FINRA Bars Another Advisor In COVID Relief Loan Investigation

Posted on November 4th, 2021 at 1:44 PM
FINRA Bars Another Advisor In COVID Relief Loan Investigation

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred yet another Merrill Lynch advisor who improperly applied for a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and subsequently failed to cooperate with FINRA’s investigation. 

Manuel Pinazo consented to the bar without admitting or denying any of FINRA’s findings. By comparison, FINRA suspended Latonya Anderson for nine months and issued a $12,500 fine after the former J.P. Morgan advisor also improperly applied to the EIDL program. However, Anderson cooperated with FINRA’s investigation, unlike Pinazo. 

The two disciplinary matters underscore the importance of cooperating with FINRA and, of course, retaining competent and experienced securities legal counsel for representation. 

According to FINRA, Anderson submitted an EIDL application in June 2020 through her cellphone and failed to refer to any documentation. FINRA alleges that Anderson falsely claimed to be the owner of a small real estate business with ten employees. Meanwhile, Merrill reported that Pinazo was terminated for his “conduct involving improperly applying for and receiving” the loan, according to a Form 5 Uniform Termination Notice. Neither Pinazo nor Anderson is currently associated with any FINRA member firms, according to BrokerCheck. 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra, covid

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

This was the best of all possible outcomes and I cannot thank you and the team enough.

Michael S.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

May 17, 2024
Fidelity Advisor Files Lawsuit Alleging Wrongful Termination Over Whistleblowing

A former Fidelity Investments advisor, Michael Maeker, has initiated legal action against his former firm, alleging wrongful termination in response to his reporting of anti-investor sales tactics.

May 16, 2024
CFTC Investigates Banks for Potential Whistleblower Suppression

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has initiated inquiries into several banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup, regarding potentially hindering whistleblowers from disclosing information, as reported by Bloomberg News.

 

May 15, 2024
NFA Issues Order Against 50.ai Investments LLC

The National Futures Association's (NFA) Business Conduct Committee (BCC) has taken action against 50.ai Investments LLC, a former NFA Member commodity pool operator and forex firm, for violating multiple NFA compliance rules.