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Home > NJ Real Estate Commission > Real Estate Commission Disciplinary Actions
2022 Real Estate Commission Disciplinary Actions
Please Note: As of July 1, 2014 an amendment to the Administrative Procedure Act (R.S. 52:14B-1 et seq.) now requires all state agencies to post all non-confidential final agency orders, decisions and opinions on the agency’s website.  Therefore, all such final Real Estate Commission orders and decisions entered on or after July 1, 2014 can be accessed by clicking the link provided for that order or decision. Orders or decisions issued on such matters prior to July 1, 2014 are available upon request to the Real Estate Commission.
 
October

Adele DeMoro, a licensed New Jersey real estate Broker, Monmouth County — By Consent Order dated October 24, 2022, DeMoro admits to conduct in violation of N.J.A.C. 11:5-4.2(a) in that she failed to adequately supervise the actions of a salesperson, in violation of her obligation as a broker of record for KW. Specifically, DeMoro failed to ensure that the MLS listing page was appropriately updated to reflect the accurate status of transactions concerning a property. DeMoro agrees to complete a thirty-hour course on broker office management, ordinarily prescribed as part of the pre-licensure education requirement to obtain a New Jersey real estate broker’s license, which shall not count towards the mandatory requirements for renewal. DeMoro agrees to pay a fine in the amount of $3,500.

 
September

George Reggo, a licensed New Jersey real estate Broker, and Christopher Kelemen, a licensed New Jersey real estate Salesperson, Bergen County — By Consent Order dated September 28, 2022, Reggo admits to being in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e) for failing to renew the brokerage license of R&K, demonstrating incompetency; and, in violation of N.J.A.C. 11:5-4.2(a)(1) in that he failed, as broker of record, to ensure that Kelemen did not engage in R&K brokerage business during the time when R&K’s brokerage license, as well as Kelemen’s salesperson license, were inactive, constituting failure to supervise all individual licensees licensed through R&K. Kelemen admits to being in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e) in that by engaging in real estate brokerage business without a license he engaged in conduct demonstrating incompetency. Reggo and Kelemen agree to pay a fine in the amount of $4,000 as a joint and several obligation.

Madhusudhan Soni, a licensed New Jersey real estate Salesperson, Middlesex County — By Consent Order dated September 20, 2022, Soni admits to being in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e) (two counts) in that he allowed unlicensed individuals to access property unaccompanied by a licensee and allowed unlicensed individuals to possess keys to said property without permission, demonstrating unworthiness for licensure. Soni’s license is suspended for a period of sixty days. Following suspension, Soni’s license will be held on a probationary status for six months.  A $2,500 fine is imposed.

 
August

Yanira Guzman, a licensed New Jersey real estate Broker, Bergen County — By Final Order of Determination dated August 17, 2022, the Commission found Guzman to be in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-1 and N.J.S.A. 45:15-3 by preparing a contract of sale as a representative of an unlicensed agency while licensed under a separate brokerage, thereby engaging in unlicensed activity; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(o) by failing to deposit the funds of others coming into her possession as an escrow agent and failing to turn over those funds to her employing broker for deposit into an escrow account; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(d) in that she failed to account for or pay over monies belonging to others coming into her possession as a licensee; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e) in that she failed to comply with a duly issued subpoena; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e) in that she collected a deposit in a real estate transaction and converted it to her own use, conduct that demonstrates bad faith and dishonesty. Any and all real estate licenses presently or formerly held by Guzman are revoked for life and no license shall be issued to Guzman. A fine of $25,000 is imposed.

 
June

Michele Babino, a licensed New Jersey real estate Salesperson, Middlesex County — By Consent Order dated June 15, 2022, Babino admits to a violation of N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.4(a) in that by composing and executing a Listing Agreement without formal legal authority to bind TNA, Babino exceeded the scope of her authority and thus failed to strictly comply with the laws of agency and the principles governing fiduciary relationships. Babino agrees to complete three hours of Continuing Education in the subject area of Agency which will not count towards the mandatory requirements for renewal and a fine of $2,000 is imposed.

