John Petrone of Willowick, Ohio, a stockbroker registered with Farmers Financial Solutions LLC, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in any capacity because Petrone refused to provide information and documents during an investigation into his potential misappropriation of funds from an elderly investor. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent…

Murat Kartal of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with Spartan Capital Securities LLC, has been suspended for ten months by FINRA because Kartal engaged in excessive trading or churning during the time that he was associated with Spartan Capital Securities Inc. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2018056490306 (July 17, 2023). Between…

Jeffrey Dampf of Totowa, New Jersey, a stockbroker registered with PFS Investments Inc., has been barred as a stockbroker by New Jersey Bureau of Securities because Dampf was the subject of a different regulatory enforcement action resulting in his expulsion from the securities industry. New Jersey Bureau of Securities Order (October 19, 2022). Specifically, Dampf…

John Nicholas Terzis of Skokie, Illinois, a stockbroker registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Terzis “borrowed” customer funds from an elderly customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2022073846901 (December 23, 2022). According to the AWC, in December…

Sean T. Sullivan of Melville, NY, a stockbroker registered with Aegis Capital Corp., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint filed on October 21, 2022, in which the customer requested compensation based upon allegations that Sullivan made unsuitable investment recommendations when Sullivan was associated with Aegis Capital Corp. FINRA Public Disclosure shows…

Carlos Leston (also known as Jose Carlos Leston), of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Leston failed to provide information and documents to FINRA when it investigated possible violations of FINRA rules. Letter…

Avi Elliot Schottenstein of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, has entered in a Consent Order with the  State of Illinois agreeing to be permanently barred registration in the state. In the Matter of Avi Elliot Schottenstein, File No. 2100123 (April 22, 2022). Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public…

Jeffrey Scott Anderson of Bloomington, Illinois, a stockbroker registered with NYLife Securities,  has been  barred from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity based upon allegations that Anderson misappropriated or converted a customer’s funds. FINRA Enforcement (AWC) No. 2020067888701 (Aug. 2, 2021). Anderson was also subsequently barred by as a stockbroker in the Illinois…

David Aubrey Dunfee of Bangor, Maine, a stockbroker currently registered with Key Investment Services LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim that was settled for $210,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Dunfee financially exploited the customer with regard to the recommendation and sale of variable annuities when…

Francis Joseph Velten Jr. of New Port Richey, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services LLC, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation. Case No. 2020066032801 (July 19, 2022). According to the Default Decision, Velten…

Joseph Albert Ambrosole of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Joseph Stone Capital LLC, has been barred from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity based upon allegations that Ambrosole failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2021072773201 (July 28, 2022). According to the…

Franz Helmut Lambert II of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Worden Capital Management LLC, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for five months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because he effected unsuitable and excessive trades in a customer’s Worden Capital Management account. Letter…

Xiangyu Yu Zhang (also known as Sean Zhang) of Arcadia, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested up to $99,999.99 in damages founded on allegations that Zhang provided unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer concerning …

William Mark Heiden of Newport Beach, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wedbush Securities, is identified in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim which was resolved for $70,000.00 in damages based upon accusations of unsuitable and unauthorized trading of stocks by Heiden during the time that he was registered with Wedbush Securities…

Philip Anthony Simone of Irvine, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Equitable Advisors LLC (formerly known as AXA), is identified in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on December 30, 2021, where the customer requested compensatory damages supported by accusations that Simone did not pay them back on a loan Simone received while registered…

Francis Joseph Velten (also known as Frank Velten) of New Port Richey, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Summit Brokerage Services Inc., has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement with failing to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into accusations of Velten’s churning of customer accounts when he was employed by…

Gregory Scott Hanshew (also known as Greg Scott Hanshew), a stockbroker formerly registered with Infinity Financial Services, has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Hanshew failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation after being asked to provide documents and information to the regulator. Department of Enforcement v. Gregory…

Michael Scott Androulakis (also known as Mike Andrews), of New York, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Alexander Capital LP, is identified in a customer initiated investment related, FINRA Securities Arbitration claim which was settled for $8,000.00 in damages supported by accusations of Androulakis’ breach of contract and negligence concerning a non-traded real estate…

Amy Marjorie O’Brien (also known as Amy Marjorie Cash), of Fort Mill, South Carolina, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that she failed to cooperate with FINRA when she was investigated for receiving an…

Walter Roland Valenzuela, of San Diego, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Hilltop Securities Inc., is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on June 21, 2021, where the customer sought $15,334.00 in damages founded on accusations of misrepresentation relating to the liquidity of the customer’s investment in Bluerock Inc. Interval Fund during the…

