Michael Jean-Paul Mason, of Millington, Tennessee, a stockbroker formerly registered with Edward Jones, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers’ Default Decision containing findings that he falsified customer account documentation and failed to accurately inform his firm…
Glenn McDowell, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with National Securities Corporation, Inc., has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers’ Default Decision containing findings that McDowell effected unauthorized trades in a customer’s account. Department of…
Frederick Martin Quinn Jr., of Toledo, Ohio, a stockbroker formerly registered with Allstate Financial Services, LLC, has been fined and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Quinn, inter alia, signed the names of customers on annuity exchange documentation without the customers’…
Michael Robert Molinaro, of Long Beach, New York, a chief compliance officer of Charles Vista, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 26, 2015, in which the customer requested $130,628.37 in damages based upon allegations that Molinaro failed to supervise the activities of a registered representative concerning over-the-counter…
Jeffrey Neil Cadan, of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with Morgan Stanley, was terminated from employment on December 21, 2016, based upon allegations of Cadan’s misconduct pertaining to his implemented investment strategy involving government debt products, as well as his exercise of discretion in customer account(s). Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure…
Ernest Julius Romer III, of Sterling Heights, Michigan, a stockbroker registered with CoreCap Investments, Inc., has been terminated from employment on January 20, 2017, based upon allegations that he violated the firm’s policies relating to his undisclosed outside business activities and transactions in customer accounts. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure reveals that on…
Steven Howard Bright, of Dallas, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wunderlich Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on September 30, 2016, in which the customer requested $17,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Bright effected exchange traded note transactions in the customer’s account on an excessive and…
Brad C. Lawing, of Springfield, Missouri, a stockbroker currently registered with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on January 19, 2017, in which the customer requested $8,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Lawing failed to apprise the customer concerning the fees associating with the switching…
Steven Rocco Colli, of Morristown, New Jersey, a stockbroker currently registered with Morgan Stanley, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on February 16, 2017, based upon allegations that Colli, from 2014 to 2017, utilized the customer’s margin without authorization to effect options and equity transactions. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)…
Damian Marlon Bell, of Daphne, Alabama, a stockbroker currently registered with WFG Investments, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 19, 2017, in which the customer requested $1,000,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Bell made misrepresentations and omissions to customers concerning private placements, and failed to adequately…
James D. Zahakos, Staten Island, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Edward Jones, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on January 19, 2017, in which the customer requested $5,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Zahakos made misrepresentations to the customer concerning the purchase of a single premium immediate…
Matthew Hugh Hurley, of San Diego, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on November 10, 2016, for $15,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hurley failed to execute upon the customer’s stop loss order, and charged the customer…
Jason Edward Seurer, of Milbank, South Dakota, a stockbroker formerly registered with Edward Jones, has been penalized $7,500.00 and suspended for eighteen months by The State of South Dakota Division of Securities based upon Seurer consenting to findings that he sold away from his firm via his promissory note investment transactions. (Jan. 19, 2017). Previously,…
Joseph Francis Valdini, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Worden Capital Management LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on March 21, 2016, for $79,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Valdini breached his fiduciary and contractual duties to the customer, violated New Jersey…
Gregory Wade Gobble, a stockbroker formerly registered with Uvest Financial Services Group, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on August 25, 2015, based upon allegations that Gobble made misrepresentations to the customer concerning the Behringer Harvard Real Estate Investment Trust. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure additionally reveals…
Charles Harvey Kuhtz III, of Hartland, Wisconsin, a financial advisor for Edward Jones, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on January 18, 2017, in which the customer requested $5,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Kuhtz made misrepresentations to the customer regarding a Hartford Protector Variable Universal Life policy. Kuhtz’s…
Jeffrey Carmen Sica, of Parsippany, New Jersey, a registered representative associated with Sica Wealth Management, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on April 27, 2015, for $211,250.00 in damages based upon allegations that Sica effected unsuitable stock and exchange traded fund (ETF) transactions in the customer’s account. Financial…
Joseph Peter Canciglia, of Hackensack, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 20, 2016, in which the customer requested $20,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Canciglia advised a customer to invest $20,000.00 into a unit investment…
Alan Neal Rose, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 16, 2017, in which the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that from 2013 to 2016, Rose over-concentrated the customers’ portfolio in investments…
Enrique Fernandez, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, a stockbroker formerly registered with UBS Financial Services Inc., has been named in eighteen customer initiated investment related disputes between April 16, 2014, and January 6, 2017, based upon allegations that Fernandez made omissions and misrepresentations to customers concerning the safety of investments in Puerto Rico municipal bonds…
Joseph Kelly, of New York, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Spartan Capital Securiites, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 4, 2016, in which the customer requested $450,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Kelly made misrepresentations to the customer concerning equity investments, and excessively traded…
David Gulyamov, of Brooklyn, New York, a registered representative with LPL Financial LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on January 13, 2017, based upon allegations that Gulyamov made misrepresentations to the customer concerning a variable annuity, and effected an investment purchase that failed to be suitable for the customer….
