Agent's Tennessee fine reduced for violation of state law

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Florida-based sports agent is facing a reduced fine of over $10,000 for representing a pitching prospect from Tennessee before registering as an athlete's agent with the Tennessee Secretary of State's office.

David Sloane initially had been facing a $50,740 fine for representing Jordan Sheffield and Justus Sheffield. The fine was reduced to $25,740 in November when the counts involving Jordan Sheffield were dropped.

Elizabeth D. Cambron, an administrative judge with the Secretary of State's office, ruled last week that Sloane should only pay $10,740 because a penalty of over $25,000 "would be excessive under the facts of the case."

Either party can file an appeal by March 15.

The fine includes a $5,000 penalty for contacting Justus Sheffield and his family without being registered in the state of Tennessee, a $5,000 penalty for acting as an athlete agent without being registered in Tennessee and $740 in investigative costs.

Sloane, who no longer represents either Sheffield brother, had contended he was originally unaware of the Tennessee state law requiring registration and that he assumed his Florida license would carry over to other states. He eventually registered in Tennessee as well.

In reducing the penalty, Cambron noted that Sloane came into compliance with the Tennessee law prior to negotiating Justus Sheffield's contract.

Laws regulating sports agents exist in at least 40 states , but structures and penalties can vary from state to state. There is a movement afoot for states to strengthen the regulations and adopt stiffer penalties.

Tennessee's version of the law allows the state to assess civil penalties up to $25,000 for each violation.

Jordan Sheffield was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 36th overall pick in the 2016 draft after attending Vanderbilt for three years. Justus Sheffield was a Cleveland Indians first-round draft pick in 2014 and now pitches in the New York Yankees organization.