Mark Alan Haenny of Loveland Colorado a stockbroker formerly registered with First Allied Securities Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim which was settled for $55,000.00 in damages based upon accusations including negligence and unsuitable recommendations by Haenny as it pertained to LPs and DPPs during the period that…

Michael James Conte (also known as Mike Conte) of Saint James New York the owner of Fusion Holdings—which owns Fusion Analytics Investment Partners (FAIP) and Fusion Analytics Securities LLC (FAS)—has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that he refused to testify in the…

Jeffrey Dampf of Totowa New Jersey a stockbroker formerly registered with PFS Investments Inc. has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that he did not respond to FINRA’s instructions when he was investigated for possibly misappropriating customer funds while he was registered with…

Eric Shea Hollifield of Dacula Georgia a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that he did not cooperate with FINRA investigators during an investigation into his possible conversion of an elderly customer’s funds during the…

Lee Bryan Taylor of Skippack Pennsylvania a stockbroker formerly registered with Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments (PKS) has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that Taylor failed to cooperate with FINRA’s investigation concerning his possible private securities transactions while associated with Purshe Kaplan Sterling…

Bryant Edwin Caveness of Kingsport Tennessee a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services LLC has been referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested $230,000.00 in damages supported by accusations of unsuitable trades and breach of fiduciary duty by Caveness when he was associated with Ameriprise…

Donald Stephen Woods of Louisville Kentucky a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on April 30, 2021 where the customer sought $69,000.00 in damages based upon accusations of Woods making unsuitable recommendations of business development companies and real estate securities when he was…

Dale Allen Ramsperger of Scottsdale Arizona a stockbroker formerly registered with Securities America Inc. has been suspended for five months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that Ramsperger took part in private securities transactions that were not authorized by Securities America Inc. Letter of Acceptance…

Eugene Arthur McAdams of Center Moriches New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Joseph Stone Capital LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that McAdams refused to testify for FINRA personnel who investigated whether McAdams made unsuitable recommendations to customers when he…

Jeffrey Scott Anderson of Bloomington Illinois a stockbroker formerly registered with NYLife Securities LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that Anderson converted a customer’s funds. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2020067888701 (Aug. 2, 2021). According to the AWC, Anderson’s…

Jeffrey Raymond Dixson of Vancouver Washington a stockbroker formerly registered with Madison Avenue Securities LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim where the customer requested compensatory damages founded on allegations including elder abuse in regard to alternative investments that had been sold to the customer during the period that…

Mark Frederick Augusta (also known as Mark Fred Augusta) a stockbroker registered with Wedbush Securities Inc. and Hilltop Securities Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer sought $250,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Augusta made misrepresentations to the customer regarding structured products and…

Michael John Giovannelli of Garden City New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Spartan Capital Securities LLC has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement with effecting an unauthorized trade in a customer’s account when Giovannelli was associated with Spartan Capital Securities. Department of Enforcement v. Michael J. Giovannelli Disciplinary Proceeding…

Thomas John Marino of Lake Worth Beach Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with RM Stark Co. Inc. has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by allegations that Marino did not comply with a FINRA Arbitration Award. Case No. 19-00968 (Oct. 27, 2020). This is not…

Independent Financial Group LLC a securities broker dealer headquartered in San Diego California has been censured and fined $200,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) supported by findings that it failed to supervise a stockbroker who made unsuitable recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2018059223401 (Apr. 8, 2021). According to the…

Cabot Lodge Securities LLC a securities broker dealer headquartered in New York has been censured and fined $270,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) according to an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement which contains findings of Cabot Lodge failing to supervise REIT offerings and providing unsuitable recommendations to customers. Department of Enforcement v. Cabot Lodge…

Evan A. Schottenstein of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with JP Morgan Securities LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that Schottenstein failed to comply with FINRA personnel when he was under investigation for potential trading misconduct. Letter of…

Mark Lewton Hopkins of Grand Blanc Michigan a stockbroker formerly registered with American Portfolios Financial Services has been charged by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with misappropriating $1,150,000.00 from customers who held accounts at American Portfolios Financial Services. SEC v. Mark L. Hopkins Case No. 20-cv-11980 (July 24, 2020). According to the Complaint, in 2017,…

Shlomo Strugano (also known as Shlomy Strugano and as Solomon Strugano) of Reseda California a stockbroker formerly registered with First Allied Securities Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim where the customer sought $750,000.00 in damages supported by accusations of elder abuse and misappropriation. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)…

