Final Order — Loan Originator

Index: OFR 2026 - 422 " DOCKETED '- 8/25/2026 EGAL STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION In Re: CHRISTOPHER JOHN CARPENTER, Case Number: 138640 Petitioner. FINAL ORDER The State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation ("Office"), being authorized and directed to administer and enforce chapter 494, Florida Statutes, hereby enters this Final Order with Notice of Rights ("Final Order") as authorized by the provisions of chapters 120 and 494, Florida Statutes, against Christopher John Carpenter ("Petitioner"). FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On July 14, 2026, the Office issued a Notice of Intent to Deny Application for Loan Originator License Pursuant to Chapter 494, Florida Statutes (''Notice of Intent to Deny"), with true and correct copies furnished to Petitioner via U.S. mail to his mailing address ofrecord and via electronic mail to Petitioner's email address of record. (See Exhibit A).

2. The Notice of Intent to Deny had attached thereto a Notice of Rights, which fully advised Petitioner that he had twenty-one (21) days after the receipt of the Notice oflntent to Deny within which to petition the Office for an administrative hearing to contest the allegations set forth in the Amended Notice oflntent to Deny, in accordance with sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, including the following information: YOUR FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF RECEIPT WILL CONSTITUTE A W AIYER OF YOUR RIGHT TO REQUEST A HEARING, AND A FINAL ORDER WILL BE ENTERED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE.

3. To date, the Office has not received a written response or a request for hearing from Petitioner, and/or a claim of equitable tolling.

4. The uncontested allegations in the Notice of Intent to Deny are hereby incorporated by reference and adopted as Findings of Fact in this Final Order. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

5. The Office is responsible for the administration and enforcement of chapter 494, Florida Statutes.

6. Pursuant to chapter 494, Florida Statutes, the Office has jurisdiction over the subject matter and Petitioner.

7. The Findings of Fact herein serve as the basis of the entry of this Final Order against Petitioner.

8. Section 120.569(2)(a), Florida Statutes, and Rule 28-106.111(2), Florida Administrative Code, require, among other things, that a response or a petition to an action which affects the substantial interests of a party be filed with the agency within 21 days of receipt of written notice of the action.

9. Pursuant to Rule 28-106.111 ( 4), Florida Administrative Code, the failure of Petitioner to timely respond to the Notice oflntent to Deny constitutes a waiver of Petitioner's right to an administrative proceeding.

10. The doctrine of equitable tolling can be applied in administrative cases when a party has been misled or lulled into inaction, i.e., has in some extraordinary way, been prevented from asserting his rights, or has timely asserted his rights in the wrong forum. Machules v. Dept. ofAdmin., 523 So.2d 1132 (Fla. 1988).

11. Without any evidence of equitable tolling, it is appropriate for the Office to conclude there was none. Patz v. Dept. ofHealth, 864 So.2d 79, 80 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003). 2

12. The Notice oflntent to Deny was properly addressed and mailed to Petitioner at his mailing address of record and his email address of record and therefore was received by Petitioner. See Brown v. Giffen Indus., Inc., 281 So.2d 897,900 (Fla. 1973).

13. Because Petitioner failed to timely file a petition or any other document in response to the Notice oflntent to Deny, and/or failed to present a claim of equitable tolling, the waiver of the right to an administrative hearing by Petitioner is complete. See Patz at 80.

14. The legal conclusions that form the basis for denial as set forth in the Notice of Intent to Deny, being uncontested by Petitioner, are accepted as true and correct and are adopted by the Office as Conclusions of Law for purposes of this Final Order.