Garland Sean James, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Garden State Securities, Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to provide information to FINRA personnel as requested. Letter No. 2015047471301 (Sept. 13,…
Stephen Frederick Owen III, of Annapolis, Maryland, a stockbroker currently registered with UBS Financial Services Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 12, 2017, in which the customer requested $650,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that from 2015 to 2017, Owen overconcentrated the customer’s investment portfolio in speculative…
Ryan Michael Murnane, of Staten Island, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Woodstock Financial Group, Inc., was named in an investigation by the State of Montana Securities Department on February 1, 2017, in which Muranne’s conduct is under review for allegedly contacting a customer numerous times to solicit investment related business despite Murnane not…
Philip Orezio Fatta, of Holtsville, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Blackbook Capital, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on June 15, 2016, in which the customer requested $381,195.16 in damages based upon allegations that Fatta breached his fiduciary and contractual duties, churned the customer’s account, effected unsuitable…
Tom Gilliam Parks, Jr., of Stephenville, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 19, 2017, in which the customer requested $180,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Parks made unsuitable investment recommendations and misrepresentations to the customer concerning oil…
Laurence Michael Braunstein, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 5, 2016, in which the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Braunstein, from 2014 to 2015, effected unsuitable closed end fund, unit investment trust,…
Marcus Joseph Debaise, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, 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 failed to provide a response to FINRA pursuant to an information request. Letter No. 2015046925901 (May…
Dario Suarez, of Ponce, Puerto Rico, a stockbroker currently registered with UBS Financial Services Inc. and UBS Financial Services Incorporated of Puerto Rico, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 18, 2017, in which the customer requested $1,000,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Suarez effected unsuitable transactions involving…
Robert Lansing Hicks, of Irvine, California, a former owner of Finance 500, Inc., a brokerage firm headquartered in Irvine California, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 11, 2017, in which the customer requested $102,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hicks breached his contractual and fiduciary obligations to…
Joshua David Stamm, of Lynchburg, Virginia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has been fined $10,000.00, prohibited from working in a supervisory capacity, and placed on heightened supervision based upon a Virginia State Corporation Commission Division of Securities Order containing allegations that Stamm engaged in outside business activities without…
Michael Allen Toy, of Sunnyvale, California, a stockbroker currently registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on January 11, 2017, based upon allegations that Toy failed to abide by the customer’s investment instructions concerning the trading of mutual fund investments. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public…
Paul Theodore Dicicco, of Millbury, Massachusetts, a stockbroker formerly registered with Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on March 28, 2016, in which the customer requested $6,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Dicicco made misrepresentations to the customer concerning the features of a variable annuity…
Barry F. Connell, of Chester, New Jersey, an investment adviser representative and stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Complaint alleging that he misappropriated firm customers’ funds. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Barry F. Connell, No. 1:17-cv-00831 (S.D.N.Y. filed Feb. 3, 2017). According to…
Patrick O. Howard, of Dallas, Texas, along with two entities controlled by him, Howard Capital Holdings, LLC, and Optimal Economics Capital Partners, LLC, have been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Complaint alleging that Howard and his firms committed securities fraud. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Patrick O. Howard, et al.,…
Brandon M. Adkins, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint, which settled on September 2, 2014, for $22,966.32 in damages based upon allegations that Adkins made misrepresentations and unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer regarding exchange…
Keith Michael Rogers, of Hamilton, Alabama, a stockbroker formerly registered with G.L.S. & Associates, Inc., has been permanently barred by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from working as an investment adviser or broker, or otherwise associating with any firm which provides investment advice or sells securities to the public, according to an Order Instituting…
Nicholas H. Shermeta, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a stockbroker formerly registered with Northland Securities, Inc., has been permanently barred by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from working as an investment adviser or broker, or associating with any firm which provides investment advice or sells securities to the public, according to an Order Instituting Administrative And…
Michael Roy Blueweiss, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with UBS Financial Services Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on November 3, 2014, based upon allegations that Blueweiss churned the customer’s account, concentrated the customer’s investment portfolio in structured products and annuities, and omitted information from the…
Peter Rajinder Kohli, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, chief executive officer and present of DMS Advisors and chairman and trustee of DMS Funds, has been charged along with DMS Advisors, Inc., Marshad Capital Group, Inc., and The DMS Funds in a Complaint by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleging that Kohli and the firms committed fraud…
Cecil E. Nivens, of Gastonia, North Carolina, a registered representative formerly associated with NYLife Securities, LLC, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Nivens failed to execute upon customers’ investment instructions, and furnished documentation to customers containing false and misrepresented information. Department of Enforcement v. Cecil…
Craig David Dima, of Ronkonkoma, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with K.C. Ward Financial, has been fined and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Dima effected unauthorized trades in a customer’s…
Beaconsfield Financial Services, Inc., a broker-dealer headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, has been censured and fined $12,500.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm failed to supervise private securities transactions facilitated by one of the firm’s registered representatives. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016047658101 (Feb. 27, 2017). According…
Patrick Dennis Combs, of Houston, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, has been fined $7,500.00 and suspended for seven months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he participated in private securities transactions, and concealed these activities from his firm. Letter…
Harold S. Pomeranz, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, 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 he made unsuitable investment recommendations to a customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Patric Ken Baccam, of Hemet, California, has been charged by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Complaint alleging that Hemet, inter alia, concocted a scheme to defraud investors in the sale of unsecured promissory notes. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Baccam, Docket No. 17-cv-172 (C.D. Cal. 2017). According to the Complaint,…
Bill Alfons Holubec, of Des Moines, Iowa, a stockbroker formerly registered with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 9, 2017, in which the customer requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Holubec effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account and made misrepresentations to…
Michael Nicholas Guilfoyle, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Legend Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on October 2, 2015, for $99,999.00 in damages based upon allegations that Guilfoyle excessively traded or churned the customer’s investment account, made unsuitable over-the-counter equity recommendations,…
Kelly Clayton Althar, of San Francisco, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Financial West Group, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Althar effected trades in a customer’s account on an…
Albert Dishner, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on December 30, 2016, for $205,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that include churning, excessive trading, violation of state and federal securities laws, violation of…
Shannon Kathleen Daniels, of Bloomfield, Missouri, a stockbroker formerly registered with U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., has been has permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that she did not provide a response to FINRA’s information request. Letter No. 2016050764201 (Nov. 18, 2016)….
