I’m willing to bet a few dollars the family never received any sort of official notice that informed them they needed a license. If it was “multiple times” the USDA would send out letters certified mail and the USDA would be able to prove they were received.
The fine notice was sent certified. If the others were sent certified - as they should have been - I don’t think the family would publicly say they were never told what they were doing wrong.
We also sent Final Agency Notice via certified mail.
From that point on if you still had a complaint, you had to go to court.
Fur Shur some were smart enough to know to get a lawyer and he'd immediately send in a letter for "a reconsideration" ~ which was rarely given.
When you get something from some of these federales you probably ought to call a lawyer who specializes in that agency.