NOTE: Stipulations of Fact and Consent to Penalty (SFC); Offers of Settlement (OS); and Letters of Acceptance Waiver, and Consent (AWC) are entered into by Respondents without admitting or denying the allegations, but consent is given to the described sanctions & to the entry of findings. Additionally, for AWCs, if FINRA has reason to believe a violation has occurred and the member or associated person does not dispute the violation, FINRA may prepare and request that the member or associated person execute a letter accepting a finding of violation, consenting to the imposition of sanctions, and agreeing to waive such member's or associated person's right to a hearing before a hearing panel, and any right of appeal to the National Adjudicatory Council, the SEC, and the courts, or to otherwise challenge the validity of the letter, if the letter is accepted. The letter shall describe the act or practice engaged in or omitted, the rule, regulation, or statutory provision violated, and the sanction or sanctions to be imposed.
Austin purchased shares of stock for his own account and did not have the funds to pay for the stock, in violation of Federal Reserve Board Regulation T. Austin obtained a Regulation T extension to have time to pay for the stock but failed to pay for the stock when the extension expired, causing his member firm to extend him credit in a manner not permissible under Regulation T by making the stock purchase without sufficient funds. Austin willfully caused his firm to extend him credit in violation of Federal Reserve Board Regulations T and X. Austin sold the stock to a public customer, which he was not permitted to do because he did not have his Series 7 General Securities Representative registration. FINRA found that Austin failed to timely transfer the stock out of his account to the customer after he had sold him the stock.
Sean Aaron Austin: Fined $5,000; Suspended 2 months in all capacities