Mark Francis Harper barred from securities industry

FINRA recently announced that Mark Francis Harper, formerly of Bentley-Lawrence Securities, Inc. in Stow, Ohio, has been barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. The sanction was based on findings that Harper engaged in a pattern of mutual fund switching in customer’s accounts without having reasonable grounds for believing that the transactions were suitable for the customers. The findings further stated that Harper placed buy and sell orders of mutual funds in customers’ accounts without the customers’ prior written authorization and his member firm’s prior written acceptance of the accounts as discretionary. Finally, the findings stated that Harper failed to timely amend his Form U4 to disclose a settlement with a customer for $23,041.02 in connection with his mutual fund switching.

According to his FINRA Broker Report (CRD), it appears that the FINRA investigation is not the first time that Mark Francis Harper has been named in a claim related to possible securities fraud or securities violations. It appears that he has been named in at least two regulatory events, as well as three customer claims. Prior to working for Bentley-Lawrence Securities, Harper was a registered representative with Edward Jones.

If you have questions regarding investments you made with Mark Francis Harper or Bentley-Lawrence Securities, or if you believe that you have been the victim of a securities fraud, The White Law Group may be able to help. The White Law Group is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration and investor protection law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Boca Raton, Florida. The firm has over 30 years of experience in securities litigation matters and handles matters throughout the country and Ohio, including reviewing securities fraud cases in Stow, Akron, Toledo, Cleveland, Shaker Heights, Columbus, Youngstown, and Canton. To contact the firm, please call 312-238-9650. Or, for more information on The White Law Group, please visit our website at https://whitesecuritieslaw.com.