Broker Pleads Guilty in Trading Scheme

A second New York Stock Exchange floor broker pleaded guilty to two counts of securities fraud and conspiracy for her role in one of the worst trading scandals on the Big Board in years. At a federal court hearing in Manhattan, Christine Beyer, 33, admitted to buying and selling stocks for her own account in violation of the exchange’s conflict-of-interest rules. She is one of eight NYSE floor brokers charged in February with making $11.1 million from illegal transactions made in secret accounts at the brokerage Oakford Corp. Broker Robert Carucci pleaded guilty to similar charges on Tuesday. Beyer faces a maximum term of 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1.25 million. Sentencing was set for Oct. 6. NYSE declined to comment on the guilty pleas.