Richard Randy Mireles, of San Diego, California, a stockbroker registered with Independent Financial Group LLC, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for four months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any principal capacity because Mireles failed to supervise a stockbroker who engaged in excessive trading in customer accounts. Letter of…
Stewart Ginn (also known as Stewart Taylor and as Paxton Ginn Jr.), of Santa Maria, California, a stockbroker registered with Independent Financial Group LLC, has been fined $50,000.00 and suspended for 18 months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Ginn engaged in excessive and unauthorized trading in…
Yong Soo Kim (also known as Yong Kim) of Los Angeles, California, a securities principal registered with Kayan Securities Inc., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for two months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any principal capacity because Kim failed to supervise certain representatives who engaged in excessive trading…
Troy Allen Orlando of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with Spartan Capital Securities LLC, has been fined and suspended for 20 months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Orlando engaged in excessive and unsuitable trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No….
Michael Ciro Colletti of Glen Cove, New York, a stockbroker registered with The Investment Center Inc., is the subject of an enforcement action initiated by FINRA in which the regulator is seeking sanctions against Colletti based upon allegations that Colletti engaged in unauthorized and unsuitable trading. Department of Enforcement v. Colletti, Complaint No. 2019061942901 (February…
Richard Foerster Reynolds of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker registered with Worden Capital Management LLC, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim that was settled for $100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Reynolds made unsuitable investment recommendations, engaged in unauthorized trading, churned the customer’s accounts, committed fraud,…
Douglas Fulton Kaiser (also known as Doug Kaiser), of Boca Raton, FL, a stockbroker registered with Westpark Capital Inc., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any principal capacity because Kaiser failed to supervise certain registered representatives. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and…
Ron Yehuda Itin of Jersey City, New Jersey, the President and Chief Compliance Officer of E1 Asset Management Inc., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in certain principal capacities based upon allegations that Itin failed to supervise certain registered representatives. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and…
Joseph Michael Giordano (also known as Joe Giordano) of Melville, New York, a principal registered with Aegis Capital Corp. has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity for six months based upon allegations that Giordano failed to supervise. FINRA Enforcement (AWC) No. 2016051704306 (Nov….
Praxedes Russi of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker registered with Worden Capital Management LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested $15,974.00 in damages based upon allegations that Russi churned the customer’s account, charged the customer excessive commissions, made unauthorized…
Nicholas James Schiano of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with Spartan Capital Securities LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested $350,343.10 in damages based upon allegations that Schiano churned the customer’s account, made unsuitable investment recommendations, breached…
Arkady Ginsburg of New York, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Aegis Capital Corp, has been suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings of his excessive trading in customers’ accounts during the time that he was employed by Aegis Capital Corp….
Joseph Scott Audia, of Hauppauge, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Joseph Stone Capital LLC, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for two months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any principal capacity based upon findings that he failed to supervise a stockbroker, resulting in excessively trading in a…
John Alexander Tarpinian of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Paulson Investment Company LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer sought $342,852.00 in damages based upon accusations that they received bad investment advice from Tarpinian regarding structured notes transactions when he was…
Jack B. McBride of Plymouth Michigan a stockbroker currently registered with B Riley Wealth Management is referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim where the customer requested $380,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that the stockbroker provided unsuitable investment advice to the B Riley customer concerning exchange traded funds, stocks and…
Stephen Sloane of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with WestPark Capital Inc. and Morgan Stanley has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on a Decision issued by FINRA’s Office of Hearing Officers who found that Sloane made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers…
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…
John Alexander Tarpinian of New York New York a stockbroker formerly employed by Paulson Investment Company LLC and Newport Coast Securities Inc. has been identified in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was resolved for $23,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that between February of 2013 and March of 2019, a fiduciary duty…
William Christian Gennity (also known as Billy Gennity) of Staten Island New York a stockbroker formerly registered with First Standard Financial Company LLC has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon accusations that the stockbroker failed to comply with a FINRA Arbitration Award in which…
