Keith Baron: FINRA Bars Ex-Equity Services Advisor

A recent regulatory sanction against former Jericho, New York financial advisor Keith Baron (CRD# 3231494) barred him in connection with allegations that he misrepresented an energy investment. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he was previously registered as a broker with Equity Services, though he is no longer registered as a broker.

Mr. Baron’s BrokerCheck report discloses FINRA’s complaint against Mr. Baron. Filed in December 2024, it alleges that he “made material misrepresentations to investors, who are a married senior couple,” when recommending a company’s stock. According to a decision published by FINRA, the investment was Native American Energy Group, “a financially troubled company purportedly doing business in the oil and gas industry.” He allegedly introduced the couple to the company’s CEO to enable their investments. However, FINRA found, he misrepresented the stock, telling them that they would make money quickly and that the stock was guaranteed to come on the stock market and increase in value. He allegedly also omitted that he had a consulting agreement with the company “n by which he could receive consulting fees of $10,000 per month.”

The customers subsequently invested a total of $359,806 in the company. A few years later, according to FINRA, one of the customers expressed worry about the investment’s safety, and Mr. Baron allegedly made misrepresentations in response. FINRA alleged that he assured the customers that the company would have high returns and “resolve everything in your life.” FINRA In a decision summarizing these findings, FINRA barred Mr. Baron from associating with any member firm in any capacity. Finding that he also pursued an outside business activity without notifying his firm, FINRA also ordered him to pay disgorgement of $284,890.

Mr. Baron’s BrokerCheck report also discloses several investor complaints. The most recent, filed in 2022, alleged that he “acted as a securities broker for [Native American Energies Group] to solicit investments for the sole purpose of misappropriating investor money. In 2023 the complaint reached a settlement of $175,000.

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Keith Baron holds 22 years of securities industry experience. Previously based in Jericho, New York, he is no longer registered as a broker. His registration history includes Equity Services (Jericho, New York; 2015-2022), Park Avenue Securities (Woodbury, New York; 2011-2015), and NYLife Securities (Melville, New York; 2009-2011). He has been barred by FINRA from associating with any member firm. (Information current as of February 12, 2025.)

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