Armando Barron Faces Year-Long FINRA Suspension

Armando Barron (CRD #: 4394048), a broker formerly registered with IRC Securities, has been suspended by FINRA, according to his BrokerCheck record, accessed on March 4, 2025. Read on if you have questions about his alleged conduct as a broker.

FINRA Suspension

On January 8, 2025, Armando Barron consented to the entry of findings that he allegedly participated in private securities transactions between October 2019 and April 2023.

According to a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (AWC), Armando Barron allegedly solicited 14 investors to enter into a total of 30 promissory notes with an LLC he owned and controlled. These investments allegedly totaled $979,500.

These notes allegedly promised investors fixed annual rates of return of 5-6% that would be paid monthly and repayment of principal at a month’s notice. 

The AWC further alleged that Armando Barron partially disclosed his promissory note activity to his firm, IRC Securities, in January 2021. However, his disclosure was allegedly incomplete and inaccurate because it claimed that investors’ funds would be invested into a specific investment fund managed by his LLC, when in fact some of the money would also be used for other purposes.

Armando Barron allegedly failed to provide any further disclosure of his promissory note activities to his firm.

Alleged Violations of FINRA Rule 2210

Additionally, the AWC alleged that Armando Barron disseminated communications about these promissory notes that did not provide investors with a fair and balanced assessment of their risks and benefits or a sound basis for evaluating the facts of these investments.

These communications allegedly included emails and livestreamed presentations. In them, he allegedly failed to present the risk that his LLC could become illiquid or unable to make payments.

Armando Barron’s communications allegedly also contained unwarranted, promissory, or misleading statements. For example, he allegedly made comparisons between his promissory notes and other investments without fully disclosing the material differences between those investments.

The AWC concluded that these allegations constituted violations of FINRA Rules 2010, 3280, 2210(d)(1)(A), 2210(d)(1)(B), and 2210(d)(2).

FINRA Rule 2010

FINRA Rule 2010 holds brokers to high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade.

FINRA Rule 3280

FINRA Rule 3280 requires brokers to provide written notice to their firm before engaging in private securities transactions.

FINRA Rule 2210

FINRA Rules 2210(d)(1)(A) and 2210(d)(1)(B) require all communications with the public to be fair and balanced and free from any false, misleading, or promissory statements.

FINRA Rule 2210(d)(2) prohibits FINRA members from making comparisons between investments in retail communications without fully disclosing the differences between them, such as their expenses, returns, liquidity, and other features.

Sanctions

Armando Barron consented to the following sanctions:

• 24-month suspension from associating with FINRA members
• $50,000 fine

His suspension began on January 21, 2025, and will end on January 20, 2027. You can access the full AWC here.

Background Information

Armando Barron has passed the following exams:

• Securities Industry Essentials Examination – SIE
• Research Analyst Exam – Part II Regulations Module – Series 87
• Research Analyst Exam – Part I Analysis Module – Series 86
• General Securities Representative Examination – Series 7
• Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination – Series 63

He has also worked for the following firms:

• IRC Securities (CRD#:150022)
• Agency Trading Group (CRD#:108887)
• JMP Securities (CRD#:22208)

Kurta Law Can Help

If you worked with Armando Barron and you have concerns about your investments, please contact us today at 877-600-0098 or info@kurtalawfirm.com for a free consultation.

For over 20 years, Kurta Law has advocated on behalf of investors who want to recover their investment losses from brokers and brokerage firms. Kurta Law is a nationally recognized law firm that exclusively represents investors against brokers and brokerage firms on a contingency basis. This means that the firm only earns a fee if our securities attorneys recover money on your behalf.