§ 69-vv. Civil penalties. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, with respect to violations of section sixty-nine-ss of this article, the secretary of state is authorized, upon the complaint of any person or on his or her own initiative, to investigate and prosecute violations of the provisions of such section by persons not licensed pursuant to this article and may impose a fine of up to one thousand dollars for the first violation; two thousand dollars for a second such violation; five thousand dollars for a third violation; and ten thousand dollars for a fourth violation and each subsequent violation. The attorney general, acting on behalf of the secretary of state, may commence an action or proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain a judgment against such unlicensed person in an amount equal to that imposed as a fine.