Bentley Edward Blackmon (CRD #2627221, Little Rock, Arkansas)

March 14, 2022 – An AWC was issued in which Blackmon was assessed a deferred fine of $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for three months. Without admitting or denying the findings, Blackmon consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he participated in private securities transactions without providing prior written notice to his member firm. The findings stated that Blackmon introduced a customer of the firm to the issuer of a private placement offering and informed the customer that he intended to invest in the offering himself. Blackmon also participated in a telephone conference with the customer and the issuer about the offering. Blackmon coordinated a wire transfer payment from the customer’s account at the firm to facilitate the customer’s initial investment of $195,000 in the offering. Later, after making an investment for himself, Blackmon disclosed his own investment in the offering to the firm. However, Blackmon did not disclose to the firm that he had also participated in the customer’s investment. Subsequently, Blackmon facilitated two additional wire transfer payments from the customer’s account at the firm for the customer’s additional investments in the offering, totaling approximately $250,000. Blackmon did not receive any commissions from the sale of the securities. The suspension is in effect from March 21, 2022, through June 20, 2022. (FINRA Case #2020068226001)