2019 Report on FINRA Examination Findings and Observations

FINRA disciplinary actions taken against firms and individuals due to violations of FINRA rules, federal securities laws and MSRB rules.


Firm Fined

Dawson James Securities, Inc.

The Firm was fined $20,000 as a result of Registered Representatives contacting phone numbers that appeared on a national do not call list. Registered Representatives were instructed to use a network that automatically excluded numbers on the national do not call list and the Firm’s do not call list. It was found that in the Firm’s New York branch office Registered Representatives bypassed the network, therefore contacting numbers that were supposed to be excluded. FINRA Case #2018056290001

Seven Points Capital, LLC

The Firm was fined $20,000 for permitting proprietary traders to engage in equity trading when they were not properly qualified with passing the Series 7 exam. It was also found that General Securities Representatives failed to complete the Series 55 or Series 57 examinations in a timely manner. The Firm failed to comply with its Written Supervisory Procedures, which required registration for any person engaging in securities business. FINRA Case #2015043490102


Individuals Barred

Orlando Vargas

It was found that Vargas falsely claimed to have bought computer equipment totaling $2,000 for which he was reimbursed. Vargas submitted false documents for reimbursement pursuant to the firm sponsored program which reimburses employees for personal computer equipment. It was also found that Vargas provided false statements to FINRA regarding his use of the reimbursement program. FINRA Case #2018057528501

Bobby Wayne Coburn

It was found that Coburn failed to provide FINRA with documents related to his prior firm’s filing of his U5. Coburn’s prior firm stated in its U5 filing that he was involved in solicitation of clients to invest in unapproved private securities transactions and engaged in a customer complaint settlement related to the private securities transaction without the firm’s knowledge. FINRA Case #2019062319501


Individuals Suspended

Matthew David Albers

Albers was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any member firm for 15 days. It was found that Albers exercised discretionary trading authority in customer accounts without prior written approval from the customer and his Firm. Albers placed trades without first speaking with the customer on the day of the transaction. Findings also stated that Albers lied on an annual compliance questionnaire and stated that he had not exercised discretionary approval when, in fact, he had. FINRA Case #2018056269001

Mengxuan Zhang

Zhang was fined $5,000 and suspended for one month for falsifying customer signatures. It was found that Zhang reused signature pages to expedite the transaction process, changing only the date on the existing form. This occurred without the permission of the client. FINRA Case #2018059411401

Click here to read the Disciplinary Brief in its entirety.

FINRA disciplinary actions can be very costly and harm your firm’s reputation. Please contact an ARG Analyst with any questions regarding the matters discussed, or to learn the benefits of our FINRA consulting services.

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October 2019 FINRA Disciplinary Actions

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