Christian Frank Lucchetto of Red Bank New Jersey a stockbroker formerly registered with First Standard Financial Company LLC has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that he excessively traded in the account of a First Standard Financial…

Dean Harrison Grant of Milledgeville Georgia a stockbroker formerly registered with M Holdings Securities Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on August 12, 2019 where the customer requested compensatory damages founded on accusations that the customer had not been apprised of important investment information from Grant when making an…

James Vincent Marino of Pompano Beach Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Edward Jones has been barred as a stockbroker and investment adviser representative by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) according to an Order that is based on Marino’s conviction of theft. In the Matter of James Vincent Marino Administrative Proceeding File No. 3-20061 (Sept….

Gerald Allan Eaton of Acton Massachusetts a stockbroker formerly registered with Commonwealth Financial Network has been barred in various capacities including stockbroker and investment adviser representative according to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Order based on findings of Eaton defrauding investors and stealing $3,700,000.00 from them. In the Matter of Gerald Allan Eaton Administrative…

Drew R. Mantel (also known as Drew R. Mentel) of Miamisburg Ohio a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that Mantel executed trades in customers’ accounts on an unauthorized…

Jonah Engler (also known as Jonah Engler-Silberman) of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Global Arena Capital Corp has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that he failed to pay a customer compensatory damages after being found liable for sales…

Gregory Walter McCloskey (also known as Gregory Walter Meier) of Newport Beach California a stockbroker formerly registered with Westpark Capital Inc. has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement with selling away from the securities broker dealer, obstructing the regulator’s investigation and falsifying information in its investigation. Department of Enforcement v….

Clara Chen Tang (also known as Qing Chen) of Cupertino California a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on March 20, 2019 in which the customer requested unspecified compensatory damages supported by accusations that the customer’s signature had been forged on documents…

Marlon O. Cole of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Spartan Capital Securities is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was resolved for $20,000.00 in damages based upon accusations of unsuitable margin use and the breach of a fiduciary duty by Cole concerning his over-the-counter equities transactions…

Vonna Kay Husby of Fairbanks Arkansas a stockbroker formerly employed by Raymond James Financial Services has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that she failed to cooperate with FINRA during the time that she was under investigation for allegedly taking advantage of an…

Philip Anthony Simone of Irvine California a stockbroker formerly registered with AXA Advisors LLC has been fined $12,000.00 and suspended for eleven months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that Simone borrowed funds from elderly customers and then failed to be forthcoming about it with…

Dominic Joseph Linsalata Jr. of Boca Raton Florida a stockbroker currently registered with Dawson James Securities is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer requested $670,237.00 in damages founded on allegations of elder abuse and breach of contract by Linsalata when Linsalata was associated with Dawson James Securities. Financial…

Ferrell Lee Rollins Jr of Rocky Mount North Carolina a stockbroker formerly employed by Capital Investment Group Inc. has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that Rollins borrowed funds from an elderly Capital Investment Group customer. Letter…

Roger Allan Duval of Bellevue Washington a stockbroker formerly registered with MML Investors Services LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded upon findings that he converted funds belonging to three customers of the securities broker dealer. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2019062789901…

Giustino DeStefano (also known as Justin Antonio DeStefano) of Williamsville New York a stockbroker formerly employed by Merrill Lynch and Securities America is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was settled for $485,000.00 in damages supported by allegations of elder abuse and the violation of California Securities Act. Financial Industry…

Ronald G. Richer of New York New York a stockbroker formerly employed by Garden State Securities is named in a FINRA Department of Enforcement Complaint alleging that Richer had borrowed funds from a customer of the securities broker dealer without its authorization and he then tried to conceal his activities from both Garden State Securities…

Mark Fredrick Augusta of Del Mar California a stockbroker formerly associated with Wedbush Securities Inc. has been referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was settled for $25,000.00 in damages supported by allegations that the customer had been defrauded and that misrepresentations and omissions had been made in regard to the customer’s…

Bryant Edwin Caveness of Kingsport Tennessee a stockbroker formerly employed by Ameriprise Financial Services has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based on findings that Caveness failed to comply with a FINRA investigation in regard to money that the stockbroker received from elderly customers. Letter of…

Jean Connell Hicks of Saint Petersburg Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Fortune Financial Services has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that Hicks neglected to furnish documentation and information to FINRA personnel when she was under investigation for borrowing from a customer…

Robert Gerard Merlo (also known as Robert Gerald Merlo) of Midland Park New Jersey a stockbroker formerly associated with Allstate Financial Services has been barred as a stockbroker in the State of New Jersey according to an Order issued by New Jersey Bureau of Securities that was based on Merlo pleading guilty to fraudulent activities….

