I thought the maximum fine the SEC or FINRA can impose is “treble dama...

The SEC handles civil and administrative actions, often against those involved with insider trading. In a civil case involving insider trading, the maximum penalties tend to be no higher than three times (treble) the damages involved. For other administrative actions, the SEC and FINRA set no limits on how high the maximum monetary fine may be set against those who violate the rules and regulations of the securities industry.