No person shall make any charge or receive any fee for representing an applicant or recipient of assistance in any proceeding hereunder, or with respect to any application, whether such fee or charge be paid by the applicant or recipient or by any other person or persons, provided, however, that this prohibition shall not extend to criminal proceedings brought pursuant to the provisions of this subtitle. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00).