Howell Gregory Ferguson (also known as Gregg Ferguson), of Bellville, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings of forgery and false statements to the regulator by Ferguson during the time that he was registered with LPL Financial. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2020065572901 (February 8, 2022).
According to the AWC, on December 31, 2019, customers’ names had been signed by Ferguson on forms meant to distribute funds from customers’ annuities. The AWC states that the customers never authorized Ferguson to sign their names on the documents, which Ferguson provided to the annuity issuers for processing.
The AWC states that in May of 2020, FINRA received false written statements from Ferguson regarding his activities. Ferguson indicated that he did not sign the customers’ names. In January of 2021, after FINRA got a hold of Ferguson’s emails relating to the forms, Ferguson changed his prior statements and admitted to having forged the customers’ signatures. FINRA determined that Ferguson violated FINRA Rules 2010 and 8210 for making false statements during the investigation.
FINRA Public Disclosure additionally shows that on November 9, 2021, a customer filed an investment related arbitration claim concerning Ferguson’s activities in which the customer requested $58,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that Ferguson made unsuitable recommendations to the customer concerning alternative investments when Ferguson was employed by LPL Financial.
Ferguson was associated with LPL Financial between March 5, 2010, and February 26, 2020.
