Apr 27, 2015

Former NYLIFE Securities Broker Barred by FINRA for Converting Funds of an Elderly Investor

William Robert Kinyon, a former registered representative with the Castleford, Idaho branch of NYLIFE Securities LLC (NYLIFE Securities) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he consented to, but did not admit to or deny, the entry of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA) findings that he converted funds from an elderly customer’s account for personal use. According to FINRA, William Kinyon’s elderly brokerage customer told him that she wanted to deposit $3,000 into one of her variable annuity accounts. Mr. Kinyon, however, deposited the check into his personal checking account and allegedly used the funds to make multiple personal purchases at stores such as Walmart and Costco.

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Oct 17, 2014

Arhonda T’Lene Guinn Permanently Barred by FINRA for Converting Customer Funds

Arhonda T’Lene Guinn, a former registered representative with Vero Beach, Florida-based Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. (Stifel Nicolaus) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which she consented to, but did not admit to or deny, the entry of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA) findings that she converted funds from a customer’s account for personal use. According to FINRA, Arhonda Guinn transferred $12,100 from a customer’s account to a bank account belonging to her landlord. The Stifel Nicolaus customer had no knowledge of and did not consent to the transfer of funds. In order to complete the transfer, Arhonda Guinn allegedly falsified her customer’s previously signed Letter of Authorization. FINRA found that Arhonda Guinn used the customer’s funds to pay six months of rent. Consequently, Arhonda Guinn, of Vero Beach, Florida, was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity.

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Oct 14, 2014

Karen Lee Chafe Fined and Suspended by FINRA for Altering Variable Annuity Documents

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has fined and suspended Karen Lee Chafe, a former Berthel, Fisher & Co. Financial Services, Inc. (Berthel Fisher) registered representative in its Melbourne Beach, Florida offices, for admitting to altering customers’ variable annuity withdrawal forms and IRA distribution/withdrawal request forms. According to FINRA, Karen Chafe, a/k/a Karen Lee Linscott, modified and resubmitted withdrawal request forms at least 61 times on behalf of 14 customers. According to FINRA’s Default Judgment, Karen Chafe reused old customer forms, whited out or obscured existing information, added new information, and then submitted the altered forms as originals to Berthel Fisher over a period of six years. Although Karen Chafe was authorized to make the withdrawals and distributions, she did not have the customers’ authorization to submit altered forms. Karen Chafe has been assessed a deferred fine of $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity for a year. The suspension is in effect from June 16, 2014 through June 15, 2015.

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