Dakota Securities International Expelled & Former Owner Bruce Martin Zipper Barred for Misconduct
Dakota Securities International (Dakota) and Bruce Martin Zipper (Mr. Zipper) appealed a National Adjudicatory Council (NAC) decision to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Hearing Panel imposed three expulsions on Dakota for allegedly failing to maintain accurate books and records, failing to supervise, and allowing Mr. Zipper to associate with them and engage in activities requiring registration while suspended. The Hearing Panel also imposed two bars on Mr. Zipper for associating with Dakota and engaging in the particular activities while suspended and intentionally misidentifying the representative of record on customer transactions. In 2004, Mr. Zipper founded Dakota and was the majority owner until January 2018, when he sold his ownership. According to the NAC findings, Mr. Zipper executed then later tried to withdraw from an AWC that was final and non-appealable due to his failure to disclose three unsatisfied judgments on his Form U4. The findings stated that FINRA informed Mr. Zipper of his suspension, and during his absence he allegedly arranged for Dakota to continue operations without him for the three months. During the same period, Dakota did not restrict Mr. Zipper’s access to the firm’s email system or to the firm’s trading system in which he engaged and recommended transactions while suspended. In addition to the NAC findings, Mr. Zipper admitted that he intentionally misidentified the representative of record on hundreds of trades caused Dakota to maintain inaccurate books and records. Dakota Securities International was expelled from FINRA membership and Mr. Zipper was barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities.
Continue Reading