You could lose your broker’s license after an arrest in Florida. A mere arrest will likely not cause you to lose your license; however, when a real estate broker licensed in the State of Florida is convicted of a crime, the Florida Real Estate Commission may suspend or revoke your license. This is possible even if the crime had nothing to do with your profession or if it occurred in another state.
In fact, you have an obligation to report any conviction of any crime to the Florida Real Estate Commission. If you do not report a conviction, you could face increased penalties, including a longer license suspension.
The Florida Real Estate Commission looks at convictions on a case-by-case basis. Two statutes outline what could happen after an arrest and conviction in the state:
Florida Statute § 475.25(1)(f) gives the Florida Real Estate Commission several options for what they may do if a broker gets convicted of a crime. This includes:
Rule 61J2-24.001(3)(g) of the Florida Administrative Code offers more specific mandates:
Depending on the crime, you could face additional penalties that limit your ability to bounce back from a suspension and get back to work. It is important to consider how your sentence could affect your job even if it does not revoke your broker’s license. Your penalties could include:
Getting arrested will likely not put your broker’s license in jeopardy. Only a conviction will cause the Florida Real Estate Commission to take action. Let the criminal defense attorneys from Goldman Wetzel help you fight the accusations you face. We can handle any type of criminal case, including:
Summer Goldman and Maribeth Wetzel have more than 30 years combined experience as criminal defense lawyers. We understand how much your broker’s license means to your career and livelihood. Let the Goldman Wetzel team go to work on your case today.
Call us at 727-828-3900 to get started.