WHEREAS, the Banking Commissioner (“Commissioner”) is charged with the administration of Part IV of Chapter 668, Sections 36a-580 to 36a-589, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, “Check Cashing Services”, and Sections 36a-585-1, 36a-588-1, 36a-588-3 and 36a-588-4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (“Regulations”);

WHEREAS, Luna’s is a Connecticut limited liability company that is currently licensed to operate a general facility at 582 Park Street, Hartford, Connecticut;

WHEREAS, the Commissioner, through the Consumer Credit Division of the Department of Banking, conducted an investigation pursuant to Section 36a-17 of the Connecticut General Statutes into the activities of Luna’s to determine if it had violated, was violating or was about to violate the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes and Regulations within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner;

WHEREAS, as a result of such investigation, the Commissioner alleges that Luna’s, during the period of January 2008 through June 2011, engaged in the business of cashing checks, drafts and money orders for consideration without licensure for a general facility or limited facility at 82 East Main Street, Meriden, Connecticut, in violation of Section 36a-581(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes;

WHEREAS, the Commissioner believes that such allegation would support initiation of enforcement proceedings against Luna’s, including proceedings to issue a cease and desist order against Luna’s pursuant to Sections 36a-587(b) and 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, and impose a civil penalty of up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per violation on Luna’s pursuant to Sections 36a-587(b) and 36a-50(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes;

WHEREAS, initiation of such enforcement proceedings would constitute a “contested case” within the meaning of Section 4-166(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes;

WHEREAS, Section 4-177(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 36a-1-55(a) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies provide that a contested case may be resolved by consent order, unless precluded by law;

WHEREAS, both the Commissioner and Luna’s acknowledge the possible consequences of formal administrative proceedings, and Luna’s voluntarily agrees to consent to the entry of the sanctions described below without admitting or denying any allegation contained herein and solely for the purpose of obviating the need for further formal administrative proceedings concerning the allegation contained herein;

WHEREAS, Luna’s herein represents to the Commissioner that it has not engaged in the business of cashing checks, drafts and money orders for consideration without licensure for a general facility or limited facility since June 2011;

WHEREAS, Luna’s specifically assures the Commissioner that the violation described herein shall not occur in the future;

AND WHEREAS, Luna’s, through its execution of this Consent Order, voluntarily agrees to waive its procedural rights, including a right to notice and an opportunity for hearing as it pertains to the allegation set forth herein, and voluntarily waives its right to seek judicial review or otherwise challenge or contest the validity of this Consent Order.

CONSENT TO ENTRY OF SANCTIONS

WHEREAS, Luna’s, through its execution of this Consent Order, consents to the Commissioner’s entry of a Consent Order imposing the following sanctions:

NOW THEREFORE, the Commissioner enters the following:

Issued at Hartford, Connecticut
this 6th day of January 2012.              ________/s/_________
                                                     Howard F. Pitkin
                                                     Banking Commissioner

I, Antonio J. Landrau, state on behalf of Luna’s Pay A Bill, LLC, that I have read the foregoing Consent Order; that I know and fully understand its contents; that I am authorized to execute this Consent Order on behalf of Luna’s Pay A Bill, LLC; that Luna’s Pay A Bill, LLC agrees freely and without threat or coercion of any kind to comply with the sanctions entered and terms and conditions ordered herein; and that Luna’s Pay A Bill, LLC voluntarily agrees to enter into this Consent Order, expressly waiving the procedural rights set forth herein as to the matters described herein.                                       

State of:  CT

County of:  Hartford

On this the 3rd day of January 2012, before me, Betty Cyr, the undersigned officer, personally appeared Antonio J. Landrau who acknowledged himself/herself to be the Member of Luna’s Pay A Bill, LLC, a member managed/manager managed limited liability company, and that he/she as such Owner, being authorized so to do, executed the foregoing instrument for the purposes therein contained, by signing the name of the limited liability company by himself/herself as Luna’s Pay A Bill.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand.

Administrative Orders and Settlements