Securities Fraud Lawyer Blog
Richard Botkin, a registered representative from Granite Bay, California, with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company and formerly with Morgan Stanley, was suspended from FINRA membership as a result of an investigation into his participation in private dealings without obtaining his firm’s approval, which is a violation of FINRA rules. Botkin entered into an acceptance waiver and consent agreement with FINRA in which he neither admitted nor denied the findings, but agreed to a suspension of four months and a fine of $15,000.
In May 2017, Richard Botkin agreed to the suspension and FINRA published its findings that he took part in private securities transaction without telling his firm or getting their approval. He sold shares in a production company to create a documentary film and approached his own customers from the firm to invest money. His firm prohibited customers from dealing in private transactions with him, but he approached them anyway.
Four of the firm’s customers invested a total of $170,000 and other customers invested $75,000. FINRA also found that Botkin lied to his firm about his participation in this investment dealing when asked about it.
Richard Botkin’s registration and disciplinary history
In order to lawfully sell investments to the public, one must either be registered or exempt from registration.
Richard Botkin was registered with Morgan Stanley from June 2008 to June 2015 and Wachovia Securities from February 2000 to February 2008.
According to FINRA’s CRD disclosure report, Richard Botkin has been the subject of one employment termination after allegations and two regulatory investigations.
FINRA is the primary regulator for broker dealers and registered representatives in the United States. FINRA’s role is to promulgate standards and practices for the brokerage industry and to ensure compliance with its rules by licensed entities and individuals.
FINRA has two primary ways to ensure compliance with the securities laws: by means of an enforcement unit that investigates and disciplines wrongdoing, and through the establishment of an arbitration forum where investors can resolve disputes against broker dealers. FINRA’s arbitration forum, FINRA Dispute Resolution is the largest arbitration forum in the country for resolving investor disputes, and typically processes over 10,000 filings annually.
The Law Office of David Liebrader practices exclusively in the field of investment loss recovery. For the past 24 years, we have dedicated our law practice to assisting investors who have been victims of investment fraud via unlawful and unsuitable investment transactions. During that time, we have recovered money for over one thousand individuals, pension plans, trusts, and companies. The recoveries we have obtained via judgments, awards and settlements on behalf of our clients exceed $40,000,000.
If you suspect that you have been the victim of investment fraud, or had a financial advisor recommend unsuitable investments to you, call us today for a free, confidential consultation at (702) 380-3131.