Index: OFR 2026-520

STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION

In Re:
VICTORY MORTGAGE, INC., and
SCOTT KELLY VAN SICKLE,
Case Number: 128963
Respondents.

Docketed 10/26/2026 Legal 9/4

FINAL ORDER

This cause came on for consideration and final agency action. Upon review of the record and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, the Office of Financial Regulation ("Office") hereby finds:

1. The Office has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this case and the parties hereto.

2. The entry of this Final Order concludes the above-referenced matter.

ORDERED:

A. The Recommended Order (Exhibit A) is hereby approved and incorporated by reference as if fully stated herein.

B. Victory Mortgage, Inc.'s mortgage broker license MBR4303 is hereby REVOKED.

DONE and ORDERED this 26th day of October, 2026, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

Russell C. Weigel, III Commissioner

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
By 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 DRAYTON 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.

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Final Order was furnished by U.S. Mail to Victory Mortgage, Inc. and Scott Kelly Van Sickle, 4320 Garfield, Suite 250, Clinton TWP, Michigan 48038 and by electronic mail to Scott Kelly Van Sickle scott@victoryhl.com on this 26th day of October, 2026.

Agency Clerk
Office of Financial Regulation
Post Office Box 8050
Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050
Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov
Tel: (850) 410-9889

Agency Clerk

Exhibit A

STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION

In Re:
VICTORY MORTGAGE, INC., and
SCOTT KELLY VANSICKLE,
Respondents.
Case Number: 128963

RECOMMENDED ORDER

A hearing in this case was conducted via written submissions pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57(2), Florida Statutes, before Miriam S. Wilkinson, a duly designated Hearing Officer with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation ("Office").

APPEARANCES

For Respondent:
George C. Bedell, III, Esquire
Office of Financial Regulation
200 E. Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0376

For Petitioner:
Scott Kelly Van Sickle
Victory Mortgage, Inc.
43260 Garfield Road, Ste. 250
Clinton Township, MI 48038

STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE

Whether Respondent Victory Mortgage, Inc.'s mortgage broker license should be revoked pursuant to section 494.00255(1)(u) and (x), Florida Statutes, for failure to comply with any provision of chapter 494, Florida Statutes, and failure to pay a fine imposed pursuant to chapter 494, Florida Statutes.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

On April 24, 2025, the Office of Financial Regulation ("Office") issued an Administrative Complaint to Respondents alleging violations of chapter 494, Florida Statutes ("Complaint"). Respondents timely filed a request for an administrative hearing by written submissions, admitting the material factual allegations in the Complaint. By Order dated August 29, 2025, the Office granted a proceeding pursuant to section 120.57(2), Florida Statutes, and appointed the undersigned as the Hearing Officer in this matter. On January 1, 2026, an Initial Order was entered that provided the parties with the schedule for a hearing by written submissions.

The parties subsequently attempted to negotiate a settlement, but ultimately failed to reach an agreement. An order was issued by the undersigned on September 26, 2026, directing the parties to file written statements and proposed exhibits no later than Monday, October 5, 2026, with responses to the opposing party's written submissions, including any objections and recommended orders, due no later than October 15, 2026.

The following exhibits offered by the Office were admitted into evidence without objection:

Office's Exhibit 1: Office of Financial Regulation Final Order, Case No. 124514

Office's Exhibit 2: Email confirming Respondents' failure to pay a fine owed in Case No. 124514

Office's Exhibit 3: Affidavit of Brandi Smith, Chief, Bureau of Enforcement

No exhibits were offered by Respondents.

The undersigned took official recognition of chapter 494, Florida Statutes, sections 120.569, 120.57(2), and 120.60, Florida Statutes, and Florida Administrative Code Rule chapter 69V-40.

The Office filed its written submission on October 5, 2026. Respondents failed to file any responsive documents.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Respondent, Victory Mortgage, Inc. ("Victory Mortgage") has been licensed with the Office as a mortgage broker since May 27, 2021.

2. Respondent, Scott Van Sickle ("Van Sickle") is Victory Mortgage's Principal Loan Originator, and sole owner.

3. On January 7, 2025, the Office entered a Final Order in Case No. 124514, In Re: Victory Mortgage, Inc. and Scott Kelly Van Sickle ("Final Order").

