The ink pen malfunction defense fell flat for Thomas Lykos Jr., a former Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement attorney and general counsel and chief compliance officer for a Texas financial services firm who was allegedly busted cheating on a competency exam.

While retaking the general security principal qualification exam after failing his first try, Lykos scribbled notes on his fingers, forearms, driver’s license and possibly a business card that he obtained during an unscheduled break, according to a decision from a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Office hearing panel.