IMPORTANT NEWS...
DBPR Issues Emergency Suspension Order to Real Estate Licensee Arrested for Burglary, Grand Theft and Dealing in Stolen Property
September 11, 2008
TALLAHASSEE—Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Charles W. Drago issued an Emergency Suspension Order to real estate sales associate licensee, Marc Alan Wolford, who was arrested by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 29 for burglary, grand theft, and dealing in stolen property. The order was issued yesterday and is in the process of being served. The order resulted in the immediate suspension of Wolford’s license and prevents him from entering any homes on the market in Florida. According to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office report, Wolford gained access to a home using privileges granted by his state-issued real estate license. His license is now inactive.
“Today we’ve made an aggressive move to protect consumers from a licensee who has allegedly abused his state-issued license to burglarize a home. The Emergency Suspension Order that I issued is the fastest and surest way to prevent Wolford from gaining access to other homes and causing more damages while this criminal matter goes through due process. I would like to thank the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for working with the Department to protect consumers,” stated Secretary Drago.
According to the ACSO report, Wolford gained entry to a home by using his lock box key pad, granted to realtors, to open an electronic lock box on a home being sold by a different realtor. The report states that Wolford stole a wooden statue, valued at $20,000, a leather jacket, and a wooden bowl, which were all later found at his home being sold during a garage sale.
Florida Statute 455.225(8) authorizes the Secretary of the Department to suspend licensees’ licenses to practice their professions in the State of Florida when the agency finds that immediate serious danger to the public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency suspension.
The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. The Department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists. For more information, please visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com.
###