Jonathan H. Dudley of Atlanta Georgia a stockbroker formerly registered with Centaurus Financial has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that Dudley failed to comply with FINRA while he was under investigation for potentially misusing a customer’s funds. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2019062425701 (Jan. 11, 2021).
According to the AWC, an investigation into Dudley’s activities commenced after FINRA was made aware from Centaurus Financial that Dudley was terminated. The securities broker dealer indicated that Dudley possibly converted customer funds. It also indicated that Dudley was internally reviewed following a customer initiated investment related complaint. Centaurus Financial attempted to determine if Dudley violated its policies and procedures but Dudley left before it finished its review.
FINRA’s investigation focused on whether Dudley converted a customer’s funds during the course of an outside business venture that Dudley participated in. The regulator also tried to determine if Dudley engaged in outside business activities in violation of FINRA Rules.
On October 30, 2020, Dudley was sent a letter from FINRA Department of Enforcement who called upon the stockbroker to provide information and documents and to testify in response to the allegations against him. Dudley was expected to cooperate by November 18, 2020 and he was warned that his failure to cooperate could serve as a basis for FINRA to possibly bar him from the securities industry.
The AWC revealed that on December 9, 2020, Department of Enforcement was notified that Dudley would not cooperate with any of its requests. There was no point in which Dudley provided the regulator with information, documents or testimony. FINRA determined that he violated FINRA Rules 2010 and 8210.
Dudley was associated with Centaurus Financial between April 18, 2018 and April 25, 2019.