Marcus Jones, a licensed New Jersey real estate Salesperson, Middlesex County — By Final Order of Determination dated June 15, 2022, the Commission found Jones to be in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(s) in that he failed to notify the Commission that he had been charged with Theft by Deception within 30 days; and, N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(n) in that he procured a real estate Salesperson’s license by fraud, misrepresentation or deceit by falsely representing in his license renewal application that he never had a professional license revocation when, in fact, his New Jersey insurance producer’s license had been revoked on or about July 16, 2015; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(a) and N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(c) in that he made substantial misrepresentations and pursued a flagrant and continued course of misrepresentation (a) by falsely representing in his license renewal application that he had never had a professional license revocation, (b) by falsely representing in his license transfer application that he had never had a professional license revocation, (c) not disclosing in his license transfer application his acceptance into the Pre-Trial Intervention (“PTI”) program; and (d) falsely representing to tenants and law enforcement officials that he was the owner of a Property during a period of three months; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e) and (l) in that he demonstrated unworthiness, incompetency, bad faith or dishonesty and engaged in conduct that constitutes fraud or dishonest dealing by engaging in the conduct underlying the criminal charges filed against him; and by engaging in the conduct underlying the revocation of his insurance producer’s license; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-9 by failing to demonstrate that he possesses the requisite good moral character, honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness that all licensees must possess. A $7,500 fine is imposed as well as a lifetime revocation of any and all real estate licenses presently or formerly held by Jones.

Richard A. Karpf, a formerly licensed New Jersey real estate Broker, Camden County —  By Final Order of Determination dated June 14, 2022, the Commission adopted the findings of fact and conclusions of law as set forth in the Initial Decision by the Office of Administrative Law, except as modified herein, and holds that Karpf violated the Act as alleged in Count III of the Order to Show Cause.  The Commission MODIFIES the Initial Decision as follows:

  • A reference to “Count IV” appearing on page 2, n.1 of the Initial Decision is hereby changed to refer to “Count III.”
  • A reference to Tatarek’s “broker license” on page 3 of the Initial Decision is hereby changed to refer to a “broker-salesperson license.”
  • A reference the employment verification letter provided by the School District of Philadelphia entered into evidence as “Exhibit P-6” on page 4 is hereby changed to refer to “Exhibit P-5.”
  • A legal citation to Goodley v. New Jersey Real Estate Comm’n appearing on page 24 is hereby changed to “Id. at 181-82.”
  • A reference to “Exhibit P-2” as being “Not in Evidence” is hereby changed to “P-2 REC Certified Licensing Record for Richard Karpf.”

The Commission further MODIFIES the ALJ’s recommendation as to the imposition of penalties against Karpf and orders the revocation of Karpf’s real estate license for a period of three years.  No license shall be issued until the monetary penalty imposed herein is paid in full.  A fine totaling $5,000 is imposed.

Joao Paulo Barros Lemes, a licensed New Jersey real estate Salesperson, Burlington County — by Final Order of Determination dated June 28,2022 the Commission found Lemes in violation of N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.4(c) for failing to disclose the existence of a cesspool on a property to the Buyer; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(c) and (l), and N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.4(a) for repeatedly misrepresenting the type of sewage system servicing on the property to the Buyer on the Bright MLS, and in the contract of sale, engaging in dishonest dealing, and failing to deal fairly with the Buyer; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e) for failing to fully cooperate with the Commission’s investigation of this matter; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(a) for advertising the property as having a “Public Septic” sewage system on the Bright MLS, when he was aware that statement was false and knew of the existence of a cesspool; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(a) for falsely representing to the Buyer’s agent that his brother owned the property when said property was owned by L&O, of which Lemes was the sole owner. Lemes’ license is revoked for a period of two years and a $15,500 fine is imposed.

John Natale, a licensed New Jersey real estate Salesperson, Monmouth County — By Consent Order dated June 15, 2022, Natale admits to conduct in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e), incompetency, in that by failing to update the MLS listing after a contract was cancelled on a property; and, in violation of N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.4(a) in that by contacting Buyers to provide them with “leverage” in negotiations with sellers, who were his clients, Natale violated his fiduciary duty to protect and promote, as he would his own, the interests of his client. Natale agrees to complete three hours of Continuing Education in the subject area of Agency which shall not count towards the mandatory requirements for renewal. Natale’s license is held on probationary status for a period of one year. A $10,000 fine was imposed.