David Martin Martirosian of New York New York a stockbroker currently associated with Joseph Stone Capital LLC has been referenced in a customer initiated investment related complaint which was settled on December 14, 2018 for $39,077.15 in damages supported by allegations of the customer being misled with regard to Fat Brands Inc. stock purchases effected…
Joseph Morris Thurnherr of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Wynston Hill Capital LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Thurnherr failed to furnish information to FINRA personnel when a customer’s complaint alleging Thurnherr’s misconduct was…
William Dean Byrd of Tampa Florida a stockbroker formerly employed by Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer sought $300,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that (1) trades were made solely to generate commissions from the customer (2) the customer’s account was over concentrated by…
Baris Cabalar (also known as Barry Calabar) of Hauppauge New York New York a stockbroker currently employed by PHX Financial Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint which was settled for $185,000.00 in damages on April 10, 2019 supported by allegations that between November 5, 2018 and February 27, 2019: (1)…
Gregory Roy Tucker of Des Moines Iowa a stockbroker currently employed by DA Davidson Co. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer requested $10,000,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that between 2009 and 2018: (1) the customer was charged excessive commissions (2) important information about the customer’s corporate and…
Michael Frank Paesano of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which settled for $145,000.00 in damages supported by allegations that (1) government debt trades were effected in the customer’s managed account in excessive amounts and (2) some of the customer’s…
Daniel M. Soliman of New York New York a stockbroker formerly employed by J.P. Morgan Securities has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that Soliman failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into whether FINRA Rules and federal securities laws had been violated…
Spencer Edwards Inc. a securities broker dealer headquartered in Colorado has been fined $250,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based in part on findings that the firm overcharged customers on transactions that the firm’s stockbrokers effected in the customers’ accounts. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2016051209102 (June 11, 2019). According to the…
Windsor Street Capital L.P. (formerly known as Meyers Associates L.P.) has been expelled from Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) membership, and Arthur Tacopino and Edwin Rodriguez (Windsor Street Capital’s associates) have been barred from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity, all according to a Default Decision issued by FINRA’s Office of Hearing Officers…
J.W. Korth Company a securities broker dealer headquartered in Lansing Michigan has been censured by Financial industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) according to a National Adjudicatory Council Decision affirming a Hearing Panel’s findings of the firm overcharging customers on municipal and corporate debt securities transactions effected in customers’ accounts. In the matter of Department of Enforcement…
Buckman Buckman Reid Inc. a securities broker dealer headquartered in Little Silver New Jersey has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon findings that (1) Buckman Buckman Reid Inc. neglected to create and implement a supervision system and written supervisory procedures regarding the suitability of trades recommended by stockbrokers of the firm…
James Bradley Schwartz (also known as Jim Schwartz) of Melville New York a stockbroker formerly employed by Aegis Capital Corp has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity according to an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that (1) Schwartz executed trades in the customer’s account…
Patrick Jude Esparrago of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Oppenheimer Co. Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on February 17, 2017 in which the customer sought damages estimated to exceed $5,000.00 founded on accusations that between June of 2014 and December of 2015: (1) the customer…
ProEquities Inc. a brokerage firm headquartered in Birmingham Alabama has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that it excessively charged customers who purchased mutual funds through the firm. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2016052179401 (Mar. 7, 2019). According to the AWC, a variety of mutual fund…
James Bradley Schwartz (also known as Jim Schwartz) of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Aegis Capital Corp. has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that (1) Schwartz excessively traded and churned customers’ accounts and (2) Schwartz engaged in deceptive and fraudulent activities…
Brad Curtis Brooks of Addison Texas, a stockbroker and supervisor currently registered with Titan Securities of Addison Texas (CRD No. 131392) , is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was resolved for $9,850.00 in damages founded on allegations that Brooks failed to supervise a customer’s investments in limited partnership interest or…
Michael Alejandro Castillero of New York New York a stockbroker formerly employed by Alexander Capital has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Castillero failed to testify in a FINRA investigation into accusations of (1) Castillero making unauthorized trades in a…
Carroll Thomas Clark Jr. (also known as Tom Clark) of Miami Florida a stockbroker formerly employed by Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer sought $75,000.00 in damages supported by accusations that (1) investment recommendations concerning real estate securities were not suitable for the customer…
Edward Beyn of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Craig Scott Capital LLC is the subject of a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) National Adjudicatory Council Decision which affirms FINRA’s Hearing Panel’s decision to bar Beyn because (1) Beyn effected excessive trades in customer accounts (2) Beyn churned customers’ investment portfolios and…