Eric Joseph Miller, of Scottsdale, Arizona, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon an Office of Hearing Officers Default Decision containing findings that Miller failed to attend a disciplinary hearing and testify concerning his firm’s activities. Department of Enforcement v. Eric Joseph Miller, No….
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…
Jed Edward Turner, of Missoula, Montana, a stockbroker formerly registered with Western International Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 10, 2016, in which the customer requested $181,668.00 in damages based upon allegations that Turner negligently handled the customer’s stock portfolio. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public…
Efthimios Emmanouilidis, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, a stockbroker currently registered with Morgan Stanley, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 11, 2016, in which the customer requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Emmanouilidis made misrepresentations to the customer concerning managed accounts. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure…
Scott William Palmer, of Hackensack, New Jersey, a stockbroker currently registered with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 26, 2016, in which the customer requested $75,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Palmer effected unsuitable stock transactions in the customer’s investment account. Financial Industry…
David Howard Fagenson, of Palm Beach, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with UBS Financial Services Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on September 26, 2016, based upon allegations that from 2013 to 2016, Fagenson effected unauthorized trades in the customer’s account and failed to abide by the customer’s instructions…
Stephen Eugene Winkelman Junior, of Pasadena, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Centaurus Financial, Inc., was named in an Order issued by The State of Kansas Securities Commissioner which revoked Winkelman’s securities registration and instituted cease and desist sanctions against him based upon allegations that Winkelman falsified a customer’s consolidated financial statement and inflated values…
John Scott Elliott, of Overland Park, Kansas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been fined and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to respond to a FINRA information request. Letter No. 2016051253201 (Dec. 1, 2016)….
Brett Scott Murphy, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 11, 2016, in which the customer requested $2,000,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Murphy effected unsuitable unit investment trust transactions in the customer’s account,…
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member broker dealers, including Invest Financial Corporation, SII Investments, Investment Centers of America, and National Planning Corporation, have all been censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firms overcharged charitable organization and retirement account customers in mutual funds transactions, and did…
Li-Lin Hsu, of Los Angeles, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that she failed to respond to FINRA’s information request. Letter No. 2015045016702 (Jun. 1, 2016). Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure…
Joshua Daniel Mosshart, of Westlake Village, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 2, 2017, in which the customer requested $50,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Mosshart solicited the customer to invest in products were not approved by LPL…
James Edward Knee, of Concord, New Hampshire, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on December 21, 2015, for $17,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Knee made unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer concerning a royalty trust purchase. Financial…
Gary Woodruff Peterson, of Rockford, Illinois, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, was prohibited from offering or selling securities in the State of Illinois based upon consenting to The State of Illinois Securities Department allegations that Peterson effected excessive trades in a customer’s account for purposes of accumulating excessive commissions to the customer’s…
Zachary Samuel Berkey, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Four Points Capital Partners LLC, has been named in The State of Montana Securities Division’s December 11, 2014 investigation into allegations that Berkey effected trades in a customer’s account on an excessive basis and made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Financial Industry Regulatory…
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…
Jean Ann Walsh-Josephson, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a stockbroker formerly registered with Thrivent Investment Management Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that she failed to provide a response to FINRA’s information request. Letter No. 2015046529801 (Jan. 26, 2016). FINRA…
Dion R. Padilla, of San Antonio, Texas, a stockbroker with Next Financial Group, Inc., was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for fifteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Padilla made an unauthorized variable…
Eric J. Arnett, of Spring Hill, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Dalton Strategic Investment Services, has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint which alleged that Arnett, inter alia, engaged in unauthorized outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044778302. (Feb. 13, 2017). According to the Complaint,…
Diana Lynne Stamborski, of Palatine, Illinois, a stockbroker formerly registered with LaSalle St Securities, L.L.C., 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 she engaged in outside business activities in violation of her firm’s policies. Letter of Acceptance,…
Joan Marie Larsen, of Freehold, New Jersey, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that she failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations that she accepted an unauthorized loan from a customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Joseph Albert Ambrosole, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Meyers Associates, L.P., 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 he effected trades in customer accounts on an unauthorized basis. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Joseph Henry Murphy III, of Madison, Wisconsin, a stockbroker formerly registered with RBC Capital Markets, LLC, 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 he traded in customer accounts on a discretionary basis in violation of his firm’s…
Adam S. Fritzsche, of Atlanta, Georgia, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been fined and suspended for one year 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 customers and made misrepresentations on firm documentation concerning…
Larry Westly Farmbry, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker formerly registered with First Allied Securities, 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 he effected trades in customer accounts on a discretionary basis in violation of his firm’s…
Eugene D. Anderson, of Apache Junction, Arizona, a stockbroker formerly registered with Thrivent Investment Management, Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations that Anderson converted customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Eric S. Darty, of Birmingham, Alabama, a stockbroker formerly registered with BBVA Securities Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he obstructed an investigation into allegations that he converted customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Alejandro Falla, of Miami, Florida, a former president and chief executive officer of Ultralat Capital Markets, Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he omitted information from customers concerning non-market foreign exchange rates pertaining to transactions involving bond…
