Finra bars broker accused of taking client cash to gamble, pay medical bills

Finra has barred a broker who allegedly took $270,000 in client money and used it to gamble and pay for medical bills. The broker, Chris R. Kubiak, deposited the funds of four clients, three of whom were senior citizens, into his own personal bank account, between June 2015 and August of this year, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. He then drew down those funds to gamble and to pay personal medical bills, Finra said. Mr. Kubiak, who could not be reached for comment, agreed to Finra's disciplinary action without admitting or denying Finra's findings. A broker for 32 years, Mr. Kubiak was registered with two broker-dealers during the time he allegedly took the clients' money: Freedom Investors Corp., which is defunct, and Calton & Associates. According to his BrokerCheck profile, Mr. Kubiak was fired last month by Calton after being arrested and charged with felony theft by fraud. He has only been charged at this time and has not entered a plea, according to the profile. A spokesman for the Franklin Police Department of Franklin, Wisc., did not return a call for comment.