in
United States District Court to the Employment of Manipulative and Deceptive
Devices in Connection with the Purchase of a Security in 2001, and was
sentenced to a three-year probationary sentence with six months home detention.
The Commission noted that Mr. Brockman has fully repaid the money.
BURCH REAL ESTATE, INC. (Bat Cave) – By Consent, the Commission
reprimanded Burch Real Estate, Inc., effective July 1, 2006. The Commission
found that Burch Real Estate failed to maintain trust account records in
compliance with the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. The
Commission noted that no consumers were harmed as a result.
WILLIAM BURCH, JR. (Bat Cave) – By Consent, the Commission
reprimanded Mr. Burch effective July 1, 2006. The Commission found that Mr.
Burch, as principal broker and broker-in-charge of a real estate firm, failed
to maintain trust account records in compliance with the Real Estate License
Law and Commission rules. The Commission noted that no consumers were harmed as
a result.
JAMES D. CASH
(Zebulon) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the broker
license of Mr. Cash for a period of one year effective August 15, 2006. The
Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Mr. Cash had violated
provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. Mr. Cash
neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
MILDRED C. CHEEK (Greensboro)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Ms. Cheek effective August 1, 2006.
The Commission found that Ms. Cheek, as broker-in-charge of a real estate firm,
failed to maintain her trust account records in compliance with the Real Estate
License Law and Commission rules. The Commission noted that Ms. Cheek has since
brought her records into compliance.
C. DAN JOYNER COMMERCIAL REALTY, INC. (Greenville)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded C. Dan Joyner Commercial Realty
effective May 22, 2006. The Commission found that C. Dan Joyner Commercial
Realty allowed a person licensed in North Carolina
but on inactive status to enter into North
Carolina and engage in real estate activities in
behalf of the firm. The Commission noted that the firm cooperated fully in the
Commission’s investigation of this matter and surrendered any claim to the
$550,000 in unpaid commission due under the co-brokerage agreement made by the
person on inactive status.
HILTON O. CHESSON (Durham)
- – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Mr. Chesson
effective June 1, 2006. The Commission found that Mr. Chesson
sold a residential property without disclosing information from a previous
transaction that the house was located in a flood plain, instead relying upon a
survey showing that only a corner of the property, not the house, was located
in a flood plain.
ROBERT S. CLARKE (Raleigh)
– – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the broker license of
Mr. Clarke for a period of one year effective August 2, 2006. The Commission
dismissed without prejudice allegations that Mr. Clarke had violated provisions
of the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. Mr. Clarke neither
admitted nor denied misconduct.
MINH LE COURTNEY (Fayetteville)
– By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Courtney for a
period of one year effective August 1, 2006. One month of the suspension was
active with the remainder stayed for a probationary period of 11 months on
certain conditions. The Commission found that Ms. Courtney advertised a
seller’s property without first reviewing the “Working With
Real Estate Agents” brochure with the seller, without entering into a written
agency agreement and without obtaining the seller’s permission to advertise.
The Commission also found that Ms. Courtney prepared two offers which included
language pertaining to a sales commission.
DEBRA CREDLE
(Garner) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Credle for a period of three years effective June 15, 2006.
The suspension is to be active until December 20, 2007, at which time the
license of Ms. Credle is to be restored to active
status under certain conditions. The Commission found that Ms. Credle, while associated as an agent with a financial
services firm, accepted $2,000 from a buyer in connection with a lease-purchase
transaction and did not safeguard the money, deposit the money into a trust
account, or escrow account or turn it over to a licensed broker. The Commission
also found that Ms. Credle falsely represented to the
buyer that the financial services firm and its owner were owners of the
property, that she gave the deposit monies to the firm’s owner even though she
was aware that neither the owner nor the firm were licensed as a real estate
broker, and that she did not account to the buyer for the disposition of the
deposit money.
DEBBY S. DAIGLE
(Southport) – By Consent, the Commission
reprimanded Ms. Daigle effective June 1, 2006. The Commission found that Ms.
Daigle operated a business as a limited liability company between 2000 and 2003
without first obtaining a firm license. Ms. Daigle neither admitted nor denied
the Commission’s findings. The Commission noted that Ms. Daigle immediately
obtained a firm license when contacted by the Commission in this matter.
