Merrill Lynch sign on building

Jose Giraldo (also known as Tomas Giraldo) of Chula Vista California a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon accusations that Giraldo neglected to cooperate with FINRA’s request for his information following the point in which the stockbroker was accused of misappropriating customer funds. Case No. 2018058059202 (July 22, 2019).

Giraldo was discharged by Merrill Lynch on March 30, 2018 supported by allegations of funds being misappropriated from the customer’s account by the stockbroker. The securities broker dealer also relayed to FINRA that customer account documents were falsified by Giraldo.

According to FINRA Public Disclosure, Giraldo was asked to provide information to the regulator in 2019. His failure to comply resulted in FINRA issuing him a Notice of Suspension letter on April 19, 2019 and a Suspension from Association letter on May 13, 2019. Giraldo had been warned by FINRA that he could face further sanctions if he did not seek termination of the suspension by the July 21, 2019 deadline. The stockbroker did not provide the required information to resolve the suspension. He was barred by FINRA on July 22, 2019.

This is not the first time that Giraldo has been sanctioned by FINRA for his failure to comply with its requests. Namely, he was barred between August 27, 2018 and October 19, 2018 founded on accusations of his failure to provide information to FINRA.