Florida Misconduct Stockbroker Attorney - Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce

Jul 24, 2020

Former Dakota Director Carlos Ricardo Fuenmayor Suspended for Misconduct

Carlos Ricardo Fuenmayor of Key Biscayne, Florida submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for allegedly acting as a General Securities Principal and a General Securities Representative without being registered in either capacity, in violation of NASD Rules 1021 and 1031, and FINRA Rule 2010. From September 2013 through October 2016, Carlos Ricardo Fuenmayor was associated with Dakota Securities International, Inc. (Dakota) as Director and 20% owner. According to FINRA, Fuenmayor securities licenses had lapsed in September 2013 when he purchased 20% ownership interest in Dakota. The findings stated that Fuenmayor did not become registered as a General Securities Principal or a General Securities Representative until 2015 but was actively engaged in Dakota’s securities business and in the management of its securities business. In addition to the FINRA findings, Fuenmayor was primarily responsible for the hiring and management of personnel at Dakota, advised registered representatives about different types of trading strategies and ordered the registered representatives to execute trades.

Jul 3, 2020

Former Sagepoint Financial Broker Frederic O’Hara Suspended for Private Securities Transactions

Frederic Thomas O’Hara of Stuart, Florida submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in which he was suspended for nine months and assessed a deferred fine of $10,000 for allegedly engaging in private securities transactions, a type of broker misconduct known as selling away. Between February 2010 and August 2015, while registered with Sagepoint Financial, Inc., Frederic O’Hara allegedly engaged in private securities transactions without written notice or approval from his member firm. According to FINRA, Mr. O’Hara engaged in outside business activity by serving as a director of a private company without providing the required written notice to his member firm. Mr. O’Hara also participated in five undisclosed private securities transactions in that same company’s shares totaling $63,000, which included his own $10,000 purchase. The outside business activity and private securities transactions were violations of NASD Rule 3030, FINRA Rule 3270, NASD Rule 3040, and FINRA Rule 2010.