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.
Artiga engaged in private securities transactions by selling approximately $2.5 million of promissory notes to individuals, for which he received commissions of approximately $157,000. Artiga invested the sale proceeds into a company that was promising purportedly risk-free, high yield investment programs. He engaged in this activity without providing prior written notice, or any notice, to his member firm. His investors ultimately lost more than $2.2 million of the $2.5 million that they had invested.