4. The Final Order imposed a $1,500.00 fine on Victory Mortgage for violations of chapter 494, Florida Statutes, and directed Victory Mortgage and Van Sickle to pay the fine within 30 days of the date of entry of the Final Order.

5. The fine currently remains outstanding, in violation of section 494.00255(1)(u) and (x), Florida Statutes.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

6. Pursuant to section 494.0011, Florida Statutes, the Office is responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of Chapter 494, Florida Statutes, and the administrative rules promulgated thereunder.

7. In hearings pursuant to section 120.57(2), Florida Statutes, where, by definition, there are no disputed issues of material fact, only conclusions of law are to be drawn as to whether the facts support the agency's intended decision. See Autoworld of America Corp. v. Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 754 So. 2d 76, 77 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000).

8. In this proceeding, the Office bears the burden of proving its case by clear and convincing evidence. Dep't of Banking & Fin. v. Osborne Stern & Co., 670 So. 2d 932, 934 (Fla.

1996).

9. Pursuant to section 494.001 (23), Florida Statutes, "mortgage broker" means a person conducting loan originator activities through one or more licensed loan originators employed by the mortgage broker or as independent contractors to the mortgage broker.

10. Pursuant to section 494.001(18), Florida Statutes, a "loan originator" is an individual who solicits, accepts an application, or negotiates the terms or conditions of a new or an existing mortgage loan on behalf of a borrower or lender, or negotiates the sale of an existing mortgage loan to a noninstitutional investor for compensation.

11. Pursuant to section 494.001 (30), Florida Statutes, a "principal loan originator" means "the licensed loan originator in charge of, and responsible for, the operation of a mortgage lender or mortgage broker, including all of the activities of the mortgage lender's or mortgage broker's loan originators, in-house loan processors, and branch managers, whether employees or independent contractors."

12. Pursuant to section 494.00255(3)(a), Florida Statutes, a mortgage broker is subject to disciplinary action up to and including denial of the renewal of a license for any violation of chapter 494, Florida Statutes, by the licensee and/or a control person of the mortgage broker.

13. Pursuant to section 494.00255(1), Florida Statutes,

"[E]ach of the following acts constitutes a ground for which the disciplinary actions specified in subsection (2) may be taken against a person licensed or required to be licensed under part II or part III of this chapter:

(u) Failure to comply with, or violations of, any provision of this chapter, or any rule or order made or issued under this chapter."

(x) Failure to timely pay any fee, charge, or fine imposed or assessed pursuant to this chapter or related rules.

14. The fine in the prior case against Victory Mortgage was due no later than February 6, 2025, but was never paid. Therefore, Victory Mortgage is in violation of section 494.00255(1)(u) and (x), Florida Statutes,

15. Pursuant to the Disciplinary Guidelines for Mortgage Loan Originators and Mortgage Entities Form OFR-494-14, incorporated by reference in Rule 69V-40.111, Florida Administrative Code, a licensee cited for a violation of section 494.00255(1)(x), Florida Statutes, is subject to an "A" level administrative fine, a suspension of the license, or revocation of the license.

16. The Office considered the mitigating and aggravating circumstances enumerated in Rule 69V-40.111, Florida Administrative Code, and found that no mitigating or aggravating circumstances applied.

17. Given the length of time that has elapsed without any discernible effort on the part of Victory Mortgage to pay the fine, or some evidence that Respondents contacted the Office to arrange for payment, it is apparent that Victory Mortgage and Scott Van Sickle never intended to comply with the Final Order issued January 7, 2025.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is recommended that the Office of Financial Regulation enter a Final Order revoking the mortgage broker license of Victory Mortgage, Inc. (MBR4303).

Respectfully submitted this 16th day of October 2026, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

Miriam S. Wilkinson
MIRIAM S. WILKINSON
Hearing Officer
Office of Financial Regulation
200 E. Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0370

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Recommended Order has been furnished via electronic mail to Respondents, Victory Mortgage, Inc. and Scott Kelly Van Sickle at scott@victoryhl.com, on this _1_6t_h __ day of October, 2026.

Digitally signed by Gina Holder

Office of Financial Regulation
Post Office Box 8050
Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050
Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.gov
Tel: (850) 410-9889

Cc: George C. Bedell III, Chief Counsel
Office of Financial Regulation