Kennister Ulesley Daley, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Dawson James Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on January 5, 2017, in which the customer requested $65,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Daley, from April of 2015 to February of 2016, traded options excessively…
Manuel Francisco Porrata Monserrate, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, a stockbroker formerly registered with Oriental Financial Services Corp., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on September 27, 2016, for $90,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Monserrate effected unsuitable municipal debt transactions in the customer’s account in reference…
Jeffrey Scott Davis, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on January 4, 2017, in which the customer requested $20,415.28 in damages based upon allegations that Davis omitted information concerning the fees and surrender penalties on two variable…
Bruce Benjamin Greenwald, of Pepper Pike, Ohio, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 3, 2017, in which the customer requested $800,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Greenwald failed to abide by the customer’s investment based instructions, and made misrepresentations to…
Karen McKinley, of Manchester, New Hampshire, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that she obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of potential non-compliance regarding trading in customer accounts that was referenced by…
Kevin Mark Reed, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, a stockbroker formerly registered with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., has been terminated from employment on July 8, 2016, based upon allegations that he altered the documentation of firm customers. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)Public Disclosure reveals that Reed has been identified in two customer initiated investment related disputes…
Jonathan Eric Altman, of Boston, Massachusetts, has been charged by the Massachusetts Securities Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in a Compliant which alleged that Altman made unsuitable investment recommendations pertaining to equities and real estate investment trust products, effected unauthorized transactions, excessively traded in the customer’s account, and…
Brian Hunter Anderson, of Birmingham, Alabama, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on May 31, 2016, based upon allegations that Anderson made unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer regarding direct investments and oil and gas products. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)Public Disclosure…
Dennis Albert Mehringer Jr., of Pasadena, California, a stockbroker currently registered with Western International Securities, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Mehringer, inter alia, made investment recommendations which were not suitable for customers. Department of Enforcement v. Mehringer, Jr., No. 2014041868001 (Dec. 16, 2016). According to the…
Nathan Thomas Koenig, of Perrysburg, Ohio, a stockbroker previously registered with The Huntington Investment Company, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on April 4, 2016, in which the customer requested $14,461.87 in damages based upon allegations that Koenig misrepresented a variable annuity, and omitted that the customer would forego guaranteed…
Richard Grant Cody, of Spring Lake, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Westminster Financial Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on January 18, 2017, based upon allegations that Cody misappropriated funds belonging to the customer in connection with over-the-counter equity transactions. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public…
Roger Salvatore Zullo, of Boston, Massachusetts, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial, LLC, was charged along with LPL Financial, LLC, in a Compliant by the Enforcement Section of Massachusetts Securities Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which contained allegations that, inter alia, Zullo defrauded LPL Financial LLC’s customers…
Todd Joseph Henrich, of Edison, New Jersey, a stockbroker currently registered with National Securities Corporation, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on September 29, 2015, for $26,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Henrich negligently handled the customer’s investment portfolio, breached his fiduciary duties, made misrepresentations to the…
David Jonathan Bolton, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, a stockbroker formerly registered with Signator Investors, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on April 1, 2016, based upon allegations that Bolton effected unsuitable class A share mutual fund transactions in an elderly customer’s account, and charged the customer with excessive commissions…
Chadwick C. Collins, of Carlsbad, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on April 18, 2016, for $86,559.31 in damages based upon allegations that Collins, from December of 2015 to March of 2016, failed to disclose commissions charged to…
Samuel T. Januszeqski-Ytrt, of Mineola, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Blackbook Capital LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on November 21, 2016, in which the customer requested $250,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Januszeqski-Ytrt breached his fiduciary duties, made misrepresentations concerning investments, and defrauded the customer…
Brad William McDowell, of Niles, Illinois, a stockbroker registered with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, was terminated from employment on June 17, 2016, based upon allegations that McDowell did not properly secure confidential information pertaining to the firm’s customers. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure reveals that McDowell has been named in three customer initiated…
Curtis Dean Milakovich, of Naples, Florida, a stockbroker currently registered with Kovack Securities Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 31, 2016, based upon allegations that Milakovich made unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer, implemented an unsuitable strategy for investing, and churned the customer’s account. The customer additionally…
Jill M. Cody, of Spring Lake, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Westminster Financial Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on January 18, 2017, based upon allegations that Cody misappropriated the customer’s funds. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure reveals that Cody has been identified in…
Baris Cabalar, of Hauppauge, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Legend Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on March 8, 2016, in which the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Cabalar violated the Arkansas Securities Act, churned the customer’s account, breached his contractual and…
Dean Sadrudin Mustaphalli, of Forest Hills, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Sterne Agee Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on December 1, 2015, for $400,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Mustaphalli made misrepresentations to the customer concerning direct investment products, and effected…
Michael Jay Sharenow, of Florham Park, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on November 1, 2016, based upon allegations that Sharenow effected unauthorized corporate debt securities transactions in the customer’s account. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure reveals…