David Howard Fagenson of Boca Raton Florida a stockbroker formerly employed by Newbridge Securities Corporation has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on accusations that he failed to cooperate with FINRA’s requests for his information. Case No. 2018057351801 (Jan 27, 2020). According to FINRA Public…

Laura Ortega Shean (also known as Laura O. Provost and as Laura Ortega Provost) of Medford Oregon a stockbroker registered with LPL Financial LLC has been barred from working as a stockbroker or investment adviser representative and fined $30,000.00 by Oregon Division of Financial Regulation based upon allegations which include the stockbroker’s misappropriation of a…

Mack Leon Miller (also known as Mark Miller) of New York New York a stockbroker registered with Spartan Capital Securities LLC has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he effected excessive trades or churned a customer’s account causing the customer…

Peter Orlando of Warwick Rhode Island a stockbroker formerly registered with MetLife Securities Inc. has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity according to a FINRA National Adjudicatory Council Decision containing findings that (1) a senior customer had been exploited by Orlando for financial purposes (2) bad…

Demaurio Cortez Clark of Acworth Georgia a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that he converted an elderly Wells Fargo customer’s funds. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2019064268201 (Mar. 27, 2020)….

Jeffrey Raymond Dixson of Vancouver Washington a stockbroker formerly registered with Madison Avenue Securities is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that (1) due diligence was not adequately performed on alternative investments including GPB that had been sold to the…

William Mark Heiden of Newport Beach California a stockbroker registered with Wedbush Securities Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was settled for $475,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that (1) unauthorized trades were effected in the customer’s account (2) the customer was defrauded through misrepresentations (3) a fiduciary…

Edward Earl Matthes (also known as Ed Matthes) of Oconomowoc Wisconsin a stockbroker associated with Mutual of Omaha Investor Services Inc. has been barred by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from being a stockbroker or investment advisor or otherwise associating with securities broker dealers or investment advisories according to an Order based on allegations of…

Peter Douglas Monson (also known as Pete Monson) of Minneapolis Minnesota a stockbroker currently registered with Van Clemens Co. Incorporated has been fined $7,500.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that the stockbroker effected unauthorized and inappropriate transactions in Van…

Mason Wayne Gann of Dallas Texas a stockbroker formerly registered with Berthel Fisher Company Financial Services has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that defrauded an elder customer by engaging in unsuitable options trading. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No….

Kerry Dean Wills of Manhattan Beach California a stockbroker currently associated with First Western Securities Inc. has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that Wills borrowed from an elderly customer without authorization. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and…

Kevin Kimball Meadows of Columbus Georgia a stockbroker formerly employed by Cape Securities Inc. has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that Meadows executed unsuitable and excessively traded or churned the account of an elderly Cape Securities customer. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and…

Michael Alejandro Castillero of New York New York a stockbroker formerly associated with Alexander Capital LP has been referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $150,000.00 in damages supported by allegations that (1) fiduciary obligations were not complied with (2) the elderly customer had been exploited or otherwise…

Charles Lawrence Doraine of Corpus Christi Texas a stockbroker formerly registered with Next Financial Group Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer sought $500,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that between 2012 to 2018: (1) the customer’s diminished capacity had been exploited by the stockbroker (2) mutual…

Dennis Masaaki Nakamura of Moraga California a stockbroker formerly registered with McNally Financial Services Corporation has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that Nakamura neglected to follow FINRA’s instructions while he was under investigation for providing bad investment advice to customers of the…

James S. Polese of Boston Massachusetts a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley has been barred by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from being a stockbroker or investment advisor or otherwise associating with securities broker dealers or investment advisories according to an Order founded on findings of Polese pleading guilty to fraud. In the Matter…

Amy Kathryn Forte and Charles Joseph Lawrence both of Palm Harbor Florida and stockbrokers formerly employed by Morgan Stanley have been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that (1) a customer’s account had been traded excessively and churned by Lawrence while at Morgan Stanley…

Erik Patrick Pica (also known as Eric Patrick Pica) of New York New York a stockbroker currently registered with Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. has been charged in a Complaint brought by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority which alleged that Pica converted funds from a customer during the period in which he was associated with Joseph Stone…

