Between at least October 2019 and December 2023, Benjamin Edwards failed to reasonably supervise its employees' use of text messaging and failed to preserve and review business-related text messages of registered representatives. These failures continued despite the firm being on notice of its failure to capture business-related text messages. Therefore, the firm violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Exchange Act Rule 17a-4, and FINRA Rules 4511, 3110, and 2010.

Between April 6 and April 18, 2024, Gonzalez made 39 cash deposits totaling $58,970 at four Wells Fargo A TMs. Gonzalez made these deposits in amounts below $10,000 to avoid federal reporting requirements that would have caused the financial institution to file Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs). As a result, Gonzalez violated FINRA Rule 2010. For that violation, Gonzalez is suspended from associating with any FINRA member in all capacities for twelve months and fined $5,000.