James Paul Kolf, of Madison, Wisconsin, a stockbroker formerly registered with MSI Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on January 30, 2017, in which the customer requested $8,113.06.00 in damages based upon allegations that Kolf omitted information concerning the surrender penalties on a variable annuity contract. Financial…
Tyre Fred Newsome, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Garden State Securities, Inc., was terminated from employment on April 4, 2016, based upon allegations that he made unsuitable investment recommendations to the firm’s customers concerning investments. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure additionally reveals that on April 18, 2011, a customer filed…
Stephen Skeffington Eubanks, of Las Vegas, Nevada, a stockbroker with Bright Trading, LLC, was terminated from employment on August 26, 2016, based upon allegations that he failed to provide disclosure to his firm concerning an outside business activity which consisted of his ownership in Eubiquity Capital LLC. On November 1, 2016, Eubanks was charged by…
Joseph Patrick Fuller, of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with Cape Securities, Inc., was terminated from employment on July 6, 2016, based upon allegations that Fuller effected unauthorized trades in a firm customer’s account. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure also reveals that on March 7, 2013, at which time Fuller was…
James Rose, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with UBS Financial Services, Inc., has been fined $25,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he engaged in outside business activities and private securities transactions which were not authorized…
James Calder, of Borger, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Raymond James, has been fined $15,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he engaged in outside business activities in violation of his firm’s policies. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Edward Jones, a broker-dealer headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri, was censured and fined $125,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm overcharged customers pertaining to the interest rates on customers’ loans. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016048760501 (Feb. 1, 2017). According to the AWC, in January…
Further Lane Securities, L.P., a brokerage firm headquartered in New York City, New York, was censured and fined $126,673.78 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon an Office of Hearing Officers’ Default Decision which contained findings that the firm excessively charged customers’ mark-ups in reference to bond transactions, and did not reasonably supervise a…
John Sherman Jumper, of Memphis, Tennessee, a former chief executive officer, chief compliance officer, and chief financial officer of Alluvion Securities, 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 obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations that Jumper misappropriated…
Ziv Ohel, of Deerfield, Illinois, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on December 6, 2016, in which the customer requested $6,521.98 in damages based upon allegations that from February of 2015 to February of 2016, Ohel made misrepresentations and unsuitable recommendations…
Rick Douglas Konecny, of Chicago, Illinois, a stockbroker currently registered with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on June 23, 2016, in which the customer requested $400,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Konecny effected unauthorized and unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account, and overconcentrated the…
Lawson Financial Corporation, a brokerage firm headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as Robert Lawson (president, chief executive officer, and chief compliance officer), and Pamela Lawson (owner and chief operating officer) were sanctioned by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Office of Hearing Officers according to an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that the…
Gary Marlin Arford, of Lynwood, Washington, a stockbroker formerly registered with Comprehensive Wealth Management, LLC, was named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on September 12, 2016, wherein the customer requested $140,760.00 in damages based upon allegations that Arford made unsuitable investment recommendations and effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account pertaining to…
Jeremy T. Monte, of Fairport, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with American Portfolios Financial Services, has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he partook in outside business activities and private securities transactions which his firm did…
Clarence Mark Tingle, of Lewes, Delaware, a stockbroker currently registered with Morgan Stanley, 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 he effected discretionary trades in customer accounts without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042951501…
Michael Lee Child, of Draper, Utah, a stockbroker currently registered with H. Beck, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint, which settled on July 6, 2016, for $35,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Child effected transactions in the customer’s account which were not suitable, and was liable for the…
Jesus Delacarridad Rodriguez, of Miami, Florida, a stockbroker currently registered with IMS Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 19, 2016, in which the customer requested $1,667,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Rodriguez breached his fiduciary duties, made misrepresentations to the customer, and negligently handled the…
Hyun Sik Cho, of Dewitt, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Pruco Securities, L.L.C., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations that he partook in unauthorized loan transactions with customers. Letter…
Jon Brett Schmidhammer, of Dublin, Ohio, a stockbroker formerly registered with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on October 14, 2016, in which the customer requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Schmidhammer converted the customer’s funds, breached his fiduciary and contractual duties to…
Gerald James Ohalloran, a stockbroker currently registered with Kovack Securities Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 2, 2016, in which the customer requested $135,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Ohalloran breached his fiduciary and contractual duties to the customer, made misrepresentations and omissions concerning investments, and…
Donnie Eugene Ingram, of Winter Haven, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Investors Capital Corp., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on November 16, 2016, in which the customer requested $906,353.70 in damages based upon allegations that Ingram effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account pertaining to corporate debt, equity…
Paul Robert Nitz, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a stockbroker currently registered with HD Vest Investment Services, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 13, 2016, in which the customer requested $528,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Nitz made unsuitable equity investment recommendations to the customer, made misrepresentations to the…
Neal Charles Moon, and Natalie E. Fogiel Moon, both of Dallas, Texas, and stockbrokers formerly registered with Waddell & Reed, have been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that the individuals effected unauthorized private securities transactions. Department of Enforcement v. Moon et al., No. 2015046926801(July 8, 2016)….
