FREDDY A ALBAN (KANNAPOLIS) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Alban effective August 29, 2025. The Commission found that Alban facilitated a transaction between a distressed homeowner and an unlicensed out-of-state investor who assigned a purchase contract to buyers who Alban knew wanted to buy a property. Alban failed to provide the Working With Real Estate Agents (WWREA) disclosure form or enter into a written agency agreement with the buyers and received an “assignment fee” at closing through his unlicensed investment firm, without the knowledge or supervision of either of the two firms with which he was affiliated.
DREW M BYERS (WINSTON SALEM) – The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Byers, effective August 13, 2025. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Byers violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Byers neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
CRYSTAL S CHEEVERS (HUNTERSVILLE) – The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Cheevers, effective August 13, 2025. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Cheevers violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Cheevers neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
BRIAN S HAIGLER (INDIAN TRAIL) – The Commission accepted the permanent voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Haigler, effective August 13, 2025. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Haigler violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Haigler neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
DAVID S KLEPSER (CHARLOTTE) – The Commission accepted the voluntary surrender of the real estate license of Klepser, effective August 13, 2025, with no right to reapply for five years. The Commission dismissed without prejudice allegations that Klepser violated provisions of the Real Estate License Law and Commission Rules. Klepser neither admitted nor denied misconduct.
OWEN E METTS (WILMINGTON) – By Consent, the Commission suspended the broker license of Metts for a period of 24 months, effective June 15, 2025. The Commission then stayed the suspension in its entirety upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Metts’ nephew signed a Power of Attorney authorizing Metts to sign documents related to the transfer of real property in exchange for a commission. Metts incorrectly interpreted a legal document to include interest owed to his nephew upon the sale of the subject property. Metts refused to sign a quitclaim deed his nephew was required to sign pursuant to a divorce settlement until the seller paid a commission to him.
AMANDA G RIVERA (WENDELL) – Following a hearing, the Commission suspended the broker license of Rivera for a period of 6 months, effective September 1, 2025, and revoked the instructor approval of Rivera effective June 24, 2025. The Commission then stayed the suspension following a one-month active period upon certain conditions. The Commission found that Rivera reported disciplinary action by the North Carolina Appraisal Board more than five months after entry of the final order and misrepresented the extent of the disciplinary action taken against her. Rivera’s appraiser license was placed on inactive suspension for a period of six months. Rivera was prohibited from supervising trainees and teaching the appraiser supervisor and trainee course for a period of three years, and she was prohibited from teaching continuing education courses or qualifying education courses for a period of two years.
KRISTI L WOOLARD (GREENVILLE) – By Consent, the Commission reprimanded Woolard effective August 31, 2025. The Commission found that Woolard acted as the buyer’s agent who contracted to purchase an unimproved lot for $23,000. Prior to closing, Woolard, in violation of training by both the North Carolina Real Estate Commission and her Broker-in-Charge, emailed the closing attorney to obtain the wiring instructions for her client, did not call the closing attorney to verify the wiring instructions, and did not instruct her buyer to do so. Unbeknownst to her, her communications with the attorney were intercepted by a hacker who replied with fake wiring instructions. Woolard passed these instructions along to her client who then wired $23,330.09 to the hacker’s account. Woolard’s client was unable to buy the property after her money was lost.