Washington DC Investment Advisor Dawn Bennett Barred by SEC

As set out in this SEC Order from an Administrative Law Judge (https://www.sec.gov/alj/aljdec/2016/id1033jeg.pdf), Dawn Bennett has been barred from the securities industry by the SEC. Dawn Bennett was a Washington DC area advisor who was previously registered to sell securities with Western International Securities.

Judge Grimes also imposed over one million dollars of fines and disgorgement against Ms. Bennett. The findings in the above Order included the following:

“Respondents repeatedly overstated their AUM [Assets Under Management] by at least $1.5 billion in Barron’s magazine, on a radio show hosted by Bennett, and in various other advertisements and communications with existing and prospective clients to create the impression that Respondents were larger and more successful players in the industry than was actually the case.”

Judge Grimes’ Order ultimately found that “Respondents made multiple material misstatements with scienter regarding AUM and investor performance. They, therefore, violated Securities Act Section 17(a)(1) and (2), Exchange Act Section 10(b), and Exchange Act Rule 10b-5(a), (b), and (c).”

Greco & Greco is a law firm located in the Virginia, DC, Maryland area representing investors against securities brokerage firms and advisors involving cases of securities fraud, unsuitable investments, misstatements, churning, and other investment fraud causes of action. We have previously represented harmed investors in FINRA arbitration proceedings against Ms. Bennett and Western International Securities.