PRESS RELEASES

Florida DBPR Charges Palm Beach County Man in $4.2 Million Dollar Fraud Scheme Targeting State Alcohol License Lottery

November 26, 2024

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has filed charges against Rajiv Shashikant Shah, owner of Keshra Financial, LLC and #00001 Advanced Fingerprinting and Mobile Notary, for orchestrating a more than $4.2 million fraud scheme that manipulated the state’s annual alcohol license lottery. DBPR’s investigation revealed that Shah used 13,000 fraudulent entries over three years to secure at least 17 winning licenses through his companies. Shah then sold those licenses back to Florida businesses at a premium.

The quota beverage license lottery process, administered by DBPR, is intended to give fair access for establishments to sell beer, wine and liquor in counties with limited availability. Each year, applicants must submit an entry form during the application period, along with a $100 non-refundable fee. Applicants are limited to one entry per county to ensure equal opportunity, and entries can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. Once the application period closes, DBPR conducts a random drawing to select the winners, who are then eligible to apply for a quota license. The quota system is carefully managed to balance supply with county population growth.

Through fraudulent and deceptive practices, Shah prevented legitimate Florida businesses and citizens from winning quota licenses, diverting licenses to his own companies for profit. Shah failed to disclose financial interests in these entries as required and used fraudulent methods to represent his companies’ financial stakes in the entries.

The investigation further uncovered the following tactics used to manipulate the system:

• Fraudulent Fingerprints and Misused SSNs: Shah’s notary company submitted identical fingerprints for multiple winners and misused Social Security Numbers (SSNs) that did not match the names on license applications.
• Forgery and Control of Licenses: He submitted forged Power of Attorney forms that named an unknowing acquaintance, giving him control over the quota licenses without the actual winners’ consent.
• Profiting from Fraudulent Sales: Shah then sold these fraudulently obtained licenses, receiving over $4.2 million from third-party businesses unaware of the fraudulent origins of the licenses.

With the support of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, DBPR’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Complex Crimes Unit investigated this case, resulting in Shah turning himself in to the Department on November 25, 2024.

For more information about DBPR’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, visit MyFloridaLicense.com.

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Highlights Historic Initiative to Prevent the Sale of Harmful Hemp Products to Minors

~ Resulting in More than 120 Arrests for the Sale of Hemp to Minors ~

November 1, 2024

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –  Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) highlights its historic enforcement initiative to prevent the sale of harmful hemp products to minors. Since July 1, 2024, DBPR’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (division) has made more than 120 arrests for the sale of hemp to minors at licensed retail stores, including gas stations, grocery stores and smoke shops.

“The safety and well-being of Florida’s consumers is DBPR’s top priority. With Governor DeSantis at the helm, we are proud to lead this critical initiative to protect Florida’s minors from the serious health risks hemp products can pose,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “As the hemp industry evolves and packages products specifically designed to be attractive to our youth, it is critical now more than ever that DBPR remains vigilant in enforcing Florida’s protections. In just 3 months, our efforts have resulted in 127 arrests, and we won’t take our foot off the gas.”

In June 2023, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1676, which instituted a series of consumer protections related to the sale of hemp products. Florida law now prohibits the sale of hemp products to anyone under 21, prohibits the sale or distribution of hemp products found to be mislabeled or attractive to children, requires hemp processing facilities to meet food safety and sanitation standards, and provides a potency cap on products containing hemp extract.

As of July 1, the division began including hemp investigations in its targeted sales to persons under the age of 21 to assist in enforcing these consumer protections. The division has conducted more than 1,100 investigations into establishments selling hemp products through this initiative.

Florida DBPR Issues Emergency Order to Streamline Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

September 30, 2024

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On September 29, 2024, at the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) filed Emergency Order 2024-08 to streamline Hurricane Helene recovery efforts and remove barriers for businesses impacted by the storm.

DBPR Emergency Order 2024-08 provides the following:

Certified and Registered Contractors

• Suspends certain provisions of section 489.113(3), Florida Statutes, to allow certified or registered general contractors, building contractors, or residential contractors to subcontract roofing work for the repair or installation of any roof type.
• Suspends certain provisions of section 489.117, Florida Statutes, to allow registered contractors to work outside of the geographic scope limitations or requirements provided in section 489.117(1)(b) and (c), Florida Statutes, when providing services, subject to additional requirements outlined in the emergency order while the emergency order is in effect.
• Suspends certain provisions of 489.513, Florida Statutes, to allow registered electrical and alarm system contractors to work outside of the geographic scope limitations or requirements provided in section 489.513(5), Florida Statutes, when providing services, subject to additional requirements outlined in the emergency order while the emergency order is in effect.
• Provides that the installation of non-permanent, emergency tarps to relieve damage caused by Hurricane Helene fall within the exemptions listed in section 489.103(6), Florida Statutes.