15. Petitioner's waiver of the right to a hearing, taken together with the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law adopted herein, constitute sufficient grounds to deny Petitioner's license application. Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is hereby ORDERED: Petitioner's application for a license as a Loan Originator pursuant to chapter 494, Florida Statutes, is hereby DENIED. DONE and ORDERED this ~ day of August, 2026, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. Russe Comm1ss10ner 3

NOTICE OF RIGHTS A PARTY WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS FINAL ORDER IS ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 120.68, FLORIDA STATUTES. REVIEW PROCEEDINGS ARE GOVERNED BY THE FLORIDA RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE. SUCH PROCEEDINGS ARE COMMENCED BY FILING THE ORIGINAL NOTICE OF APPEAL WITH THE AGENCY CLERK FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION AS FOLLOWS: By Mail, Facsimile or Email Agency Clerk Office of Financial Regulation Office of General Counsel P.O. Box 8050 Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050 Phone: (850) 410-9889 Fax: (850) 410-9663 Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov OR Bv Hand Delivery Agency Clerk Office of Financial Regulation Office of General Counsel The Fletcher Building 101 East Gaines Street Tallahassee, FL 32399 Phone: (850) 410-9889 A COPY OF THE NOTICE OF APPEAL, ACCOMPANIED BY THE FILING FEES AS REQUIRED BY LAW, MUST ALSO BE FILED WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST DISTRICT, 2000 ORA YTON DRIVE, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0950, OR WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL IN THE APPELLATE DISTRICT WHERE THE PARTY RESIDES. THE NOTICE OF APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITH BOTH THE AGENCY CLERK FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION AND THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE RENDITION OF THE ORDER TO BE REVIEWED. 4

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Final Order has been furnished to Christopher John Carpenter via U.S. Mail at 611 Pacer Lane, Marvin, NC 28173 and via ~zrt0- email at ccarpenter@tbhl.com on this_.:>_ 1 day of August, 2026. gulation 4-8050 . lerk@flofr.gov Tel: -9889 5

Commissioner Russell C. Weigel, III Mr. Christopher John Carpenter 611 Pacer Lane Marvin, NC 28173 ccarpenter@fbhl.com July 14, 2026 VIA U.S. MAIL AND ELECTRONIC MAIL Exhibit A RE: Notice oflntent to Deny Application for a Loan Originator License Pursuant to chapter 494, Florida Statutes NMLS No. 2778391 Transaction No.: 836282 OFR Case No.: 138640 Dear Mr. Christopher John Carpenter, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to sections 494.0011, 494.0025, 494.00255, 494.00312 and 120.60, Florida Statutes, and the rules promulgated thereunder, the State of Florida Office of Financial Regulation ("Office"), by this letter intends to deny your application for licensure as a loan originator in the State of Florida. The reasons for the denial are as follows: FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On April 13, 2026, Christopher John Carpenter ("Applicant") submitted an application for licensure as a loan originator pursuant to chapter 494, Florida Statutes

2. In March 2020, Applicant was registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), formerly known as the National Association of Security Dealers ("NASD"), as a General Securities Representative through an association with LPL Financial LLC ("LPL"), a member firm.

3. On February 1, 2023, a Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration (Form US) was filed by LPL, reporting Applicant's discharge and indicating that the LPL was reviewing Applicant's alleged participation in unapproved real estate investments with customers. www.flofr.gov 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-03 70 (850) 487-9687 • FAX (850) 410-9663

4. On May 12, 2023, Applicant signed an Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC), consenting to a finding that Applicant violated FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010 and to the imposition the following sanction: a bar from associating with any FINRA member in all capacities.

5. On May 18, 2023, FINRA accepted and signed the AWC. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

6. Section 494.0011, Florida Statutes, provides that the Office has jurisdiction over loan originators and is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of chapter 494, Florida Statutes.

7. Pursuant to section 494.0025(1), Florida Statutes, a person may not act as a loan originator in this state unless licensed pursuant to part II, chapter 494, Florida Statutes.

8. Pursuant to section 494.001(18), Florida Statutes, "Loan originator" means an individual who, directly or indirectly, solicits or offers to solicit a mortgage loan, accepts, or offers to accept an application for a mortgage loan, negotiates or offers to negotiate the terms or conditions of a new or existing mortgage loan on behalf of a borrower or lender, or negotiates or offers to negotiate the sale of an existing mortgage loan to a noninstitutional investor for compensation or gain. The term includes an individual who is required to be licensed as a loan originator under the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008, section 494.001 (18), Florida Statutes.

9. Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. §5117, certain individuals seeking licensure as a loan originator in a state can qualify for temporary authority to act as a loan originator in the application state. Temporary authority ends when the earliest of the following occurs: the applicant withdraws the application; the application state denies or issues a notice of intent to deny the application; the application state approves the license; or 120 days after submission of an incomplete application have elapsed. ( emphasis added).

10. Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. §5117, upon the Office's issuance of a notice of intent to deny Applicant's application, Applicant's temporary authority to act as a loan originator in Florida ends.

11. Pursuant to section 494.00312(4)(a), Florida Statutes, it is a ground for denial of licensure if an applicant has committed any violation specified in chapter 494, Florida Statutes.

12. Pursuant to sections 494.00255(1 )(1) 1. and (2)( d), Florida Statutes, the Office may deny a license to an applicant who has been the subject of any prohibition, or administrative order by any national securities association involving a violation of any rule or regulation of any national securities association. 2

13. FINRA, a national securities association, has permanently barred Applicant from any association with any member firm, therefore, grounds exist to deny Applicant a license pursuant to section 494.00255, Florida Statutes. The facts stated herein are grounds for denial of your application based on the above enumerated provisions of chapter 494, Florida Statute, and the rules promulgated thereunder. Accordingly, by this letter the Office of Financial Regulation hereby notifies you of its intent to deny your application as a loan originator. Upon issuance of this letter, Christopher John Carpenter's temporary authority to operate will be terminated. NOTICE OF RIGHTS Please be advised that pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, you may request a hearing to contest this action by the Office. Requests for such a hearing must comply with the provisions of Rule 28-106.104(2), Florida Administrative Code, Rule 28-106.201, Florida Administrative Code, or Rule 28-106.301, Florida Administrative Code, and must be filed with: By Mail or E-mail Agency Clerk Office of Financial Regulation P.O. Box 8050 Tallahassee, Florida 32314-8050 Phone: (850) 410-9889 Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov OR Bv Hand Delivery Agency Clerk Office of Financial Regulation General Counsel's Office The Fletcher Building 101 East Gaines Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Phone: (850) 410-9889 Your request must be filed within twenty-one (21) days of the date of receipt of this Notice of Intent to Deny. At any time prior to the expiration of the 21 days. you may withdraw our application for a loan originator license through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing Svstem and by notifying the Office in writing. In the event that you withdraw your application. no license will be issued. Submit your written withdrawal notice to Damaris E. Reynolds. Assistant General Counsel. P.O. Box 8050. Tallahassee, Florida 32314-8050. or at damaris.revnolds@.flofr. gov. YOUR FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE OF INTENT TO DENY WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF RECEIPT WILL CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF YOUR RIGHT TO REQUEST A HEARING, AND A FINAL ORDER WILL BE ENTERED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE. If you request a hearing, you will have the right to be represented by counsel or other qualified representative; to offer testimony, either written or oral; to call and cross-examine witnesses; and to have subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued on your behalf. Pursuant to Section 120.573, Florida Statutes, mediation is not available. 3

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Agency Clerk no later than seven (7) days prior to the filing deadline or proceeding, at the Office of Financial Regulation, The Fletcher Building, 101 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0379, Phone: (850) 410-9889, or by Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov. If you have any questions regarding any of the matters discussed in this letter, please contact Damaris E. Reynolds, Office of Financial Regulation, at (850) 410-9830. Sincerely, Gregory C. Oaks, Director Division of Consumer Finance CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been furnished to Applicant, Christopher John Carpenter, via U.S. mail at 611 Pacer Lane Marvin, NC 28173 and via e-mail transmittal to ccarpenter@fbhl.com on this 14th day of July 2026. Damaris Florida Assistant Office E. General Reynolds of Financial Counsel ~ Regulation Office of General Counsel Fla. Bar No. 37176 200 E. Gaines Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-0370 Tel: (850) 410-9830 Email: damaris.revnolds@flofr.gov 4