NTB Financial Corporation of Centennial Colorado has been censured and fined $45,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) supported by allegations that the firm overcharged customers on corporate bond transactions. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2015047738901 (Dec. 10, 2018). Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2015047738901 (Dec. 10, 2018). According to the…
Alain J. Florestan of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Caldwell International Securities has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity according to a Default Decision containing findings that (1) Florestan made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers and (2) Florestan failed to cooperate in…
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority released its 2018 Examination Report, showing the areas in which the regulator has taken some form of enforcement action against brokerage firms to prevent them from taking advantage of their customers, and to “better protect investors and maintain the integrity of the markets.” The Recommendation of Unsuitable Investments First, on…
Eric Howard Kunis of Woodbury New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Maxim Group LLC has been fined $2,500.00 and suspended for two months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that Kunis executed unsuitable trading in eleven Maxim Group LLC customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance…
Richard Foerster Reynolds of Melville New York a stockbroker currently registered with Worden Capital Management LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related complaint which settled for $150,000.00 on May 10, 2018 supported by accusations that Reynolds (1) churned the customer’s account (2) charged the customer with excessive commissions (3) effected transactions in the…
David F. Wong of New York New York a stockbroker formerly employed by Barclays Capital Inc. has been suspended by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from associating with any broker-dealer or investment adviser according to an Order containing findings that Wong (1) made misleading or false statements to customers of the firm and (2) charged…
Christopher Edward McClure of New York New York the president and chief executive officer of Westport Capital Markets LLC (a dually registered investment advisor and brokerage firm) has been charged by Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Complaint along with Westport alleging that McClure and the firm defrauded their advisory customers. Securities and Exchange Commission…
Shane Jason Kelly of Port Saint Lucie Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC had been suspended with associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on allegations that Kelly failed to provide FINRA with a response to its request for his information. Case No. 2017054666601 (Jan. 29,…
Elliot Hough Sherer of Melville New York is a stockbroker currently registered with Aegis Capital Corp. who is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint which settled for $8,000.00 in damages founded on allegations that (1) the customer’s margin account was excessively utilized (2) unsuitable investment recommendations were made to the customer…
First Kentucky Securities Corporation is a brokerage firm from Louisville Kentucky who has been censured and fined fifty thousand dollars by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that it overcharged customers by depriving them of sales charge waivers on eligible mutual fund purchases executed through the firm. Letter of Acceptance Waiver…
Walter Roland Valenzuela, of Del Mar, California, a stockbroker currently registered with Hilltop Securities, Inc., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, where the customer requested $9,500,000.00 in damages supported by allegations of elder abuse, misrepresentation, excessive trading, breach of fiduciary duty, excessive mark-downs and mark-ups, inappropriate margin use, suitability, and…
Harvey Britton Vaughn Jr., of Austin, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Columbus Advisory Group, Ltd., has been sanctioned by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) via the revocation of his securities licensure based upon allegations that Vaughn failed to pay a $10,000.00 fine assessed to him by FINRA for having failed to make required disclosures;…
Alejandro Falla, of Coral Cables, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with BAC Florida Investments, was fined $60,000.00 and suspended for eighteen months 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 findings that Falla made misleading statements and omissions…
Alejandro Falla, of Coral Cables, Florida, a stockbroker with BAC Florida Investments, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Falla had fraudulently charged mark-ups to customers. Department of Market Regulation v. Falla, No. 20160500923-01 (Sept. 26, 2016). According to the Complaint, Falla worked in the capacity…
Michael L. Oromaner of Farmingdale, New York, a stockbroker formerly with Salomon Whitney Financial, and now associated with Cova Capital Partners is subject to a pending customer dispute from March 23, 2016, where a customer requested $750,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Oromaner of utilizing high pressure sales techniques, effecting unsuitable investment transactions, churning…
James Gabriel Collard, of Boerne, Texas, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in connection with an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Collard charged customers’ excessive markups on investments. Department of Market Regulation v. James Gabriel Collard, No. 20120342425-01 (Sept. 23, 2016). According to the Order, between February…
Jay K. Chitnis, of Atlanta, Georgia, a stockbroker with YieldQuest Securities, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity in connection with a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Chitnis committed securities fraud, converted funds, engaged in unauthorized trading,…
Kevin J. Blaney, of Stamford, Connecticut, a stockbroker with Jefferies LLC, was fined $30,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made misrepresentations to customers in connection with fixed income securities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 20160499622-01 (Sept. 1,…