Andrew Bruce Elsoffer of Pepper Pike Ohio a stockbroker formerly registered with Stifel Nicolaus Company Inc. has been discharged by the securities broker dealer on October 16, 2018 based upon accusations that Elsoffer failed to comply with rules or procedures regarding the handling of customer funds and (2) Stifel Nicolaus lost confidence in Elsoffer because…

Herbert H. Hafen (also known as Elias Herbert Hafen and as E. Herbert Niggebrugge) of New York New York a stockbroker and investment adviser representative formerly registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and Morgan Stanley has been charged by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Complaint alleging that Hafen engaged in a fraudulent…

Richard Bruce Sladek (also known as Dick Sladek) of Coeur D’Alene Idaho a stockbroker formerly employed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith incorporated is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer requested unspecified damages founded on accusations of false or misleading statements in regard to real estate securities or investments…

Larry Charles Wolfe of Boca Raton Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Herbert J. Sims Co. Inc. (also known as HJ Simms) was named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which he was ordered by a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitration Panel to pay $480,000.00 in compensatory damages to a customer…

Jesse Gil III of Corpus Christi Texas a stockbroker formerly registered with Allstate Financial Services LLC has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint containing accusations that (1) Gil converted funds belonging to an elderly widow whom Gil advised outside Allstate Financial Services’ auspices (2) Gil failed to…

Timothy Thomas Gibbons of New Orleans Louisiana a stockbroker formerly employed by Morgan Stanley is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer sought $225,708.00 in damages supported by allegations that (1) energy-sector over-the-counter equities transactions executed in the customer’s account were unsuitable for the customer and (2) false or…

Mark Fred Augusta of Solana Beach California a stockbroker formerly registered with Wedbush Securities is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $398,832.00 in damages based upon accusations that (1) bond trades effected by Augusta failed to be suitable for the customer and (2) unauthorized transactions were executed…

Rita Marie Dulya (also known as Rita Marie Masluk) of Port St. Lucie Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Kovack Securities Inc. has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by allegations of Dulya failing to cooperate with a FINRA inquiry. Case No. 2017055835001 (Nov. 19,…

Michael Lawrence Oromaner of Syosset New York a stockbroker formerly employed by Cova Capital Partners LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer was awarded $75,672.00 in damages based upon Oromaner being found liable on the customer’s claims including (1) breach of fiduciary duty (2) breach of contract…

Michael Eric Johnson of Medford Oregon a stockbroker formerly employed by LPL Financial LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that Johnson failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into accusations of his improper acquisition of customer accounts and designation as beneficiary…

John Douglas Wade of Fullerton California a stockbroker employed by U.S. Bancorp Investments Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint which was resolved for $58,566.91 on June 19, 2018 founded on allegations that the customer’s funds had been improperly removed from a money market account and relocated to a mortgage…

Fortino Rene Rivera of Anaheim California a stockbroker formerly employed by Centaurus Financial Inc. has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Rivera lied to FINRA personnel when he had been investigated for having a joint account with an elderly customer…

Brent Stephen Spicuzza of Chesterfield Missouri a stockbroker formerly registered with AXA Advisors LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer sought $1,100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that the investment strategy Spicuzza used for the customer’s retirement accounts and brokerage accounts was unsuitable given the customer’s…

Thomas John Marino of Delray Beach Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with R.M. Stark Co. Inc. has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that Marino neglected to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations of his misappropriation of funds belonging to a customer…

Michael Alan Siegel of Edison New Jersey a stockbroker formerly registered with National Securities Corporation is the subject of a Summary Penalty and Revocation Order in which Siegel has been fined $100,000.00 and his stockbroker registration in the State of New Jersey was revoked based upon the New Jersey Bureau of Securities Bureau Chief’s findings…

William Mark Heiden of Newport Beach California a stockbroker formerly registered with Wedbush Securities Inc. has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity according to an Office of Hearing Officers Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Heiden executed unauthorized trades in accounts…

Mark Gregory Raezer of Aurora Colorado a stockbroker formerly employed by Taylor Capital Management Inc. has been fined $15,000.00 and suspended for ten months from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity supported by accusations that Raezer engaged in private securities transactions during the time he was employed by the firm. Letter of Acceptance,…

Patrick Neal Foley of Ontario California a stockbroker formerly employed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Inc. has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Foley failed to cooperate with FINRA during an investigation into accusations of Foley taking possession of…

Steven Michael Roffman of Jacksonville Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. has been fined $7,500.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that (1) Roffman effected transactions in a customer’s account without the customer’s permission and (2) Roffman solicited customer…

