According to FINRA, Jason Lee Pintus was barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for refusing to appear for on-the-record testimony.

FINRA sought Pintus's testimony in connection with its investigation into his and his member firm's supervision of a registered representative. The investigation covered several serious areas including Pintus's role in the potential falsification of documents produced to FINRA, supervision of the representative, supervision of third-party wires for anti-money laundering red flags, supervision of other firm representatives' potential excessive trading, and Pintus's own potential excessive and unauthorized trading.

Despite FINRA's request for testimony to investigate these serious matters, Pintus refused to appear. This refusal to cooperate with FINRA's investigation violated FINRA rules requiring registered persons to provide information and testimony when requested during regulatory inquiries.

Refusing to testify obstructs FINRA's ability to investigate potential misconduct and protect investors. FINRA rules make clear that cooperation with investigations is a fundamental obligation of all registered persons, and refusal to testify is treated as one of the most egregious violations, typically resulting in a bar from the industry.

The issues under investigation were serious, involving potential document falsification, supervision failures across multiple areas, AML concerns, excessive trading, and unauthorized trading. Pintus's refusal to testify prevented FINRA from fully investigating these matters, which is why a bar was imposed.

This case underscores that registered persons cannot avoid regulatory scrutiny by refusing to cooperate. Investors should understand that securities professionals have ongoing obligations to regulatory authorities, and those who refuse to cooperate face career-ending sanctions. Investors can verify a professional's regulatory status and any sanctions through FINRA BrokerCheck before entrusting them with their assets.