Florida Statutes 560.125 – Unlicensed activity; penalties
Current as of: 2024 | Check for updates
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(1) A person may not engage in the business of a money services business or deferred presentment provider in this state unless the person is licensed or exempted from licensure under this chapter. A deferred presentment transaction conducted by a person not authorized to conduct such transaction under this chapter is void, and the unauthorized person has no right to collect, receive, or retain any principal, interest, or charges relating to such transaction.
(2) Only a money services business licensed under part II of this chapter may appoint an authorized vendor. Any person acting as a vendor for an unlicensed money transmitter or payment instrument issuer becomes the principal thereof, and no longer merely acts as a vendor, and is liable to the holder or remitter as a principal money transmitter or payment instrument seller.
(3) Any person whose substantial interests are affected by a proceeding brought by the office pursuant to this chapter may, pursuant to s. 560.113, petition any court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin the person or activity that is the subject of the proceeding from violating any of the provisions of this section. For the purpose of this subsection, any money services business licensed under this chapter, any person residing in this state, and any person whose principal place of business is in this state are presumed to be substantially affected. In addition, the interests of a trade organization or association are deemed substantially affected if the interests of any of its members are affected.
(4) The office may issue and serve upon any person who violates any of the provisions of this section a complaint seeking a cease and desist order or impose an administrative fine as provided in s. 560.114.
(5) A person who violates this section, if the violation involves:
For details, see Fla. Stat. § 775.082(3)(b), Fla. Stat. § 775.082(3)(d) and Fla. Stat. § 775.082(3)(e)
(a) Currency, monetary value, payment instruments, or virtual currency of a value exceeding $300 but less than $20,000 in any 12-month period, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
Attorney's Note
Under the Florida Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Felony of the first degree | up to 30 years | up to $10,000 |
| Felony of the second degree | up to 15 years | up to $10,000 |
| Felony of the third degree | up to 5 years | up to $5,000 |
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 560.125
- Authorized vendor: means a person designated by a money services business licensed under part II of this chapter to act on behalf of the licensee at locations in this state pursuant to a written contract with the licensee. See Florida Statutes 560.103
- Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Currency: means the coin and paper money of the United States or of any other country which is designated as legal tender and which circulates and is customarily used and accepted as a medium of exchange in the country of issuance. See Florida Statutes 560.103
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Deferred presentment provider: means a person who is licensed under part II or part III of this chapter and has filed a declaration of intent with the office to engage in deferred presentment transactions as provided under part IV of this chapter. See Florida Statutes 560.103
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Monetary value: means a medium of exchange, other than virtual currency, regardless of whether it is redeemable in currency. See Florida Statutes 560.103
- Money services business: means any person located in or doing business in this state, from this state, or into this state from locations outside this state or country who acts as a payment instrument seller, foreign currency exchanger, check casher, or money transmitter. See Florida Statutes 560.103
- Money transmitter: means a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or foreign entity qualified to do business in this state which receives currency, monetary value, a payment instrument, or virtual currency for the purpose of acting as an intermediary to transmit currency, monetary value, a payment instrument, or virtual currency from one person to another location or person by any means, including transmission by wire, facsimile, electronic transfer, courier, the Internet, or through bill payment services or other businesses that facilitate such transfer within this country, or to or from this country. See Florida Statutes 560.103
- Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
- Office: means the Office of Financial Regulation of the commission. See Florida Statutes 560.103
- Payment instrument: means a check, draft, warrant, money order, travelers check, electronic instrument, or other instrument used for the transmission, exchange, or payment of currency or monetary value, regardless of whether it is negotiable. See Florida Statutes 560.103
- Payment instrument seller: means a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or foreign entity qualified to do business in this state which sells a payment instrument. See Florida Statutes 560.103
- Person: means an individual, partnership, association, trust, corporation, limited liability company, or other group, however organized, but does not include a public agency or instrumentality thereof. See Florida Statutes 560.103
- Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
- Virtual currency: means a medium of exchange in electronic or digital format that is not currency. See Florida Statutes 560.103
(6) In addition to the penalties authorized by s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, a person who has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, having violated this section may be sentenced to pay a fine of up to the greater of $250,000 or twice the value of the currency, monetary value, payment instruments, or virtual currency, except that on a second or subsequent violation of this section the fine may be up to the greater of $500,000 or quintuple the value of the currency, monetary value, payment instruments, or virtual currency.
(7) A person who violates this section is also liable for a civil penalty of up to the greater of the value of the currency, monetary value, payment instruments, or virtual currency involved or $25,000.
(8) In any prosecution brought pursuant to this section, the common law corpus delicti rule does not apply. The defendant‘s confession or admission is admissible during trial without the state having to prove the corpus delicti if the court finds in a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury that the defendant’s confession or admission is trustworthy. Before the court admits the defendant’s confession or admission, the state must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that there is sufficient corroborating evidence that tends to establish the trustworthiness of the statement by the defendant. Hearsay evidence is admissible during the presentation of evidence at the hearing. In making its determination, the court may consider all relevant corroborating evidence, including the defendant’s statements.