AXA Advisors LLC a securities broker dealer headquartered in New York New York has been censured and fined $600,000.00 by Financial industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based on findings that (1) AXA Advisors made misrepresentations about the bonds sold to the firm’s retirement account customers and (2) AXA Advisors neglected to supervise its practices to ensure…

Michael Paul Lessard Jr. of Rock Hill South Carolina a stockbroker formerly employed by Southeast Investments N.C. Inc. has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Lessard engaged in unauthorized customer loan agreements while registered with Southeast Investments N.C. Inc. and…

Bradley Allen Latting of Lawton Oklahoma a stockbroker formerly registered with State Farm VP Management Corp has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he neglected to comply with FINRA’s investigation into accusations of (1) Latting’s conversion of an elderly customer’s…

Kevin Hao Jie Zhang of Dewitt New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Pruco Securities, LLC has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that Zhang engaged in an unapproved loan arrangement with a customer of Pruco Securities….

Leon William Vaccarelli of Waterbury Connecticut a stockbroker formerly registered with The Investment Center has been indicted for wire fraud and mail fraud based on allegations that he engaged in a scheme which victimized elderly customers. United States v. Leon Vaccarelli No. 18-cr-g2-SRU (D. Conn May 2, 2018). On May 29, 2019, the Securities and…

Salman Rasheed of Skokie Illinois a broker formerly employed by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that Rasheed took advantage of an elderly investor with dementia who provided Rasheed $390,045.00 in gifts while Rasheed was associated with the…

John Anthony Waszolek of Scottsdale Arizona a stockbroker formerly employed by Raymond James Associates Inc. is referenced in an Arizona Corporation Commission Order revoking his securities registration in the State of Arizona based on findings that Waszolek engaged in unethical practices in the securities industry through steering an investor with dementia towards making Waszolek a…

Barbara Ann Endres of Grand Junction Colorado a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and investment adviser representative of Lifetime Wealth Advisors LLC has been barred by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in all capacities according to an Order Instituting Administrative Proceedings Pursuant to Investment Advisers Act of 1940 Section 203(f) containing findings…

Guy Stanley Waltman of Princeton New Jersey a stockbroker currently employed by UBS Financial Services Inc. has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Waltman failed to disclose his trading of a customer’s accounts at an outside firm….

Peter Orlando of Warwick Rhode Island a stockbroker formerly registered with MetLife Securities Inc. has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity according to a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that (1) Orlando made unsuitable investment recommendations to an elderly customer and…

Aaron Robert Parthemer of Fort Lauderdale, Florida has been fined $160,000.00 and barred from being a broker or investment adviser or otherwise associating with any brokers or investment advisories according to an Order Making Findings and Imposing Sanctions Pursuant To Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Section 15(b), Investment Advisers Act of 1940 Section 203(f) and…

Jeffrey Duane Jacobson of Minneapolis Minnesota a stockbroker formerly employed by Dougherty Company LLC has been fined $7,500.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Jacobson failed to supervise a registered representative that executed unsuitable investment transactions in a customer’s investment…

Robert James Wodicker of Arnold Missouri a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC has been fined $80,000.00 and barred from registering as an investment adviser representative or broker-dealer agent in Missouri according to a Final Order to Cease and Desist and Order Awarding Civil Penalties Cost and Other Administrative Relief based on findings that…

Richard Aloysius Juracka of New York New York a stockbroker currently registered with Morgan Stanley has been fined $50,00.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he effected unauthorized trades in Morgan Stanley customers’ accounts. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent…

Brent Gordon Thompson of Franklin Tennessee a stockbroker currently employed by UBS Financial Services Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was resolved for $300,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that between 1995 and 2015: (1) the customer was subject to elder abuse (2) fiduciary duties owed to the customer…

Christopher Michael Herrmann of Greenwood Indiana a stockbroker formerly registered with Key Investment Services has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for nine months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he made unsuitable investment recommendations to Key Investment Services customers and concealed information…

John Scott Simoncic of Reno Nevada a stockbroker formerly employed by Financial West Group has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that (1) Simoncic made exchange traded fund recommendations that were not suitable for customers (2) Simoncic effected excessive exchange traded…

Vanderbilt Securities LLC a brokerage firm headquartered in New York New York and its chief compliance officer Barry Champney have been sanctioned by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) founded on accusations that the firm and Champney failed to adequately supervise a registered representative who churned and effected unsuitable trades in a customer’s account. Letter of…

Mitchell Toby Yanow of Boca Raton Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Stifel Nicolaus Company has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he converted a Stifel customer’s funds. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2018058538001 (July 11, 2018). According…

