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Adjudications & Decisions

When FINRA determines that violations of securities rules have occurred and formal disciplinary action is necessary, the Enforcement Department files a complaint with the Office of Hearing Officers (OHO).

The Office arranges a three-person panel to hear the case. The panel is chaired by a hearing officer who is an employee of the Office of Hearing Officers. The Chief Hearing Officer appoints two industry panelists, drawn primarily from a pool of current and former securities industry members of FINRA's District Committees, as well as its Market Regulation Committee, former members of FINRA's National Adjudicatory Council (NAC) and former FINRA Governors.

At the hearing, the parties present evidence for the panel to determine whether a firm or individual has engaged in conduct that violates FINRA rules, SEC regulations or federal securities laws. In reaching its decision, the hearing panel also considers previous court, SEC, and NAC decisions to determine if violations occurred. The NAC is the national committee which reviews initial decisions rendered in FINRA disciplinary and membership proceedings.

For each case, the hearing panel will issue a written decision explaining the reasons for its ruling and consult the FINRA Sanction Guidelines to determine the appropriate sanctions if violations have occurred. FINRA also, when feasible and appropriate, can order firms and individuals to make restitution to harmed customers.


Appeals Process

Under FINRA's disciplinary procedures, a firm or individual has the right to appeal a hearing panel decision to the NAC, or the NAC may on its own initiate a review of a decision. On appeal, the NAC will determine if a hearing panel's findings were legally correct, factually supported and consistent with FINRA's Sanction Guidelines. While a panel decision is on appeal, the sanction is not enforced against the firm or individual.

Unless FINRA's Board of Governors decides to review the NAC's appellate decision, that decision represents FINRA's final action. A firm or individual can appeal FINRA's decision to the SEC and then to federal court.


View All Adjudications & Decisions

Choose Year
Date of Decision Proceeding No. Title Type
September 10, 2018 FPI180002 APPEALED: TMR Bayhead Securities Disciplinary Decision
August 28, 2018 2017054146302 Matthew E. Eckstein Disciplinary Decision - Default
August 27, 2018 2016051652702 J. Gordon, Jr. Cloutier Disciplinary Decision - Default
August 24, 2018 2016049775701 David JC Bolton Disciplinary Decision - Default
August 22, 2018 2016050212201 David A. Clark Disciplinary Decision - Default
August 17, 2018 SD-2151 Jesse B. Shelmire, IV with Stonegate Capital Markets, Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
August 07, 2018 2016050924601 APPEALED: Bradley C. Reifler Disciplinary Decision
August 01, 2018 SD-2179 State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
August 01, 2018 SD-2180 State Street Global Markets, LLC Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
August 01, 2018 2016050025401 Order Granting Motion for Leave to File Second Amended Complaint Disciplinary Order
July 20, 2018 2014041724601 APPEALED: Scottsdale Capital Advisors Corporation, John Joseph Hurry, Timothy Brian DiBlasi, and Darrel Michael Cruz Disciplinary Decision
July 17, 2018 2016050025401 Order Granting, in Part, and Denying, in Part, Respondent’s Motion for a More Definite Statement Disciplinary Order
July 16, 2018 2015047069701 Leslie George Markus Disciplinary Decision
July 16, 2018 2015047154001 Kris Lynn Lewis Redacted Decision
July 05, 2018 2015046631101 APPEALED: Robert R Tweed Disciplinary Decision
July 05, 2018 2015048362402 APPEALED: John Anthony Vedovino Disciplinary Decision
July 02, 2018 2016049202101 Shakela Carter Disciplinary Decision - Default
June 27, 2018 2016050951801 Melanie A. Melton Disciplinary Decision - Default
June 25, 2018 SD-2183 David Girton Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
June 18, 2018 2016047565702 APPEALED: Bruce Martin Zipper and Dakota Securities International, Inc. Disciplinary Decision
June 18, 2018 SD-2181 WNJ Capital,Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
June 14, 2018 2014039174202 APPEALED: Steven E. Larson Disciplinary Decision
June 13, 2018 2016049085401 APPEALED: Robert Charles McNamara Disciplinary Decision
June 12, 2018 2014043863001 Order Requiring the Department of Enforcement to File a Sworn Declaration Disciplinary Order
June 08, 2018 2016050447102 Robert Flanagan Disciplinary Decision - Default