Donovan Thomas Kelly (CRD #2622366, Billings, Montana)

March 16, 2022 – An AWC was issued in which Kelly was fined $10,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for seven months. Without admitting or denying the findings, Kelly consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he participated in private securities transactions outside the regular course or scope of his employment without providing prior written notice to his member firm. The findings stated that Kelly recommended investors purchase promissory notes in an oil and gas drilling company, summarizing the investment for the investors, and arranging for some of the investors to fund the purchases through sales and money transfers from their firm accounts. The promissory notes were securities. Collectively, these investors, including himself and other firm customers, invested $688,000 in the company. Kelly did not receive compensation for the investments. In addition, when asked on annual firm attestation forms whether he had participated in private securities transactions, Kelly answered no. The suspension is in effect from April 18, 2022, through November 17, 2022. (FINRA Case #2020067520001)