The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it issued an Order Instituting Administrative Proceedings Pursuant to Section 15(b)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") against Marshall S. Klein ("Klein"). Klein, age 43, of San Diego, California, is a registered representative associated with World Trade Financial, a San Diego area broker-dealer. In the Order, the Commission's Division of Enforcement alleges that, on January 12, 2004, Klein pled guilty in federal court in San Diego to one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire, mail and securities fraud. On August 20, 2004, Klein was sentenced to three years of supervised probation.

A hearing will be convened by an administrative law judge to determine whether the allegations in the Order are true and what, if any, remedial sanctions against Klein are appropriate in the public interest pursuant to Section 15(b)(6) of the Exchange Act. The Commission directed that the Administrative Law Judge shall issue an initial decision in this matter within 210 days from the date of service of the Order, pursuant to Rule 360(a)(2) of the Commission's Rules of Practice.

See also the Order in this matter