Jeanpaul Charles Skovronck, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Legend Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 29, 2016, in which the customer requested $200,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Skovronck negligently handled the customer’s investment portfolio, breached his fiduciary and contractual…
Perry De Leeuw, of Duluth, Georgia, a stockbroker formerly registered with PFS Investments Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 5, 2016, in which the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Leeuw took possession of a customer’s funds in connection with an outside business activity…
Ty Kevin Bauer, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on March 3, 2016, in which a customer requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that from 2011 to 2016, Bauer effected unsuitable corporate debt and direct investment transactions, and churned…
Douglas Wayne Studer, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Kovack Securities Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon Studer’s consent to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations of his misconduct regarding an inheritance…
Andrew Patrick Murino, a stockbroker currently registered with Alexander Capital, L.P., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 1, 2016, in which the customer requested $38,084.00 in damages based upon allegations that Murino effected unauthorized and unsuitable over-the-counter equity trades in the customer’s account, and breached his fiduciary duty…
Frank Hamrak, of New York, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Beech Hill Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on November 21, 2016, in which the customer requested $185,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that from March 20, 2014, to November 9, 2016, Hamrak effected unsuitable transactions…
Robert Michael Giusti, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 24, 2015, in which a customer was ultimately awarded $300,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that from 2010 to 2015, Giusti made…
Garland Wayne Benton Jr., of Richardson, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Reef Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 14, 2014, in which the customer requested $946,670.00 in damages based upon allegations that Benton engaged in unauthorized investment solicitations, breached his contractual duties, omitted facts concerning…
Harris Wayne Kirk, or Richardson, Texas, a stockbroker currently registered with Reef Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 11, 2016, in which the customer requested $250,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Kirk breached his contractual duties, and failed to conduct proper due diligence as well…
Shaun Evan Stein, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on June 30, 2014, in which the customer requested $75,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Stein breached his contractual duties owed to the customer, engaged…
Keith Lawton James Connolly, of Syosset, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with J.D. Nicholas & Associates, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on July 20, 2016, for $43,976.90 in damages based upon allegations that Connolly effected unsuitable equity transactions in the customer’s account, overconcentrated the customer’s…
Charles Bernard Lynch, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, has been named in Forty Three customer initiated investment related disputes between October 6, 2014, and August 9, 2016, which collectively settled for $6,932,566.03 in damages based upon allegations against Lynch which included unsuitability, misrepresentation, negligence, and account mismanagement. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority…
Ricardo Francois, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Caldwell International Securities, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to respond to a FINRA information request. Letter No. 2015043464602 (October 30, 2015). Prior to…
Mark Zeltser, of Brooklyn, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Meyers Associates, L.P., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to respond to a FINRA information request. Letter No. 2014039091902 (Nov. 9, 2015). Prior to his…
Marcious Dickerson, of Livonia, Michigan, a stockbroker currently registered with Centaurus Financial, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on September 1, 2015, for $97,983.70 in damages based upon allegations that Dickerson breached his fiduciary and contractual duties to the customer, effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account,…
Matthew Ian Turner, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on August 8, 2014, for $23,115.00 in damages based upon allegations that Turner effected unsuitable equity transactions in the customer’s account. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority…
Charles Henry Frieda, of Irvine, California, a stockbroker currently registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, has been named in thirty-two customer initiated investment related disputes between October 6, 2014, and October 25, 2016, which have collectively settled for $5,268,553.00 in damages based upon allegations that Frieda effected unsuitable transactions in the customers’ accounts, which…
Steve Dale Heath, of Newport News, Virginia, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial, LLC, 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 he effected trades in a customer’s account on an unsuitable and unauthorized basis. Letter of…
In July 2014, we wrote about the dismantling of the Pennsylvania Securities Commissioner, which was seen as an impediement to “capital formation” in the Keystone State. We called it: Securities Fraudsters: You have a friend in Pennsylvania. So here we go again. By way of background, each year in Pennsylvania, investors conservatively lose $3 billion as…
Barry F. Connell, formerly of the Ridgewood office of Morgan Stanley, Inc., formerly known as Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Inc., was charged by the United States Securities & Exchange Commission for the Connell, for the violation of Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Advisers Act, in that while acting as an investment adviser, by use…
Honetta C. Kao, of Brooklyn, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Meyers Associates, L.P., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon allegations that Kao failed to respond to FINRA’s request for Kao’s information. Case No. 2014039091901 (Nov. 9, 2015). Prior to Kao’s…
Richard Gomez of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Avenir Financial Group, has been suspended for one year from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Gomez, inter alia, effected unauthorized and excessive trades in the customers’ accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Kerry Patrick Raheb, a stockbroker formerly registered with the Garden City, New York office of Spartan Capital Securities, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on July 21, 2014, in which the customer requested $37,214.99 in damages based upon allegations that Raheb coerced the customer to purchase over-the-counter equities which…
Daniel John Dunn, of Mission Viejo, California, a stockbroker currently registered with Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on August 17, 2015, in which the customer requested $48,624.47 in damages based upon allegations that Dunn made unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer concerning the sale of…
Brian J. Zimmerman, of San Diego, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Liberty Partners Financial Services, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, in which the customer was awarded $20,000.00 in damages on March 14, 2016, based upon allegations that Zimmerman made misrepresentations and omissions to the customer, churned the…
Hugh Wilkens Levey, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Source Capital Group, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with FINRA in an investigation into allegations that Levey misappropriated funds. Letter…
John David Fenimore, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Aegis Capital Corp., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on June 9, 2014, in which the customer requested $250,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Fenimore utilized the customer’s margin in an unsuitable manner, effected equity trades in…
Daniel George McPherson, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on March 7, 2016, in which the customer requested $40,151.00 in damages based upon allegations that McPherson effected unsuitable fixed annuity transactions in the customer’s account. Financial Industry Regulatory…
