FINRA fined and suspended Newbridge Securities and Newbridge Financial Services Group representative Marc Barton of Fresno, California, for reusing 32 customer signatures on 48 documents, at least some of which were without the customers' prior permission or consent. Barton's then-employer, LPL Financial, terminated Barton for the reused signatures and for modifying documents after they were signed by the customer.
In its investigation, FINRA noted that forgery and falsification are violations of industry rules.
The findings state that Barton reused customer signatures while associated with LPL Financial, placing the reused signatures on new account applications, money transfer forms, and securities purchase documents.
Barton also allegedly altered six documents after they were signed by firm customers, falsely attesting on five annual compliance questionnaires that he had not used or reused another person's signature on a document when, in fact, he had.
Prior to his associations with LPL Financial and Newbridge Securities, Barton served as a broker and investment adviser for Cetera Advisors and Investors Capital, both in Fresno, CA.
If you invested with Newbridge and former LPL Financial registered representative Marc Barton or with any broker or investment adviser whose unauthorized use or reuse of your signature, or modification of a document after you signed it, has proven harmful to your investments or interests, please call an experienced FINRA arbitration attorney at The Law Offices of Jonathan W. Evans & Associates at (800) 699-1881 for an investigation and consultation.