FINRA Suspends Former Morgan Stanley Advisor Over Unauthorized Trading and Texting

Posted on October 14th, 2022 at 1:05 PM
FINRA Suspends Former Morgan Stanley Advisor Over Unauthorized Trading and Texting

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has issued a two-month suspension and a $10,000 fine to a former Morgan Stanley advisor to settle claims pertaining to unauthorized trading and improper use of a personal phone to text clients.

The Maryland-based advisor, Miche Jean, consented to the suspension and fine without admitting or denying any of FINRA’s investigatory findings. According to FINRA, Jean executed 56 trades in two client accounts between February and May 2020 without obtaining prior written authorization or contacting the clients. Jean also texted clients about the securities business between December 2019 and October 2020 using a personal phone rather than through a firm-approved platform.

Jean refused to provide Morgan Stanley with the messages and subsequently deleted them, which caused Morgan Stanley to violate its recordkeeping requirements, according to the settlement. BrokerCheck reveals that Morgan Stanley terminated Jean in October 2020 over concerns regarding his trading activity and communications with clients. Morgan Stanley paid a $35,000 settlement in March 2021 to a client who sought damages related to unauthorized trades in ETFs between February and March 2020. According to BrokerCheck, Jean did not contribute to the settlement.

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, advisors, law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Jim, Stephany and the whole team were a God send.  We felt like we were put into a situation where we had no advocate. Jim’s team came in with a strong, well laid out strategy on how to get our story heard. Where our outside compliance company had no ability to help, our Broker Dealer was impenitent, and the regulators were aggressive pursuing vague rules, Jim came like a barricade against an assault we did not understand. Though you pay member dues to be affiliated with FINRA and a B/D, you have no voice. The only thing that is truly heard in this un-level playing field is a bulldog’s bark like Jim’s. I would encourage anyone to call Jim and his team to find a real ally in the tough and complicated world of securities regulation. They are truly the best.

Greg P.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

October 2, 2024
SEC Charges Two South Florida Men for Defrauding Venezuelan-American Investors in $5 Million Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a complaint against two South Florida men, Francisco Javier Malave Hernandez and Ricardo Javier Guerra Farias, for orchestrating a multi-million dollar investment fraud that targeted members of the Venezuelan-American community.

October 1, 2024
California Advisor Suspended and Fined for Churning Client Accounts

A veteran advisor in Santa Maria, California, Stewart "Paxton" Ginn, has been suspended for 18 months and fined $50,000 by FINRA, according to AdvisorHub

September 30, 2024
Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Settle with FINRA for Supervisory Failures

Bank of America and its subsidiary, Merrill Lynch, have agreed to a $3 million fine and censure as part of a settlement with FINRA over long-term supervisory failures.