[ by Howard Haykin ] A General Securities Principal was barred from the industry and ordered to pay restitution to certain customers by a FINRA Hearing Officer, more than 2 years after he was terminated for cause by PrimeVest Financial Services.  During that time, he "played hide and seek" with FINRA Enforcement. Respondent's Profile. Brent Bishop entered the securities industry with Dean Witter Reynolds in April 1993.  Thereafter, he was employed by several FINRA member firms through January 2009.  From January 2009 until September 2010, he was joined PrimeVest, where he maintained the General Securities Rep (Series 7) and a General Securities Principal (Series 24) licenses.  PrimeVest terminated Bishop's registrations on 9/2/10 because he: (i) violated firm policies relating to borrowing from customers;  and, (ii) provided misleading information to the firm during its investigation.  Bishop has not been associated with a FINRA member firm since his termination from PrimeVest. FINRA Enforcement's Findings and Allegations. From February 2010 through August 2010, while working for PrimeVest, Brent Bishop allegedly misappropriated approximately $40,000 from PrimeVest customers.  Such actions would be in violation of FINRA Rules 2150 and 2010. From September 2009 through August 2010, Bishop allegedly borrowed about $78,000 from PrimeVest customers, contrary to firm policies, and without having sought the firm's written pre-approval.  Such actions would be in violation of NASD Rule 2370 and FINRA Rules 3240 and 2010.  Bishop never repaid the loans, although PrimeVest reimbursed, or offered to reimburse, certain of the customers. After being terminated in September 2010, Bishop failed to comply with 2 letters from FINRA staff requesting that he provide documents and information, and he failed to appear and provide on-the-record testimony as requested by FINRA staff.  Such actions would be in violation with FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010. FINRA Enforcement served the Complaints to Bishop on 2/8/11 and 2/16/11.  He did not respond.  On 5/16/11, FINRA staff sent him a letter requesting that he appear for an on-the-record interview, to be held 6/15/11.  Bishop failed to appear for the interview. Bishop apparently came out of hiding several days later, when he called and left a voicemail acknowledging receipt of the letters but claimed he had only recently learned of the letters because he was homeless and had not been at the CRD address in over a year.  He further stated on the voicemail that he would contact the staff to discuss the matter further.  That never happened. Additional attempts to contact Bishop failed, leading Enforcement to file a Motion for Entry of Default Decision on 1/17/12, which was supported by the FINRA Hearing Officer. FINRA Sanctions. In addition to being barred from the industry, Bishop was order to pay restitution to certain customers totaling $58,000 plus interest. For further details, go to: [FINRA Disciplinary Actions for June 2012] [FINRA AWC #2010021827701 re: OHO Hearing] and [FINRA AWC #2010021827701 re:Dept of Enforcement Complaint].