SEC fines Morgan Stanley $15M to settle allegations of theft of client funds
By 
Adrianne Appel2024-12-10T18:35:00
A lack of supervision and internal controls at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (MSSB) allowed four of its investment advisers to steal millions from customers before the behavior was detected, the SEC said Tuesday in charging the firm.
Federal laws make it illegal for investment advisers to remove money from their clients’ accounts without their express permission. Advisers are not permitted to move client funds into their personal accounts.
MSSB, which agreed to pay $15 million to settle the matter, also failed to adopt policies and procedures until December 2022 to prevent and discover thefts by employees, the SEC said.
Related articles
-
News BriefMorgan Stanley fined $1.6M by FINRA over municipal securities closeouts
Morgan Stanley will pay a $1.6 million fine levied by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority for failing to close out certain municipal securities transactions over a five-year period.
-
News BriefMorgan Stanley settles with states for $6.5M over mishandled data
Morgan Stanley agreed to pay $6.5 million as part of a settlement with six states requiring the firm to strengthen its data security after actions it took compromised the personal data of millions of customers.
-
ArticleCompliance deficiencies highlighted in $1.8B crackdown on messaging apps
Eleven banks, investment firms, and their affiliates will pay a total of more than $1.8 billion in fines for “widespread and longstanding failures” in monitoring, maintaining, and preserving electronic communications by employees.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
News BriefDOJ targets $14.6B in health care fraud with focus on transnational crime
Emerging enforcement priorities of the U.S. Department of Justice’s health care fraud division align with the Trump administration’s emphasis on prosecuting transnational criminal organizations and ending opioid trafficking.
-
News BriefFTC raises antitrust concerns over $1.57B Circle K deal, orders divestitures
Since President Donald Trump took office, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has yet to keep up the level of enforcement it had under previous chair Lina Khan. The agency, however, returned to antitrust action in the case of fuel stations, just in time for the July 4th holiday.
-
News BriefJudge reinstates fired CPSC commissioners in latest battle over government cuts
In May, three commissioners for the Consumer Product Safety Commission were abruptly fired by President Donald Trump and sued for their jobs shortly after. A federal judge has ruled that the commissioners should be reinstated, although it’s unclear whether that ruling may itself be reversed.