JAMES P. DEMARE
(Charlotte) –
By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. DeMare for a period of one year effective July 1, 2006. The
Commission then stayed the suspension for a probationary period of one year.
The Commission found that Mr. DeMare, while licensed
as a salesperson in 2001, represented a buyer in the purchase of a house and
lot and the neighboring empty lot for a total purchase of price of $122,000,
and then, after the contract was made, agreed to purchase the empty lot for
$6,000 and resold the lot for a profit without adequately disclosing to the
buyer the details of the resale or the opportunity he was taking away from the
buyer to make a profit for himself. The Commission noted that Mr. DeMare subsequently returned the profit to the buyer.
DENISE J. EDDLEMAN (Statesville)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Ms. Eddleman
effective January 1, 2007. The Commission found that Ms. Eddleman,
as qualifying broker and broker-in-charge of a real estate firm, purchased a
building in 2001 in which to locate her firm. Ms. Eddleman
used a lender that did not make commercial loans, but did make loans for
investment property used for residential purposes, and indicated on the loan
application that the property was being purchased for investment purposes in
order to obtain the loan. The Commission noted that Ms. Eddleman
subsequently refinanced the loan and obtained a commercial loan for the
building.
EDDLEMAN REALTY, INC. (Statesville)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Eddleman
Realty effective January 1, 2007. The Commission found that Eddleman
Realty’s broker-in-charge purchased a building in 2001 in which to locate Eddleman Realty. The broker-in-charge used a lender that
did not make commercial loans, but did make loans for investment property used
for residential purposes, and indicated on the loan application that the
property was being purchased for investment purposes in order to obtain the
loan. The Commission noted that the broker-in-charge subsequently refinanced
the loan and obtained a commercial loan for the building.
DONALD W. GUPTON, INC. (Henderson) – By Consent, the Commission revoked the firm license of
Donald W. Gupton, Inc., effective May 18, 2006. The
Commission found that, between 1999 and 2002, the firm, engaged in the business
of selling mobile homes and land and assisted purchasers in a series of
transactions to make false statements to lenders and their representatives. The
Commission also found that a number of the loans made in connection with the
transactions were not repaid and foreclosure resulted.
FAMILY REALTY CO., INC. (Greensboro)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Family Realty effective August 1,
2006. The Commission found that Family Realty failed to maintain its trust
accounts in compliance with the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules.
The Commission noted that Family Realty has brought its accounts into
compliance and no consumers were harmed as a result.
HENRY BRADLEY FORD (Roanoke Rapids) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker
license of Mr. Ford for a period of six months effective June 29, 2006. The
Commission then stayed the suspension for a probationary period of six months.
The Commission found that Mr. Ford failed to report on his 2002 salesperson
license application a 1996 conviction for two counts of misdemeanor assault
related to his involvement in a simple affray at an outdoor concert and was
sentenced to 18 months unsupervised probation. The Commission noted that Mr.
Ford reported the conviction on his broker license application.
KENDALL FORD
(Charlotte) – By Consent, the Commission revoked the broker license of Mr. Ford
effective June 14, 2006. The Commission found that Mr. Ford purchased two
properties and, in each transaction, received funds which were not reported on
the closing statements. Mr. Ford did not admit the charges, but did not contest
the Commission making findings and conclusions based upon the allegations.
FRANCIS B. FRY
(Lexington) –
By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Fry for a period
of eight months effective August 9, 2006. The Commission then stayed the
suspension for a probationary period of eight months. The Commission found that
Ms. Fry, acting as a developer, listed and advertised interior lots in a
subdivision as having lake access when the subdivision had been redrawn to
comply with regulations prohibiting lake access to the interior lots. The
Commission also found that buyers of an interior lot built a home based upon
the representation that lake access was permitted, only to discover that it was
not. The Commission noted that Ms. Fry settled with the buyers.
