UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") deems it appropriate and in the public interest that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and Section 203(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ("Advisers Act") against Christopher Lee Hibbard. The Commission finds that On June 30, 2020, Respondent pled guilty to one count of investment advisor fraud in violation of Title 15, United States Code, Sections 80b-6 and 80b-17, and nine counts of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 before the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, in United States v. Christopher L. Hibbard, Case No. 3:18-CR-182. On December 16, 2020, a judgment in the criminal case was entered against Respondent. He was sentenced to a prison term of 97 months followed by three years of supervised release and a special assessment of $1,000.

Order

Bar (Permanent)

broker, dealer, investment adviser, municipal securities dealer, municipal advisor, transfer agent, or NRSRO

Indefinite

4/16/2021

Participating in any offering of a penny stock

Indefinite

4/16/2021

Penny Stock Bar

Allegation of misappropriation of funds.

$100,000.00

The customer allege misrepresentation, unauthorized trading, misappropriation of funds, forgery and embezzlement from 2005 to January 2018.

$250,000.00

Investment Advisor Fraud 15 U.S.C. 8bb-6 and 80b-17

Pled guilty

Wire Fraud 18 U.S.C. 1343

Pled guilty

The customer alleges misappropriation of funds from July 26, 2010 until January 08, 2018

Attorney for client alleges theft, churning, misrepresentation, unsuitable investment recommendations and misappropriation of funds from July 1, 2010 until January 1, 2018.

$175,000.00

The customers allege misprepresentation and discrepancies in amount of withdrawals from account from May 2011 to February 2018 .

$500,000.00

Attorney for client alleges theft and unauthorized annuity withdrawals from 2011 to 2014

$2,250,000.00

The Customer alleges theft and misappropriation of funds from July 2010 until August 2016.

$45,000.00

Trustee alleges theft and an unauthorized annuity withdrawal in 2011.

$90,000.00

Attorney for client alleges fraud and lack of documentation related to accounts from July 2010 to present .

The customers allege unauthorized transactions and theft, unsuitable investment recommendations, failure to follow instructions, and misrepresentation.

$3,600,000.00

FINRA

Respondent Hibbard failed to respond to FINRA request for information.

letter

Bar (Permanent)

All capacities

Indefinite

5/10/2018

Pursuant to FINRA Rule 9552(h) and in accordance with FINRA's Notice of Suspension and Suspension from Association letters dated February 7, 2018, and March 5, 2018, respectively, on May 10, 2018, Hibbard is barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. Respondent failed to request termination of his suspension within three months of the date of the Notice of Suspension; therefore, he is automatically barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated

Discharged

Conduct including unauthorized transactions and theft.