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 David Aaron Rockwell ("Respondent" or "Rockwell"). After an investigation, the Division of Enforcement alleges that Rockwell is a resident of Cape Coral, Florida. During the period of the misconduct described below, Rockwell was associated with two dually-registered broker-dealer and investment adviser firms, in Fort Myers, Florida-one from December 2015 through approximately November 2018 and the other from November 2018 through approximately June 2019. Rockwell also formed, owned, and operated Gralyn Financial Services LLC ("Gralyn"), purported to be a financial service firm. From 2000 through 2015, Rockwell was associated with other broker-dealers registered with the Commission. In February 2020, FINRA barred Rockwell from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for failing to respond to a FINRA request for information. See FINRA case No. 2019062440602. On September 9, 2020, Rockwell was indicted on six counts of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and two counts of bank fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344. On January 13, 2021, Rockwell pled guilty to the entire indictment (without a plea agreement) before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, in United States v. David Aaron Rockwell, Case No. 2:20-cr-107, and the Court accepted his plea and adjudicated him guilty on January 21, 2021. On June 1, 2021, Rockwell was sentenced to 63 months in prison and forfeiture of $1,018,000. In connection with his plea, Rockwell admitted that beginning in October 2017, Rockwell began to convert and misappropriate monies belonging to his clients. Specifically, he applied for and obtained two lines of credit at a bank in the total amount of $700,000 in his clients' names without their knowledge or permission, using his clients' assets as collateral. Rockwell caused the bank to transfer the loan proceeds to an account at another bank in the name of his clients but that Rockwell controlled. Between November 2017 and July 2018, he wrote checks on this bank account payable to Gralyn totaling approximately $695,000, which he deposited into a Gralyn account he controlled. Rockwell used approximately $400,000 of the misappropriated funds to purchase a home in Fort Myers, FL with his then girlfriend. In connection with his plea, Rockwell further admitted that he also convinced a client to invest in a real estate company, which Rockwell touted as a great opportunity to invest in low income housing in Florida. In the Fall of 2018, Rockwell duped the client into providing Rockwell with $418,000 for the purpose of making certain real estate investments. However, Rockwell used at least $318,000 of the money for his own benefit (including paying credit card bills) rather than the intended use of real estate investments. He also bought Harley Davidson products and used funds to buy a home in Cape Coral, Florida in Gralyn's name. In view of the allegations made by the Division of Enforcement, the Commission deems it necessary and appropriate in the public interest that public administrative proceedings be instituted.

Order

Bar (Permanent)

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

Indefinite

5/23/2024

Participating in any Penny Stock offering

Indefinite

5/23/2024

Penny Stock Bar

Claimant alleges their registered representative obtained loans in their name that were secured by their brokerage accounts without authorization.

$2,000,000.00

$415,000.00

FINRA

Respondent Rockwell failed to respond to FINRA request for information.

Letter

Bar (Permanent)

All capacities

Indefinite

2/25/2020

Pursuant to FINRA Rule 9552(h) and in accordance with FINRA's Notice of Suspension and Suspension from Association letters dated November 22, 2019 and December 16, 2019, respectively, on February 25, 2020, Rockwell is barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities. 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 all capacities.

Clients allege Mr. Rockwell was involved in forgery and fraud regarding their accounts.

$700,000.00

Client alleges that Mr. Rockwell misappropriated money from his investment accounts to invest in a private security related to a company owned by Mr. Rockwell.

$500,000.00

$215,000.00

World Choice Securities, Inc.

Discharged

While at a previous broker-dealer customer established and funded an LLC with $400k and then transferred same to an LLC established by Rockwell for the purpose of (a) real estate deal(s) allegedly never made. No specific dates were given but implied 2016 to 2018.

CETERA ADVISOR NETWORKS, LLC

Discharged

REPRESENTATIVE'S REGISTRATION WAS TERMINATED AFTER REPRESENTATIVE NOTIFIED THE FIRM THAT HE HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH A FELONY.

Aggravated Stalking- Follow/Harass/Cyberstalk/Credible Threat to Person - 18CF018600

Dismissed

Nolle Prosequi on Original charge

OTHER

Pled guilty

Florida Office of Financial Regulation

Making a material false statement on the application for registration

Order

Denial

on 9/30/2015, the Office of Financial Regulation entered a Final Order adopting the stipulation and consent agreement in the matter of David Aaron Rockwell. Mr Rockwell neither admitted nor denied the findings but consented to the entry of findings by the Office. The Office found that Mr Rockwell made a material misstatement on the applications for registration. Pursuant to the Order,Mr Rockwell's applications for registration as an associated person (AG and RA) of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC are denied without prejudice to reapply no earlier than November 16, 2015

750.82 FELONY ASSAULT WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON

Dismissed

750.81 ASSAULT OR ASSAULT AND BATTERY MISDEMEANOR

MISDEMEANOR

Pled guilty

257.6256D OPERATE-WHILE INTOX/IMPAIRED FELONY

Dismissed

257.62583 IMPAIRED OPERATING-2ND OFFENSE MISDEMEANOR

MISDEMEANOR

Pled guilty

INITIAL CHARGES DISMISSED. PLEAD GUILTY TO MISDEMEANOR CHARGES.

Police officer-assault/resisting/obstruction

Dismissed

Charged with obstruction for not taking a field sobriety test. Charges were dismissed.