KAYE H. FRY (Lexington) – By Consent,
the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Fry for a period of eight
months effective August 9, 2006. The Commission then stayed the suspension for
a probationary period of eight months. The Commission found that Ms. Fry,
acting as a developer, listed and advertised interior lots in a subdivision as
having lake access when the subdivision had been redrawn to comply with
regulations prohibiting lake access to the interior lots. The Commission also
found that buyers of an interior lot built a home based upon the representation
that lake access was permitted, only to discover that it was not. The
Commission noted that Ms. Fry settled with the buyers.
KIMBERLY L. GILL (Bat Cave) – By Consent, the Commission
suspended the broker license of Ms. Gill for a period of three months effective
July 1, 2006. The Commission then stayed the suspension on certain conditions.
The Commission found that Ms. Gill had responsibility for maintaining the trust
account records for the brokerage firm with which she was associated and failed
to maintain the trust account records in compliance with the Real Estate
License Law and Commission rules. The Commission noted that the firm has
brought its trust account records into compliance and no consumers were harmed
as a result.
JERRY H. GOODEN
(Raleigh) – By
Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Gooden for a period
of one year effective July 1, 2006. Six months of the suspension are to be
active with the remainder stayed for a probationary period of 18 months. The
Commission found that Mr. Gooden’s appraisal license was suspended by the North
Carolina Appraisal Board for two years effective June 1, 2005. The suspension
was stayed as of February 1, 2006 on certain conditions. The Commission also
found that the Appraisal Board issued this sanction upon determining that Mr.
Gooden failed to adequately supervise a trainee, failed to correctly complete
research and analysis, and negligently communicated misleading appraisal reports.
DONALD W. GUPTON (Henderson)
– By Consent, the Commission revoked the broker license of Mr. Gupton effective May 18, 2006. The Commission found that
during March 2006, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District
of North Carolina, Mr. Gupton pleaded guilty to the
offense of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit
money laundering. The Commission also found that these offenses were committed
in connection with real estate transactions.
HASSELL M. HAIRSTON (Charlotte)
– By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Hairston for a
period of one year effective May 1, 2006. Six months of the suspension are to
be active with the remainder stayed for a probationary period of six months.
The Commission found that Mr. Hairston acted as a buyer’s agent for a buyer
without ever meeting the buyer, without first reviewing the “Working With Real Estate Agents” brochure with the buyer and without
entering into a written agency agreement with the buyer. The Commission also
found that Mr. Hairston failed to maintain a transaction file
for this matter and that the buyer eventually lost the home to foreclosure.
DAVID ALLEN HURST (Blowing Rock) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker
license of Mr. Hurst for a period of six months effective July 17, 2006. The
Commission then stayed the suspension for a probationary period of six months.
The Commission found that Mr. Hurst, while he was licensed in North Carolina as
a salesperson, failed to report at the time it occurred a 1999 South Carolina
disciplinary action for engaging in four brokerage sales transactions prior to
obtaining a license, and failed to disclose the disciplinary action on two
license applications, both in 2006.
RICHARD JENKINS
(Fairview) – By
Consent, the Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the broker license
of Mr. Jenkins for a period of two years effective July 3, 2006. The Commission
dismissed without prejudice allegations that Mr. Jenkins had violated the Real
Estate License Law and Commission rules. Mr. Jenkins neither admitted nor
denied misconduct.
C. DAN JOYNER
(Greenville) –
By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Mr. Joyner effective May 22, 2006. The
Commission found that Mr. Joyner, acting as broker-in-charge of a licensed firm,
failed to file a supervision form in a timely fashion. As a result, a person
licensed in North Carolina but on inactive
status entered into North Carolina
and engaged in real estate activities on behalf of the firm, purportedly under
Mr. Joyner’s supervision. The Commission noted that Mr. Joyner cooperated fully
in the Commission’s investigation of this matter and surrendered any claim to
the $550,000 in unpaid commission due under the co-brokerage agreement made by
the person on inactive status.
JOHN M. KANE
(Raleigh) – By
Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Kane for a period
of two years effective January 1, 2006. Six months of the suspension were
active with the remainder stayed for a probationary period of 18 months on
certain conditions. The Commission found that Mr. Kane, as principal broker and
broker-in-charge of a real estate firm, failed to keep monies of landlord
clients in trust accounts designated as such and failed to maintain bookkeeping
records in conformity with Commission rules. The Commission also found that an
unlicensed associate of the firm received client monies from the firm’s bank
accounts without the authority of clients or Mr. Kane. The Commission noted
that when the unauthorized use of monies was discovered, the monies were
restored and the unlicensed employee was separated from the firm.
