2022-02-11
Added · Updated
Stockpile Gifts, Inc. must cease unlicensed money transmission activities in Connecticut and pay a $10,000 civil penalty to the State of Connecticut. The order resolves allegations that the company violated the Money Transmission Act by conducting such transactions without a license since at least November 1, 2016. Stockpile waives its right to a hearing or judicial review and agrees to disclose the order on the NMLS platform, while the Banking Commissioner agrees to forego further enforcement action based on these specific allegations.
IN THE MATTER OF: * * STOCKPILE GIFTS, INC. * CONSENT ORDER * (“Stockpile”) * *
WHEREAS, the Banking Commissioner (“Commissioner”) is charged with the administration of Part V of Chapter 668, Sections 36a-595 to 36a-612, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, known as the “Money Transmission Act”; WHEREAS, Stockpile is a California corporation with a principal business address of 716 San Antonio Rd., Unit B, Palo Alto, California; WHEREAS, the Commissioner, through the Consumer Credit Division of the Department of Banking, has conducted an investigation into the activities of Stockpile pursuant to Sections 36a-17 and 36a-608 of the Connecticut General Statutes to determine if it had violated, was violating or was about to violate the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner; WHEREAS, as a result of such investigation, the Commissioner alleges that Stockpile engaged in certain transactions constituting the business of money transmission in this state without the required license since at least November 1, 2016, in violation of Section 36a-597(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, in effect at such time; WHEREAS, Stockpile represents that it has fully ceased all money transmission activity in this state prior to the issuance of this Consent Order and has cooperated with the investigation;
2 - WHEREAS, the Commissioner believes that such allegation would support initiation of enforcement proceedings against Stockpile, including, without limitation, proceedings to issue a cease and desist order pursuant to Sections 36a-608(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended by Public Act 21-130, and to impose a civil penalty of up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per violation pursuant to Section 36a-608(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended by Public Act 21-130; WHEREAS, initiation of such enforcement proceedings would constitute a “contested case” within the meaning of Section 4-166(4) of the Connecticut General Statutes; WHEREAS, Section 4-177(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 36a-1-55(a) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies provide that a contested case may be resolved by consent order, unless precluded by law; WHEREAS, both the Commissioner and Stockpile acknowledge the possible consequences of formal administrative proceedings, and Stockpile voluntarily agrees to consent to the entry of the sanctions imposed below without admitting or denying the allegation set forth herein, and solely for the purpose of obviating the need for formal administrative proceedings concerning the allegation set forth herein; WHEREAS, the Commissioner and Stockpile now desire to resolve the matters set forth herein; WHEREAS, Stockpile specifically assures the Commissioner that the violation alleged herein shall not occur in the future; WHEREAS, Stockpile acknowledges that this Consent Order is a public record and is a reportable event for purposes of the regulatory disclosure questions on NMLS, as applicable; AND WHEREAS, Stockpile, through its execution of this Consent Order, voluntarily agrees to waive its procedural rights, including a right to a notice and an opportunity for a hearing as it pertains to the allegation set forth herein, and voluntarily waives its right to seek judicial review or otherwise challenge or contest the validity of this Consent Order.
3 - CONSENT TO ENTRY OF SANCTIONS WHEREAS, Stockpile, through its execution of this Consent Order, consents to the Commissioner’s entry of a Consent Order imposing the following sanctions: