Securities Lawyers Blog
According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) advisor George McCaffrey (McCaffrey), formerly associated with NTB Financial Corporation (NTB Financial), in September 2018, was sanctioned and suspended from the securities industry by FINRA over accusations of potentially selling unapproved products.
In September 2018 FINRA alleged that McCaffrey consented to the sanctions and findings that he participated in 22 undisclosed private securities transactions in which nine investors purchased $1,775,000 in debt and equity securities. FINRA found that McCaffrey introduced the nine individuals to representatives of a greenhouse building and leasing company so they could invest in the company. Other activities McCaffrey is alleged to have performed include reviewing and editing documents relating to the investments, forwarding investment-related documents to the customers, and communicating with the customers about their investments.
The investors were found to have purchased $1,775,000 in promissory notes of the greenhouse building and leasing company and preferred stock in one of the company’s affiliates. FINRA also found that the company paid $124,250 in commissions to an entity controlled by McCaffrey’s wife.
The providing of loans or selling of notes and other investments outside of a brokerage firm constitutes impermissible private securities transactions – a practice known in the industry as “selling away”.