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.

Anna Maria Somoza
AWC/2008015103701

After deciding to resign from her member firm to join another FINRA member firm, Somoza used her broker workstation to change certain of her customers’ telephone numbers to incorrect numbers and deleted several email addresses in her firm’s electronic database, causing the firm to create and maintain inaccurate books and records. Somoza made these changes without the customers’ knowledge or authorization, and she was aware that the firm’s policies prohibited firm employees from making false and misleading entries in its books and records. Somoza admitted to the firm that she made the changes because she did not want anyone at the firm calling her clients after she left the firm. The firm immediately terminated Somoza’s employment.

Anna Maria Somoza : Fined $5,000; Suspended 30 days

Tags: Altered Customer Phone Records