September 5, 2023 – An AWC was issued in which Cross was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for 20 days. Without admitting or denying the findings, Cross consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he exercised discretionary authority to effect trades in customer accounts without obtaining written authorization from the customers to exercise discretion and without his member firm having accepted the accounts as discretionary. The findings stated that although the customers understood that Cross was placing trades in their accounts, none of them had given him prior written authorization to exercise discretion and Cross did not speak with the customers on the dates of the trades.
The suspension was in effect from October 2, 2023, through October 21, 2023. (FINRA Case #2020067046901)