National Futures Association (NFA) has fined Brewer Futures Group LLC (BFG) and its principal, Steven J. Brewer $100,000. BFG is an Introducing Broker (IB) located in Chicago, Illinois. The Decision, issued by an NFA Hearing Panel, is based on a Complaint filed in June 2009 and a settlement offer submitted by BFG, Brewer and Cheryl A. Arts, also a principal of BFG. In submitting the settlement offer, the respondents neither admitted nor denied the allegations against them.

The Complaint charged that BFG failed in the maintenance of required books and records and required capital requirements. Specifically, the Complaint alleged that BFG was undercapitalized on several occasions and engaged in activities crafted to give the impression that it was in compliance with its capital requirements at all times when that was not the case. The Complaint also charged that BFG, Brewer and Arts failed to adequately supervise the firm’s financial compliance and recordkeeping functions.

Along with the $100,000 fine, BFG and any other IBs of which Brewer is principal will operate only with a valid guarantee agreement. Additionally, no NFA Member of which Brewer is principal will be registered as a Futures Commission Merchant. Arts offered to withdraw as a principal of BFG and to never be an NFA Member or a principal of an NFA Member in the future. Arts must also pay a fine of $5,000.

This information which is publicly available on NFA’s website has been provided by The White Law Group, LLC.

If you have questions about investments you made with Brewer Futures Group LLC, Steven J. Brewer and/or Cheryl A. Arts, the securities attorneys of The White Law Group may be able to help.  To speak with a securities attorney, please call the firm’s Chicago office at 312/238-9650.

The White Law Group, LLC is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and securities regulation/compliance law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Boca Raton, Florida.

For more information on The White Law Group, please visit our website at http://whitesecuritieslaw.com.