Joseph Michael Araiz, of New York, New York, the chief executive officer of Further Lane Securities, L.P., was fined $45,000.00 and suspended from associating with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in any principal capacity, and had his licensure revoked in connection with an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing allegations of…
Laidlaw & Company LTD., headquartered in London, England, was censured and fined $10,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had charged customers with excessive commissions on equity transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014040622201 (July 21, 2016). According to the AWC, from April 2013 through June…
First Financial Equity Corporation, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer, Melissa Strouse, was named in a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement Complaint alleging failure to supervise various aspects of the firm’s operations, including commissions charged by the firm’s staff. Department of Enforcement v. First Financial Equity…
Glenn Robert King, of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly with Royal Alliance, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he fraudulently omitted and misrepresented material facts to investors, prompted excessive and unsuitable transactions, and committed unauthorized discretionary trading. Department of…
Further Lane Securities, L.P., stockbroker James Gabriel Collard, and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Michal Araiz, all of Boerne, Texas, were named in a Complaint containing allegations of excessive markups pertaining to corporate bond transactions and related supervisory failures. Department of Enforcement v. Collard et al., No. 20120342425-01-01- (Mar. 11, 2016). Further. according to the Complaint,…
Alton Securities Group, Inc. located in Alton, Illinois, was censured and fined $75,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had an inadequate supervisory system pertaining to non-traditional exchange traded funds and non-traditional mutual funds, caused unsuitable recommendations to be made to customers, and caused excessive markups/markdowns on municipal debt…
Ridgeway & Conger, Inc., stockbrokers Kenley Brisard and Philip Brisard, and the firm’s president Leigh Garber, all located in Woodstock, New York, were charged by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA ) in a nine count Complaint containing allegations of fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions of material fact in connection with customer purchases (Kenley and Philip…
Glenn Nicholas Caruso of New York, NY, a Stockbroker with Tullett Prebon Financial Services LLC, was barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with FINRA in their investigation into Caruso’s alleged misconduct regarding municipal bond trading…
David C. Cannata of Uniondale, New York, a stockbroker with Craig Scott Capital, LLC, was charged by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Cannata excessively traded and churned customer accounts; and also failed to comply with a FINRA investigation into his alleged misconduct. Department of Enforcement v….
Brickell Global Markets, also known as E.S. Financial Services, Inc., based in Miami, Florida, was censured and fined $275,000 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had charged customers unreasonable fees, failed to deliver prospectuses, allowed unauthorized individuals to direct trading in accounts, among other violations. Letter of Acceptance,…
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…
BOSC, Inc., of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was censured and fined $25,000 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm sold (or bought) eight corporate bonds to (or from) customers and failed to sell (or buy) such bonds at a price that was fair within eight transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Adam Robert Bollinger from Chandler, Arizona, a former general securities representative with Edward Jones, was permanently barred from association with any FINRA member firm in any capacity after consenting to FINRA findings that Bollinger converted $17,525 from 7 individuals (6 of whom were his firm customers). FINRA Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 2015044164801…
John Joseph Vaughan, a former registered securities representative and compliance manager with HFP Capital Markets, LLC., was barred from association with any FINRA registered firm in all capacities after Levitt failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that HFP Capital Markets had charged customers unfair prices and failed to provide adequate supervision of…
Global Arena Capital Corp, a FINRA member broker-dealer since 1986 headquartered in New York, NY, maintains multiple branches throughout the country. The Firm was charged by FINRA Department of Market Regulation in a Complaint containing allegations that the Firm charged unfair and excessive markups/markdowns to customers in the course of 495 of its corporate bond…
Thomas J. Buck, a former Indiana based financial advisor associated with RBC Capital Markets, LLC, was barred from association with any FINRA-registered firm in all capacities after consenting to FINRA findings containing allegations Buck committed misconduct pertaining to commission-based accounts and unauthorized trading and exercise of discretion without oral or written authorization. FINRA Letter of…
Broker-dealer Stone & Youngberg have been fined $350,000 and censured by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for charging excessive markups on trades of collateralized mortgage obligation securities (CMOs) for retail customers. The firm was also required to pay about $206,000 in restitution to customers, without interest, per the terms of a Letter of Acceptance,…
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission announced that Wells Fargo Securities LLC consented to an $11.2 million fine in connection with the sale of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) in late 2006 and early 2007. The SEC found that Wachovia Capital Markets violated the securities laws by fraudulently charging undisclosed and excessive markups in the…