KANE REAL ESTATE
COMPANY (Raleigh) – By Consent, the
Commission suspended the firm license of Kane Real Estate for a period of two
years effective January 1, 2006. The Commission then stayed the suspension for
a probationary period of 30 months. The Commission found that Kane Real Estate
failed to keep monies of landlord clients in trust accounts designated as such
and failed to maintain bookkeeping records in conformity with Commission rules.
The Commission also found that an unlicensed associate of the firm received
client monies from the firm’s bank accounts without the authority of clients or
Kane Real Estate. The Commission noted that when the unauthorized use of monies
was discovered, the monies were restored and the unlicensed employee was
separated from the firm.
JAMES M. KERR (Weddington) – By Consent,
the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Kerr for a period of 60 days
effective October 1, 2006. The Commission then stayed the suspension for a
probationary period of one year on certain conditions. The Commission found
that Mr. Kerr, as listing agent for a historic property that had a history of
roof leaks, failed to disclose a leak to buyers that occurred after inspection
and before closing and that the sellers had repaired. After closing, the roof
leaked again and the buyers had to replace the roof. The Commission noted that
the buyers have been reimbursed $12,500 for the cost of replacing the roof.
MARY KATHRYN
KROENING (Raleigh) – By Consent, the Commission
suspended the salesperson license of Ms. Kroening for
a period of one year effective July 1, 2006. The Commission then stayed the
suspension for a probationary period of 11 months. The Commission found that
Ms. Kroening, as a salesperson for a residential
developer in 2001 and 2002, failed to disclose plans by another entity to build
a commercial project in close proximity to the residential properties she was
marketing.
SANDRA J. LABARBERA (Raleigh)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Ms. LaBarbera
effective October 1, 2006. The Commission found that Ms. LaBarbera
failed to communicate to her buyer clients repeated requests from the sellers
of a residential property concerning re-negotiating the closing date or date of
possession of the property, instead representing without the buyers’ authority
that the buyers had refused to discuss these requests.
RICHARD W. LENHART (Kernersville) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the
broker license of Mr. Lenhart for a period of two
years effective June 1, 2006. The Commission dismissed without prejudice
allegations that Mr. Lenhart had violated provisions
of the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. Mr. Lenhard
neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
JAMES M. LEWICKI (Highlands) – By Consent, the
Commission revoked the broker license of Mr. Lewicki
effective June 15, 2006. The Commission found that Mr. Lewicki
did not respond in 2005 to Letters of Inquiry from the Commission and refused
in 2006 to make his trust account records available to the Commission for
inspection. Mr. Lewicki did not admit or deny the
Commission’s findings.
TINA Y. LONG
(Harkers
Island) – By Consent, the
Commission revoked the broker license of Ms. Long effective June 15, 2006. The
Commission found that Ms. Long applied to become licensed as a salesperson in
2003 and as a broker in 2004 and failed to disclose that she had been convicted
of certain felony offenses and that there were charges outstanding against her
for obtaining merchandise by bogus check, child stealing, and shooting with
intent to kill. The Commission also found that Ms. Long, following licensure,
failed to report a conviction in 2005 of forgery.
CAROLYN J. MARTIN (Ahoskie) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of
Ms. Martin for a period of one year effective June 15, 2006. One month of the
suspension was active with the remainder stayed for a probationary period of 11
months. The Commission found that Ms. Martin allowed a seller to enter into two
contracts without verifying that the first contract was no longer in force or
advising her seller client to seek legal advice. The Commission also found that
in a separate transaction, Ms. Martin used a “Buyer Possession Before Closing Agreement” as a long-term lease, inserted
legal provisions concerning a non-refundable deposit that conflicted with the
underlying contract and managed the property without a written management
agreement. Finally, the Commission found that Ms. Martin failed to keep
adequate trust account records for the transaction and engaged in deficit
spending to cover the mortgage and other costs associated with the property.