Thomas Edward Andrews, of Salt Lake City, Utah, a barred stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on October 20, 2016, in which forty-four customers have collectively requested $10,504,799.00 in damages based upon allegations that Andrews churned the customers’ accounts, negligently managed the customers’…
Indra Ramsahai, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Aegis Capital Corp, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on July 18, 2016, for $90,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Ramsahai churned the customer’s investment account and effected unsuitable leveraged exchange traded fund transactions. Financial…
William Jeffrey Carlton, of Vienna, Virginia, a stockbroker currently registered with UBS Financial Services Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on November 10, 2016, in which the customer requested $525,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Carlton effected unsuitable equity and limited partnership interest transactions in the customer’s account,…
James Bryant Eichner Junior, of New York, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with National Securities Corporation, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on June 30, 2015, in which the customer requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Eichner negligently handled the customer’s investment account and breached his fiduciary…
Allan P. Montalbano, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with National Securities Corporation, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on June 20, 2016, in which the customer requested $350,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Montalbano breached his contractual and fiduciary duties, negligently handled the customer’s investment…
Ronald Edward Siemon, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with FINRA in an investigation into allegations of Siemon’s misconduct asserted via a customer…
Eugene Theodore Smietana, of Traverse City, Michigan, a stockbroker formerly registered withEugene Theodore Smietana, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint, which settled on December 7, 2015, for $87,750.00 in damages based upon allegations that Smietana effected equity trades in the customer’s account on an excessive and unsuitable basis. Financial Industry…
Patrick J. Sands, of Quincy, Massachusetts, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, was terminated from employment on November 19, 2015, based upon allegations that he sold securities outside the auspices of his firm, which was a violation of his firm’s policies. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure reveals…
William David Utanski, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a stockbroker currently registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on March 7, 2016, for $3,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Utanski effected unsuitable stock transactions in the customer’s account pertaining to Dendreon Corporation, which…
James Christopher Hayne, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 13, 2016, in which the customer requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hayne Hayne breached his fiduciary duties, effected stock trades on an excessive basis, failed to diversify the…
Bernardo Misseri, of Staten Island, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Legend Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, in which the customer was awarded $50,000.00 in damages on August 12, 2016, based upon allegations that Misseri breached his fiduciary duties, negligently handled the customer’s portfolio, failed to…
Henry Al Dean Watson, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, 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 failed to cooperate with FINRA in an investigation into allegations of his misconduct. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Joseph C. Noyes IV, a stockbroker formerly registered with Santander Securities LLC, 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 Noyes falsified customer documents, and effected an annuity exchange which was not suitable for a customer. Letter of…
Richard Michael Gholson, of Pahoa, Hawaii, a principal formerly registered with Cuso Financial Services, L.P., 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 he failed to supervise the suitability of unit investment trust recommendations made by the firm’s…
James Coleman Starks, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Caldwell International Securities, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon allegations that Starks did not respond to a letter from FINRA which requested information from Starks. Case No. 2015043464601 (Oct….
Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc., a brokerage firm headquartered in Syracuse, New York, and its former registered representative, Charles Lee Deremo, of Eagan, Minnesota, have been censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that Deremo made unsuitable investment recommendations to a firm customer, and the firm failed to…
By: Dana N. Pescosolido Once again, the author analyzes FINRA customer arbitration awards in his unique way, and draws comparisons between 2015 and 2016. Bottom line, customers won “something” a little less often in 2016, but won a little more money when they did. Read on for a detailed analysis. FINRA’s published statistics are accurate…
Lance Shaw of Havcrford, Pennsylvania, formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, was recently barred from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after failing to respond to the FINRA Staff for “information.” FINRA suspended Shaw in May 2016, but decided not to bar him until August 2016. Why FINRA wanted to talk to Shaw is a secret…
Christiane Olsen, of New York, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with UBS Financial Services Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on November 28, 2016, for $29,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Olsen effected unsuitable master limited partnership and stock transactions in the customer’s account that…
What does the Whitney Bank or JC Whitney have to do with Salomon Brothers or Salomon Smith Barney? What does a Salomon or a Whitney have to do with Johnny Prinzivalli from Long Island? Nothing. But Salomon Whitney Financial is a brokerage firm with a fancy sounding name located lovely Farmingdale, New York, and founded by a…
James Walter Ignatowich, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Newbridge Securities Corporation, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 21, 2016, in which the customer requested $61,469.00 in damages based upon allegations that Ignatowich violated the Iowa Securities Act, made misrepresentations to the customer, negligently handled…
Sanctions levied on Fox Financial Mangement Corporation, a brokerage firm based on Carrollton, Texas, along with principals Brian A. Murphy, of Frisco, Texas, and James E. Rooney, Jr., of Carrollton, Texas, were affirmed by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) National Adjudicatory Council in a Decision which confirmed findings that the firm and principals, inter alia,…
Matthew Meehan, a stockbroker formerly registered with E.J. Sterling, LLC, has been fined $15,000.00 and suspended for twelve months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected unsuitable trades in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016050114901 (Jan. 11, 2017). According…
John Columbia, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Woodstock Financial Group, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on April 15, 2015, for $167,383.05 in damages based upon allegations that Columbia made misrepresentations to the customer, breached his contractual duties, negligently handled the customer’s…
William Robert Berg, of Mesa, Arizona, a stockbroker currently registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on October 19, 2016 for $25,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that in 2014, Berg overconcentrated the customer’s assets in oil and gas equities that were…
George Craig Merhoff Jr., a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 14, 2016, which is based upon allegations that Merhoff committed violations of securities laws in the State of Oregon, breached his fiduciary and contractual duties to the customer, effected unsuitable…
Lisa Ann Wolf, of Chicago, Illinois, a stockbroker currently registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on April 10, 2015 for $150,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that from July of 2008 to June of 2014, Wolf made misrepresentations and…
Jacquin P. Fink, a stockbroker currently registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on October 13, 2016, in which the customer requested $300,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that between October 2015 and October 2016, Fink made unsuitable equity investment recommendations to the…