Kyusun Kim of San Diego California a stockbroker formerly registered with Independent Financial Group LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that that he (1) made unsuitable investment recommendations to the firm’s senior customer base and (2) falsified information about…

Arlo Bryan Sullivan of San Luis Obispo California a stockbroker formerly registered with UBS Financial Services Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer sought $843,000.00 in damages based upon accusations including (1) elder abuse (2) mismanagement of the customer’s account (3) negligence (4) misrepresentation (5) breach of…

Manuel David Lozano of Pasadena California a stockbroker currently employed by Stifel Nicolaus Company Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer requested $250,000.00 in damages based upon allegations of (1) misrepresentation (2) suitability and (3) elder abuse pertaining to the customer’s corporate debt investments. Financial Industry Regulatory…

Arlo Jean Stoll of Salem Oregon is a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC who is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on December 28, 2016 in which the customer requested $76,778.00 in damages founded on allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and suitability relating to the customer’s direct…

Steven Eugene Love of Terre Haute Indiana, a stockbroker currently registered with Parkland Securities is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim seeking between $300,000 and $500,000 in in damages supported by allegations that he failed top invest her retirement funds in safe, suitable investments, but instead sold her non-traded Real Estate…

Joseph Richard Hinke of Richland Center Wisconsin is a stockbroker formerly registered with Edward Jones who was fired on August 25 2016 based upon accusations that he solicited and ultimately effected orders in a customer’s investment account after having been apprised that the customer had dementia. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure reveals that…

Mark B. Degner of Fall River Massachusetts is a former stockbroker of LPL Financial that has been fined seven thousand five hundred dollars and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he made misrepresentations to customers concerning certificate of deposits. Letter of…

Melvin Elwood Case of Jacksonville, Florida, a stockbroker registered with LPL Financial LLC, was fired on May 2, 2017, based upon allegations that he had exploited an elderly individual after converting that individual’s funds for Case’s personal gain. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure confirms that Case is referenced in five customer initiated investment…

Timothy Thomas Gibbons of New Orleans, Louisiana, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, has been fined $20,000.00 and suspended for eighteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he made unsuitable investment recommendations to elderly customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…

Kyusun Kim, of San Diego, California, a stockbroker registered with Independent Financial Group, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, in which the customer alleged that Kim committed elder financial abuse, breached his contractual obligations, breached his fiduciary duties, and violated federal and state securities laws relating to structured products,…

Mark Fred Augusta, of Solana Beach, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wedbush Securities Inc., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, in which the customer was awarded 250,000.00 in compensatory damages, $1,080,000.00 in punitive damages, and $110,000.00 in disgorged commissions on July 13, 2017, supported by allegations against Augusta and…

Craig David Dima of Ronkonkoma, New York settled his regulatory enforcement action with FINRA by agreeing to a permanent bar from the securities industry. The bar is based on Dima’s conduct relating to an account for a 73 year-old retiree which included unauthorized trades, misrepresentations and excessive fees and commissions charged to the elderly client….

Calvin Edward Moores, of Brea, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Independent Financial Group, LLC, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon allegations that he failed to correspond with FINRA staff in reference to information about Moores’ business activities. Letter No. 2015047356601 (Mar. 7,…

Robert Neil Tricarico, of Westport, Connecticut, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial, LLC, has been permanently barred by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from working as an investment adviser or stockbroker, or associating with any investment adviser or brokerage firm according to an Order Instituting Administrative Proceedings pursuant to Securities Exchange Act of…

William Carlson, a former financial advisor with Forum Financial Management, a Chicago area registered investment advisor, has admitted to stealing over $900,000 from a 63-year-old investor by forging her signature on checks drawn on her account. Carlson began his scheme in 2012.The victim had a custodial account that was managed by Carlson and Forum Financial….

Jeffrey D. Noard, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a stockbroker formerly registered with Allied Beacon Partners, Inc., has been fined and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity pursuant to a National Adjudicatory Council Decision containing findings that he made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. In the Matter of Department…

Jeffrey Alan Hill, of Bemidji, Minnesota, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors, was sanctioned by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), in which his securities registration was revoked by FINRA for failing to fulfill his payment of fines and disgorgement associated with a prior FINRA disciplinary action against him. Letter No. 2015047008703 (Mar. 17,…

Michael Salvatore Stanton, a former branch office manager and director of capital markets for Legend Securities, Inc., has been charged in a Complaint by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement containing allegations that Stanton failed to supervise a registered representative who defrauded a disabled, blind and elderly investor. Department of Enforcement v. Michael…