JAMES C. MASSENBURG (Kinston)
– By Consent, the Commission revoked the broker license of Mr. Massenburg effective August 10, 2006. The Commission found
that Mr. Massenburg, acting as broker and rental
agent for rental properties, failed to maintain rents and security deposit
monies in a trust account as required by Commission rule, did not promptly and
fully account for the money to clients, and converted client monies to his own
use.
THOMAS E. MCFADDEN (Greensboro)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Mr. McFadden effective August 1, 2006.
The Commission found that Mr. McFadden, as principal broker and
broker-in-charge of a real estate firm, failed to maintain his trust accounts
in compliance with the Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. The
Commission noted that Mr. McFadden has brought his accounts into compliance and
no consumers were harmed as a result.
T. MITCHELL MULLER (Matthews) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Mr. Muller
effective October 1, 2006. The Commission found that in 2004, Mr. Muller failed
to refund a tenant’s $750 security deposit, telling the tenant that his wife
had closed his trust account and taken all the funds and the tenant should seek
payment from her. The Commission also found that Mr. Muller failed to maintain
individual ledgers or other information to establish an audit trail for the
time period. The Commission noted that Mr. Muller eventually refunded the
security deposit out of other funds after a delay of several months.
PHIFER REALTY, INC. (Kinston)
– By Consent, the Commission revoked the firm license of Phifer
Realty effective August 10, 2006. The Commission found that Phifer
Realty, acting as broker and rental agent for rental properties, failed to
maintain rents and security deposit monies in a trust account as required by
Commission rule, did not promptly and fully account for the money to clients,
and converted client monies to its own use.
LINDA T. POWELL
(Hickory) – By
Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Powell for a period
of sixty days effective May 1, 2006. The Commission found that Ms. Powell,
acting as a buyer agent, failed to discover and disclose to the buyers
information received from a listing agent disclosing a possible major highway
project planned for an area very near the property her buyers contracted to
purchase.
MICHAEL R. QUILLAN (Greenville)
– By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Quillan for a period of two years effective July 1, 2006.
The Commission then stayed the suspension for a probationary period of two
years. The Commission found that Mr. Quillan, while
licensed as a salesperson in North
Carolina, was on inactive status as a result of the
failure to file a supervision form in a timely manner, and engaged in
activities which constitute the practice of real estate. The Commission noted
that Mr. Quillan cooperated fully in the Commission’s
investigation of this matter and surrendered any claim to the $550,000 in
unpaid commission due while on inactive status.
JOSEPH B. RAMSEY, JR. (Raleigh)
– By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Ramsey for a
period of six months effective June 29, 2006. The Commission then stayed the
suspension for a probationary period of one year. The Commission found that Mr.
Ramsey, as broker-in-charge of a real estate firm office, engaged in the
management of funds for others and failed to supervise the trust accounts and
records relating to such accounts and that the firm did not maintain the trust
accounts in the manner required by Commission rules. The Commission noted that
Mr. Ramsey cooperated with the Commission’s investigations and took substantial
corrective measures to bring the firm’s records into compliance and that no
consumer incurred any financial losses as a result of Mr. Ramsey’s conduct.
BEVERLY L. RAYNOR (Henrico) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker of license
of Ms. Raynor for a period of six months. The
Commission then stayed the suspension for a probationary period of six months
on certain conditions. The Commission found that Ms. Raynor
failed to disclose a 1997 conviction for Impaired Driving – Level 5 on her 1997
salesperson license application and on her 2000 broker license application.
ELIZABETH ANN REEDER (Bellmont) – By Consent, the Commission
suspended the provisional broker license of Ms. Reeder for a period of 30 days
effective May 23, 2006. The Commission then stayed the suspension for a
probationary period of six months. The Commission found that Ms. Reeder failed
to report a 1995 conviction for Driving While Impaired on her 2003 salesperson
license application and submitted an incomplete criminal record report in
connection with that application.
LARRY W. ROBBINS (Charlotte)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Mr. Robbins effective July 1, 2006.
The Commission found that Mr. Robbins listed a property in 1996 and, after the
listing expired, continued to market the property without a written listing
agreement. The Commission also found that in 1998, Mr. Robbins brought a
prospective buyer to the property, but no contract was negotiated; the buyer
bought the property directly from the seller in 1999, and Mr. Robbins sued the
seller for a commission. The Commission noted that this civil suit was settled.
