The owner and broker of a Cape Coral real estate company was sentenced to 10 years of state probation after being found guilty of grand theft.
Robin Marie Speronis, 52, of 1530 S.W. 53rd Terrace, pleaded no contest on June 22 to larceny $20,000 less than $100,000 and was adjudicated guilty. A judge gave Speronis probation and ordered her to pay $32,000 in restitution.
Assistant State Attorney James Miller prosecuted the case.
Defense attorney Michael Rich represented Speronis.
In March 2010, a woman told police that she gave Speronis $52,000 to put into a real estate escrow account for the purchase of a duplex. The contract was later denied and Speronis returned $22,500 of the total amount to her.
The woman reported that the remaining monies were kept in the escrow account for an offer on a vacant lot. After that deal also fell through, the woman was unable to reach Speronis to get back the rest of her money.
The woman told police that she had tried to contact Speronis by telephone, by e-mail and by fax, and had even stopped by Speronis’ residence.
Speronis operates Zen Real Estate out of her home. The company is licensed through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations.
As of Wednesday, no complaints had been filed with the state agency.
Her real estate broker license remained active and current.
Beth Frady, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations, explained that professional licensees are required by state law to report to the department within 30 days of being convicted or found guilty, or having pleaded no contest or guilty, to any crime.
“A licensee who fails to report that information may be subject to disciplinary action, including fines, suspension or license revocation,” she wrote in a prepared statement.
A check of city records shows no business license for Zen Real Estate.
According to court records, Speronis was arrested in July 2009 on a warrant for one count of deposit with intent to defraud and on a court order for one count of grand theft.
Both of the charges were nolle prossed, or not prosecuted, later that year.