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No Lock Box on This Door - Former Realtor Sentenced to 5 years!

By Dawn DeGroff

Real Estate Agent with Fredericksburg Realty, Inc

November 26, 2007 03:00 AM

Former Realtor is sentenced to 5 years.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, the agent stole prescription drugs from a home in Stafford County VA. I was the co-listing agent. The article had many mistakes (lies) because of her testimony. There were never any clients in the home with the agent. She also went back a second time to steal drugs from the home. Thank God for lockboxes which record who has entered a home.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/182254/Former-Real-Estate-Agent

Anyhow, I researched today to find out what her sentencing was because I did not see anything in the paper. Here is a breakdown.

A felony charge of PWID of a controlled substance. 3 years sentence - 2 years 335 days suspended

Felony charge if Statuatory Burglary amended to unlawful entry misdemeanor. 12 months - 11 months suspended

Petit Larceny misdemeanor. 12 months - 11 months suspended.

So of the 5 years she will serve only 3 months. Let's hope she never again has access to a lockbox, I sure wouldn't want her in my home.

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Leslie Bloss, Bellevue Real Estate Professional

Bellevue, WA

Hi Dawn,

Thank you for the info. Doesn't she permanently lose her license? Would this stay on her record if she wants to get a license in another State? I think the judge was pretty lenient!

Nov 26, 2007 03:05 AM

Ken Cook

Content, coding, marketing, host. - Marietta, GA

Content Marketer/Creator

Doesn't a felony conviction preclude one from being a licensed agent? I know in Georgia you cannot work for a broker/lender with a felony conviction - especially one directly related to your job!

Nov 26, 2007 03:08 AM

Jonathan Osman

Jonathan and Associates, Inc - Charlotte, NC

Charlotte House Hunter Group

That should be a huge selling point for using Supra Lockboxes. Anyone using a Multac or Combo box is putting their clients in jeopardy.

Sincerely;
Jonathan Osman
The Charlotte House Hunter
Charlotte NC Homes, Charlotte Real Estate

Nov 26, 2007 03:31 AM

Dawn DeGroff

Fredericksburg Realty, Inc - Fredericksburg, VA

Leslie - I think she got off pretty easy. I know that the homeowner was not very happy with the sentencing. When this happened last year her broker took her license. I just checked and it is currently "Inactive".

Nov 26, 2007 04:48 AM

Ken The same is true in Virginia... although you can go before a board to get a waiver. I do not know if all states have the same restrictions.

Nov 26, 2007 04:50 AM

Jonathan I agree. We had proof positive that she was in the both times the drugs were stolen. It makes you wonder how many other victims there were...ones who never report it?

Nov 26, 2007 04:54 AM

Stella Barbour

NoVa Brokers LLC - Vienna, VA

Principal Broker, Serving Virginia and Maryland

I wonder how many homes the agent stole from previously to feed her habit. That is just an awful thing to happen.

Nov 26, 2007 06:43 AM

Stella - I guess we will never know...My clients knew right away and actually hid the medication after the first theft.

Nov 26, 2007 10:09 AM

Irene Morales Ward

REMAX Distinctive Real Estate, Inc. - Stafford, VA

Realtor - e-Pro - Northern Virginia Real Estate

Dawn - Since you were the listing agent, have you contacted FAAR and the VAR? She needs to go before the board immediately to make sure her license is suspended at least - revoked at best. My guess is she'll never practice again and since she never sold anything, I don't exactly think she's in this for the long haul anyway. Let me know....I certainly don't want her showing MY listings!

Nov 27, 2007 02:48 AM

Bonnie & Terry Westbrook

Westbrook Realty - Ada, MI

Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

It is sad to read about people who make really poor decisions and make a whole profession look bad. Thankfully, this is an isolated incident and she was caught quickly.

Nov 27, 2007 05:57 AM

Irene - It was a very sticky situation. I was the alternate agent, the other agent was the one with the lockbox account, so she handled most of it. Our broker contacted her broker and did what we could to get her "off the streets". It took a very long time for the investigation to take place and for her to go to trial. I am not really sure why DPOR has not revoked her license. I do keep checking the status though.

Nov 27, 2007 06:54 AM

Bonnie - You are right it is very sad, but it happens. She was caught quickly, but truthfully not quick enough. Although we knew right away we had to wait until she was found quilty to discuss it. Trust me we were on egg shells. Thankfully her broker worked with us and she was not able to show (steal) anymore. I was worried that she would go to another brokerage.

Nov 27, 2007 07:05 AM

Derik Tutt

InstaSure Financial - Covington, GA

What a clown. The things people do. If I were the judge, I'd suspend one month from her sentence. She's broke the law and got a slap on the wrist. That's a joke.

Nov 27, 2007 07:12 AM

Derik, I don't understand it...maybe that is why so many people take chances and do stupid thngs. The whole testimony was a bunch of lies. I hope she learned a lesson but I serously doubt it.

Nov 27, 2007 07:50 AM

Jim Ludes

RE/MAX Top Properties - Coal City, IL

Grundy/Will County, IL REALTOR

How often are defendants testimonies NOT full of lies?? What a shame to do this! Gives the whole industry a black eye. We are trusted with most people's largest asset and absolutely must be trusted!!!

Nov 27, 2007 08:35 AM

Trey Thurmond

BCR Realtors - College Station, TX

College Station , Texas Homes

Once knew of an agent who couldn't get a lockbox to work so he broke a window out of anger to enter the property. What the agent did on stealing drugs, was much worse granted but just as stupid.

Nov 27, 2007 08:49 AM

Jim - I was hoping the judge would see through the lies and excuses...I guess with the jails overcrowded they feel this was one that could slip through the cracks ? ! ? 3 months seems awfully lenient to me.

Nov 27, 2007 10:00 AM

Trey - I tell you what sometimes I feel like doing that. You would think that with the market being as slow as it is in our area agents would at least give you the right combo... I had to call one agent 3 times from a home. When we finally got in the place was a dump, we didn't even go upstairs.

Nov 27, 2007 10:03 AM

Ed DeChristopher

Fredericksburg Realty, Inc. - Fredericksburg, VA

CRS Fredericksburg VA

Poor thing probably had a bad headache; must have been recurring too.

Jun 16, 2008 11:25 PM

No Lock Box on This Door - Former Realtor Sentenced to 5 years!

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