ROBERT G. RUSSELL (Charlotte)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Mr. Russell effective August 1, 2006.
The Commission found that Mr. Russell, as a salesperson with a real estate
brokerage firm in 2003, induced buyers to enter into a contract to buy
residential property by negligently misrepresenting that the property contained
one acre when it actually contained 0.56 acre. The Commission noted that the
buyers incurred expenses of $1,422 before discovering the true size of the
property and terminating the contract. The buyers were reimbursed their costs.
ASHLEY A. SCHOLL (Charlotte)
– By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Scholl for a
period of six months effective June 29, 2006. The Commission then stayed the
suspension for a probationary period of six months. The Commission found that
Ms. Scholl failed in 2005 to update her salesperson license application to report
a pending DWI charge, and that she was convicted of that charge following
licensure, and then failed to report the conviction within 60 days of the final
judgment. The Commission noted that Ms. Scholl reported the conviction later on
her broker license application.
ARTHUR SKILLMAN, III (Fayetteville)
– By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Skillman for a
period of one year. The Commission then stayed the suspension for a
probationary period of one year. The Commission found that Mr. Skillman failed
to keep accurate trust account records of the funds he held for others and,
following an audit and construction of his records, did not always include all
required information thereon. The Commission also found that Mr. Skillman did
not account for personal funds and failed to reconcile his ledgers to his bank
statements, resulting in an overage of $2,140.67 in his trust account. The
Commission noted that Mr. Skillman no longer handles the funds of others.
MARGIE L. SMITH
(Bethel) – By
Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Ms. Smith for a period
of one year effective June 1, 2006. The Commission found that Ms. Smith, in
2002, acted as a dual agent in a transaction in which her buyer clients
purchased a vacant lot she had listed with the intention of placing a
single-wide mobile home on the lot. The Commission also found that Ms. Smith
told the buyers that the lot had city water and sewer available when in fact it
did not, and that Ms. Smith failed to disclose to the buyers that zoning
restrictions prohibited the placement of a single-wide mobile home on the
property.
RICHARD TRENT
(Asheville) –
By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Mr. Trent for a
period of six months effective July 1, 2006. The Commission then stayed the
suspension for a probationary period of one year commencing June 10, 2006. The
Commission found that Mr. Trent did not report to the Commission in a timely fashion convictions for driving while impaired
in 2002 and 2005 and selling malt beverage to an underage individual in 2003.
TRINITY BUILDERS, LLC (Durham)
– By Consent, the Commission revoked the firm license of Trinity Builders
effective June 1, 2006. The Commission found that Trinity Builders sold a
residential property it owned without disclosing information from a previous
transaction that the house was located in a flood plain, instead relying upon a
survey showing only a corner of the property, not the house, was located in a
flood plain.
DAVID B. VANDERPOOL (Goldsboro)
– By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Mr. Vanderpool
effective October 1, 2006. The Commission found that Mr. Vanderpool
sold a personal residence and failed to disclose a drainage issue to the
buyers. Street flooding occurred a month after closing and on several occasions
thereafter. The Commission noted that the house was not affected and the
sellers offered to repurchase the property from the buyers.
ROBERT L. WHITE d/b/a MUTUAL LTD. REALTY (Fayetteville)
By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Mr. White effective May 1, 2006. The
Commission found that Mr. White, as the broker-in-charge of a real estate
brokerage firm, failed to maintain trust account records in compliance with the
Real Estate License Law and Commission rules. The Commission noted that no consumers
were harmed as a result.
WENDY MICHELLE WINDHAM (Sanford) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Ms. Windham
effective August 9, 2006. The Commission found that Ms. Windham failed to
report two 1990 Georgia criminal convictions for underage drinking and driving
under the influence on her 2005 salesperson license application and her 2006
broker license application.
ROBIN N. WINSTEAD (Durham) – The Commission
revoked the broker license of Ms. Winstead effective
September 15, 2006. The Commission found that Ms. Winstead
was convicted in Durham County Superior Court of two counts of financial
identity fraud and two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses in
connection with the use by her of her client’s private information.