The following was received from the
Texas Dept of Licensing & Regulation:
May 25, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Patrick Shaughnessy
512-463-3208
AUSTIN * Although he had no auctioneer license,
Drake King of Houston opened Drakes Auction Co.
in the community of Spring and served as the
company's auctioneer. But King's father, a
licensed auctioneer, turned him in to the Texas
Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
for unlicensed auctioneering. His mother also
filed a complaint against him with TDLR.
Despite repeated warnings from TDLR, King continued
to run his auction company without a license. On
May 3, 2006, the Texas Commission of Licensing and
Regulation issued an order fining him $4,000 and
requiring him to stop acting as an auctioneer until
he was licensed.
On Tuesday, May 23, an auction King was conducting
in Spring came to an abrupt end when he was arrested
by the Texas Department of Public Safety on a charge
of acting as an auctioneer without a license, a
Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months
in jail.
Along with Drakes Auction Co., at 2650 Old Louetta
Road in Spring, King also operates drakesauction.com
and D&S Auction on the internet.
"Auctioneers are licensed and regulated because
they are in a position of trust that would allow
an unethical individual to take advantage of both
the buyers and sellers," said William Kuntz, TDLR's
executive director. "That's why acting as an
auctioneer without a license is a crime. And that's
also why we will take whatever steps are necessary
to shut down unlicensed auctioneers."
King formerly worked for an auction company owned
by his father and held a license as an associate
auctioneer. Associate auctioneers may work only
under the supervision and in the employ of an
auctioneer. After his association with his father's
company ended, King started his own company and
continued to act as an auctioneer. Because of this,
each of his parents filed a complaint with TDLR
accusing him of operating without a license.
King applied to TDLR for an auctioneer's license
in 2005, but his application was denied because
of prior criminal conduct. He was convicted in
2000 and 2003 on felony charges of burglary and
in 2001 on a misdemeanor charge of making a
terroristic threat.
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If you're looking for an Honest Auctioneer,
or if you have any questions about auctions,
contact us through the Texas-National Auctioneers
website at http://www.t-na.com