License Renewals

• Extends renewal deadlines from September 30 and October 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024, for the following licenses:
• Hotels and Restaurants: Public Lodging Establishments, Vacation Rentals, Timeshare Projects, and Public Food Service Establishments.
• Real Estate: Sales Associates, Broker Sales Associates, Corporate Brokers, Partnerships, Corporations, Branch Offices, and associated continuing education as set forth in rule 61J2-3.009(2)(b), Florida Administrative Code.
• Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco: Retail Vendors, Distributors, Manufacturers, Importers, Brokers, Sales Agents, Passenger Common Carriers, and Bottle Clubs.
• Drugs Devices and Cosmetics: All licenses established by sections 499.012(5)(a), 499.028(11)(b), 499.62(6), and 499.832(1), Florida Statutes, and rules 61N-1.015(10)(a) and 61N-1.018, Florida Administrative Code, which includes Prescription Drug Wholesalers, Prescription Drug Wholesalers – Broker Only, and Out-of-State-Prescription Drug Wholesalers.
• Condominium Association Manager licenses and associated continuing education as set for in rule 61E14-4.001, Florida Administrative Code.

Hotels, Restaurants, and Elevator Safety

• Suspends and amends the provisions of section 509.032(3), Florida Statutes, and rule 61C-1.002(3)(a)4., Florida Administrative Code, regarding temporary food service events and licensure of public food service establishments and other food service vendors for temporary food service events, subject to sanitation requirements. Sponsors of temporary food service events must provide advanced notice to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the temporary food service event before the event at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/temporary-food-establishment/.
• Suspends and amends the provisions of section 509.102(1)(b) and 509.102(3), Florida Statutes, and rules 61C-1.002(6)(a)3 and 61C-4.0161(3)(c), Florida Administrative Code, regarding the time that a public food service establishment may operate a temporary commercial kitchen, the location of a temporary commercial kitchen, the requirement that a public food service establishment provide notice of a temporary commercial kitchen, and the requirement that a mobile food dispensing vehicle only serve food in individually portioned and packaged or pre-packaged containers. Public food service establishments operating a temporary commercial kitchen must provide advanced notice to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the temporary commercial kitchen before opening at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/temporary-food-establishment/.
• Waives the $250 fee required by section 399.03(2), Florida Statutes, for installing an elevator.
• Waives the $250 fee required by section 399.03(2), Florida Statutes, for relocating an elevator.
• Waives the $200 fee required by section 399.03(2), Florida Statutes, for altering an elevator.
• Suspends the provisions of section 399.03(4), Florida Statutes, and rule 61C-5.006(1)(c), Florida Administrative Code, regarding the installation, relocation, or alteration of an elevator in specific situations.

Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco

• Suspends and tolls all time requirements and deadlines for licensees and permitees filing monthly reports and returns as required by sections 210.02, 210.09, 210.55, 561.50, and 561.55, Florida Statutes until October 31, 2024.
• Extends the existing deadline of October 2, 2024, for the 45-day entry period for the quota beverage license drawing, until 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2024.

Veterinarians

• Suspends the $200 fee for the issuance of a temporary license to out-of-state veterinarians during an emergency described by section 474.2125, Florida Statutes.

Mobile Homes, Residential Condominium Directors, and Homeowner Association Directors

• Suspends and tolls payment of the annual $4 fee per mobile home, as established by section 723.007(1), Florida Statutes, and the $1 surcharge, as established by section 723.007(2), Florida Statutes, until October 31, 2024.
• Suspends and tolls any existing written certification or educational certificate requirements for residential condominium directors, as set for in section 718.112(2)(d)4. b. (II), Florida Statutes, until October 31, 2024.
• Suspends and tolls any existing written certification or educational certificate requirements for homeowner association directors, as set for in section 720.3033, Florida Statutes, until October 31, 2024.

Relocation Fees

• Waives the total relocation fee for Barbershops, Cosmetology Salons, Veterinary Premises, and Veterinary Limited Services permits. The emergency order also waives the fee for adding an additional branch to a preexisting Real Estate Office or Real Estate School.

Departmental Orders

• Suspends and tolls all final orders reflecting agency action until October 31, 2024.
• Suspends and tolls all time requirements, notice requirements, and deadlines for filing responses as outlined in DBPR orders until October 31, 2024, excluding deadlines for filing responses to issues relating to deputy harbor pilot examinations and examination challenges, which shall only be extended by seven days from the date of the original deadline.

For more information, review DBPR Emergency Order 2024-08. To find other DBPR Emergency Orders related to Hurricane Helene, visit the DBPR Emergency Webpage.