While associated with a member firm, Axel, through a company in which he held an ownership interest and co-managed, borrowed $200,000 from two customers in three transactions.
The first loan for $50,000, which Axel later repaid, was contrary to Axel’s firm’s written policy that prohibited individuals from borrowing money from firm customers, and Axel did not seek or receive his firm’s approval for the loan he received from the customer. Prior to receiving the loan, the firm’s CCO explicitly stated that Axel did not qualify to raise money with his customers.
Second Firm
Axel left the firm and became associated with another member firm; Axel, through his company, solicited another $50,000 from the first customer, who had now transferred his account to the firm where Axel remained his account representative. Axel did not repay the funds he borrowed in the second loan.
Finally, Axel, through his company, borrowed $100,000 from a second customer. The customer has received partial payment of the loan. Axel accepted these two loans contrary to his firm’s written policy that prohibited registered persons from borrowing money from a customer, Axel had not asked for, nor had received, the firm’s permission to borrow these funds.
Axel provided false information to his second member firm, when he responded that he never loaned money to, or borrowed money from, a customer, or arranged for a third party to loan or borrow from a customer on a compliance certification.