The Board of Licensing of Auctioneers within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (www.maine.gov/pfr) has revoked the license of Jeffrey S. Roberts, doing business as most recently as Picadilly Place Auction House in Brewer.  His previous auction gallery was in Hallowell.  Additionally, the Board assessed fines totaling $84,000 and warned the public to avoid doing auctioneering business with Roberts, as he is now not licensed, according to a news release from the licensing board.

On February 1, the board held five hearings to determine if Roberts committed licensing violations.  Complainants testified before a hearing officer. Roberts did not attend. 

After deliberation: The board found Roberts had committed 56 violations including multiple instances of failure to make payment to consignors, failure to account for property, unprofessional conduct, acting contrary to the best interests of the consignor, misrepresentation, failure to fully inventory items, breach of fiduciary duty, failure to submit requested documentation to the board, record keeping violations, failure to specify the amount of buyer’s premium, misconduct, acting contrary to best interests of the purchaser, failure to forward purchases to buyers, and fraud/theft by credit card including a fraudulent charge of $3,780.45 reportedly for Professional Services and Membership Organizations,’” according to the release.

More cases involving Roberts are pending.  The board encourages anyone with questions or concerns about any auctioneer to contact Karen Bivins at Karen.L.Bivins@maine.gov.