 
May

Richard Bradin, a licensed New Jersey real estate Salesperson, Camden County By Consent Order dated May 10, 2022, Bradin admits to a violation of N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.4(a) because he failed to promote his client’s interests when he showed her a property and allowed her to enter into a contract for the purchase of said property when she was ineligible to do so. A $1,000 fine is imposed.

Michael Spinelli, a licensed New Jersey real estate Broker, Cumberland County By Consent Order dated May 10, 2022, Spinelli admits to a violation of N.J.A.C. 11:5-5.1(c)(2) in that he failed to maintain and promptly deposit a client deposit check in the brokerage trust account on file with the Commission. A $2,000 fine is imposed. Spinelli agrees to complete three hours of Continuing Education in the content area of Legal Requirements Regarding Escrow Monies and Financial Recordkeeping which will not count towards his required hours for renewal.

The following Orders to Show Cause were issued:

N.J.R.E.C. v. Mariann Balmann REC-E-22-002
N.J.R.E.C. v. Mary E. Dougherty REC-E-21-005
N.J.R.E.C. v. Madhusudhan Soni – REC-E-22-005
N.J.R.E.C. v. John Pagano REC-E-22-004
N.J.R.E.C. v. Matthew Sherzoy REC-E-22-006
 
April

Erik Brachman, a licensed New Jersey Real Estate Salesperson, Ocean County By Final Order of Determination dated April 1, 2022 the Commission adopted the determination of the Office of Administrative Law and found Brachman admits to having violated N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.4(a), obligations of licensees to public and to each other; and, to having violated N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.9(c), failure to submit Office Closing Affidavit within 30 business days from the date of closing. The Commission dismisses with prejudice its claim against Brachman of an alleged violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e), as more particularly described, in Paragraph 10 of the October 31, 2017 Order to Show Cause. A $5,500 fine is imposed.

Shawn Burke, a licensed New Jersey real estate Broker, Burlington County By Final Order of Determination dated April 13, 2022, the Commission found Burke’s conduct violated N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.4(a), N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(d), and N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e), in that the Respondent failed to comply with the laws of agency, failed to comply with the principles governing fiduciary relationships, and failed to protect and promote the interests of his principal by failing to account for or pay over monies due; and, Respondent's conduct violated N.J.S.A. 45:15-12 in that he failed to maintain a designated main office open to the public; and, Respondent's conduct violated N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e) in that he demonstrated unworthiness by failing to appear and produce records as required in the REC's written notice; and, Respondent's conduct violated N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(s) in that he failed to notify the Commission within 30 days that he had been charged with a crime. There is insufficient evidence that the Respondent violated N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(0) and N.J.A.C. 11:5-5.1(a) and (c) as alleged in the OTSC. The Commission imposes a lifetime revocation of any and all real estate licenses presently or formerly held by Respondent Burke. A total fine of $35,000 is imposed with respect to the violations of the real estate laws as found in this Final Order.

 
February

The following Order to Show Cause was issued:

N.J.R.E.C. v. Joao Paulo Barros Lemes REC-E-22-001

 
January

Ronald M. Patetta, a licensed New Jersey Real Estate Salesperson, Ocean County – By Final Order of Determination dated January 11, 2022, the Commission adopted the determination of the Office of Administrative Law and found Patetta in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(e), (h), and (l) based on his conviction on charges of felony tax evasion, which constitutes conduct demonstrating unworthiness, incompetency, bad faith or dishonesty; and, in violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(s) in that by failing to notify the REC within 30 days of his guilty plea or conviction he was in violation of the conditions of his probationary real estate license; and, a violation of N.J.S.A. 45:15-17 (e) and (n) by failing to disclose that he was convicted of felony tax evasion and failing to disclose that he had voluntarily surrendered his insurance producer license on the REC qualifying questionnaires filed on May 8, 2015, and April 11, 2017. Patetta’s license is revoked and a $10,000 fine is imposed.

 
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