Former Financial West Group Stockbroker Barred for Misconduct
Sean J. Waters of Hemet, California submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in which he has been barred for allegedly engaging in churning and excessive and unsuitable trading in violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act; Exchange Act Rule 10b-5; and FINRA Rules 2020, 2111, and 2010. From December 2010 until April 2017, Mr. Waters was registered with Financial West Group as a General Securities Representative. Between January 2013 and March 2016, Waters engaged in churning and excessive and unsuitable trading in two accounts held by one customer. FINRA stated that during the relevant period, Waters exercised de facto control over and made all trading decisions in the customer’s account including which specific securities to buy and sell, the quantity of securities to buy and sell, and when to buy and sell the securities. According to FINRA, Waters executed 540 purchase transactions and executed 510 sale transactions. FINRA further stated that Water’s trading resulted in more than $88,000 in losses of the $150,000 the customer initially transferred to the firm. Waters allegedly earned 40 percent of his commissions solely from the trading in the customer’s account totaling $115,000.
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