Wendy B. Feldman, and Peter Joseph Doyle, of Washington, District of Columbia, stockbrokers registered with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, have been terminated from employment on June 24, 2016, based upon allegations that they violated their firm’s procedures and additionally failed to comply with regulatory rules pertaining to exercising discretion in customer accounts. Financial Industry Regulatory…

Austin Wayne Morton of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, a stockbroker formerly registered with Edward Jones, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint which alleged that Morton converted a senior customer’s funds. Department of Enforcement v. Austin Wayne Morton, No. 2016052347901 (Feb. 24, 2017). According to the Complaint, in September of 2016, $20,000.00…

Lori Cousineau Weaver, of Renton, Washington, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. were sanctioned by The State of Washington Securities Division based on an Order which imposed fines and a suspension of Weaver’s securities registration based upon consenting to findings that Weaver and Ameriprise Financial Services effected unsuitable sales of non-traded real…

Matthew Christopher Maczko, of Oak Brook, Illinois, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he charged customers with excessive fees, and misled FINRA during his recorded testimony regarding the allegations…

Dougherty & Company LLC, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been censured and fined $140,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm failed to supervise a registered representative who effected unsuitable and unauthorized investment transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047008701 (Nov. 28, 2016). According to the…

Christopher B. Ariola, of Aliso Viejo, California, a stockbroker with Bay Mutual Financial, LLC, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per an Office of Hearing Officers’ Default Decision containing findings that Ariola made unsuitable recommendations to investors. Department of Enforcement v. Christopher B. Ariola, No. 2012034139101 (Dec….

Stanley C. Niekras, of Liverpoll, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with MML Investors Services, LLC, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Niekras made misrepresentations to elderly customers pertaining to investments. Department of Enforcement v. Niekras, No. 2013037401001 (Nov. 7, 2016). According to the Complaint,…

Mickey Long, of Plano, Texas, a stockbroker with VSR Financial Services, Inc., was suspended by Texas State Securities Board after being found to have made unsuitable investment recommendations of real estate investments and other alternative investments. Order No. REG16-SUS-03 (Oct. 4, 2016). According to the Order, Long was responsible for advising a seventy-year-old customer who…

Avenir Financial Group, of New York, New York as well as its chief executive officer, Michael Todd Clements and stockbroker Karim Ahmed Ibrahim, were all censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in connection with a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers’ Extended Hearing Panel Decision which contained findings that the firm, Clements, and Ibrahim engaged…

Michael B. Inderlied, of New Woodstock, New York, a stockbroker with Adirondack Trading Group LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed an investigation into allegations of his unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…

Christopher B. Ariola, of Aliso Viejo, California, a stockbroker with Bay Mutual Financial, LLC, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Ariola made unsuitable recommendations to investors. Department of Enforcement v. Christopher B. Ariola, No. 2012034139101 (Aug. 25, 2016). According to the Complaint, between December of 2011…

George A. Zedan of Glendale, California, a stockbroker with LPL Financial LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing allegations that Zedan converted customer funds and failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into Zedan’s…

Lawson Financial Corporation, as well as Robert Lawson (the firm’s president, chief compliance officer, and chief executive officer), and Pamela Lawson (the firm’s owner and chief operating officer) were charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging securities fraud in the sale municipal revenue bonds. Department of Enforcement v….

Miguel Hernandez, of El Paso, Texas, a stockbroker with Thrivent Investment Management, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he converted customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015045623201 (Apr. 25, 2016). According to the AWC, Hernandez…

Michael B. Winegar of Salem, Oregon, a stockbroker with Wedbush Securities Inc., was barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) from associating with any FINRA member firm in any and all capacities after Winegar consented to findings that he converted funds from a customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015045014101 (Jan. 29, 2016)….

Glenn A. Moffitt of Henderson, NV, a former general securities representative with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., was permanently barred from association with any FINRA-registered firm in all capacities after failing to appear for on-the-record testimony in connection with FINRA’s investigation into allegations that Moffitt converted $370,000 from a customer. FINRA Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and…

Joseph R. Butler, a Stockbroker with Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., was permanently barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm after the National Adjudicatory Council confirmed a Hearing Panel Decision barring Butler for converting customer’s funds and submitting a false annuity beneficiary change request. In the Matter of Department of Enforcement…

Matthew Roger Quinn, a registered representative with Fifth Third Bank, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after failing to provide on-the-record testimony in connection with an investigation into allegations that Quinn had stolen funds from elderly customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No….