Gerald Tagge, of Omaha, Nebraska, a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been named or tagged in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on September 30, 2015, in which the customer requested $125,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Tagge solicited and ultimately accepted promissory notes from the customer outside the auspices…
Charles Alan Correal, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 29, 2016, in which the customer requested $180,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that between 2008 to 2016, Correal effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account pertaining…
Jason Wilk, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with National Securities Corporation, has been named in a customer initiated investment related complaint, which settled on September 7, 2016 for $15,000.00 based upon allegations that Wilk effected unsuitable over-the-counter equities transactions in the customer’s account. On the same day, another customer initiated investment…
Daniel Cleophas Alcide, of Red Bank, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on December 3, 2015, in which the customer requested $150,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Alcide engaged in high pressure sales tactics, made misrepresentations concerning…
Gregg D. Templeton, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., was named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 20, 2016, which settled for $562,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that from July 1, 2010 to March 31, 2015, Templeton misappropriated the customer’s funds, effected…
Donald J. Fowler, of Massapequa, New York, and Gregory T. Dean, of Seaford, New York, both of whom are stockbrokers formerly registered with J.D. Nicholas & Associates, Inc., have been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Complaint alleging that Fowler and Dean excessively traded and fraudulently churned customer accounts, and effected…
Victor Lee, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with UBS Financial Services Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in an outside business activity which was not authorized by his firm, and falsified…
Salomon David Krispeal, of Hauppauge, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with John Thomas Financial, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on December 11, 2015. The claim was based upon allegations that Krispeal engaged in sales practice violations in the accounts of two customers. Krispeal was fined $2,500.00…
Kelly Clayton Althar, of San Francisco, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Financial West Group, has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Althar effected trades in a customer’s account on an excessive basis and made unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer. Department of Enforcement v. Kelly Clayton Althar,…
Thomas E. Stamborski, of Palatine, Illinois, a stockbroker formerly registered with LaSalle Street Securities, L.L.C., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon Stamborski’s consent to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that he engaged in unauthorized outside…
Bradley Joseph Ross, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a stockbroker with UBS Financial Services Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on May 19, 2016, in which the customer requested $99,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Ross effected unauthorized trades and overconcentrated the customer’s assets in exchange traded funds, mutual…
James Michael Noto, of Trinity, Florida, a stockbroker currently registered with Summit Brokerage Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on August 3, 2016 for $25,000.00 in damages. The customer’s claim was based upon allegations that Noto effected an unsuitable variable annuity contract. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals…
Craig Lansing Hayward, of Lafayette, Colorado, a stockbroker currently registered with Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 11, 2016, in which the customer requested $707,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that between 2007 and 2014, Hayward negligently handled the customer’s account, breached his fiduciary…
Charles Louis Laubach, of Baltimore, Maryland, a stockbroker formerly registered with Chapin David Investments, has been terminated from employment on March 18, 2016, based upon allegations that he did not follow his firm’s supervisory protocols and mismarked investment transaction tickets. This is not the first time that Laubach has been terminated by a brokerage firm…
Steven Joel Shmulewitz, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker with Craft Capital Management LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related complaint, which settled for December 21, 2016 for $30,000.00 in damages. The customer’s complaint was based upon allegations that Shmulewitz failed to execute the customer’s October 2016 stop loss orders pertaining…
Christopher J. Cowans, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 11, 2015, in which the customer has requested $600,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that between March of 2011 and December of 2013, Cowans effected excessive transactions in the customer’s…
Zahir Walji, of Austin, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., was named in two customer initiated investment related arbitration claims between June 6, 2010, and June 10, 2016, in which the customers collectively requested $1,640,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Walji was liable to customers who had not received repayment of…
Mitchel Allan Foote, of Manhattan, Kansas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Broker Dealer Financial Services Corp., was named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on May 12, 2014, in which the customer requested $30,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Foote misrepresented an illiquid real estate security investment to a customer. FINRA Public…
Cory David Bataan, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Aegis Capital Corp., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on August 25, 2015 for $25,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Bataan made unsuitable investment recommendations concerning over-the-counter equities and generated commissions and fees which were…
Thomas Alan Braley, of Saginaw, Michigan, a stockbroker and financial advisor formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which settled on December 2, 2016 for $75,000.00 in damages. The customer’s claim was based upon allegations that between January of 2013 and…
John Bernard Steffen, of Florence, Kentucky, an insurance broker formerly registered with Silver Oak Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated written complaint on June 23, 2016, in which the customer requested $285,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Steffen churned the customer’s account, breached his fiduciary duty, and effected unsuitable variable annuity…
David Albert Ross, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, a stockbroker registered with Woodbury Financial Services, was terminated from employment on April 15, 2016, based upon allegations that Ross, inter alia, effected unauthorized loan arrangements with the firm’s customers and engaged in an outside business activity that was not authorized by Woodbury Financial Services. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals…
Brian Patrick Murphy a registered representative associated with Signator Investors from July 2015 through July 2016, and with MetLife Securities, Inc. from December 2006 through December 2014, conducting business under the name “Murphy Financial Advisors” in Moorestown, New Jersey, was arrested January 13, 2017 and was charged with stealing $890,000 from a customer thought he…
Jason Vincent Mediate, of Staten Island, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Alexander Capital, L.P., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, which settled on November 17, 2015 for $112,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Mediate effected transactions in the customer’s investment account without proper authorization. FINRA Public Disclosure…
Kyle Patrick Harrington, of San Diego, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with National Securities Corporation, has become the subject of a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) investigation, which focuses on allegations that Harrington possibly engaged in private securities transactions, converted customer funds, and failed to cooperate with FINRA regarding allegations of his misconduct. FINRA Matter…
Michael A. Pellegrino Jr., of Red Bank, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, was terminated from employment on December 2, 2016, based upon allegations that Pellegrino conducted communications with an individual which the firm prohibited business to be conducted with. The firm further alleged that Pellegrino provided a party with advice on…
Joe Don Treece, of Bentonville, Arkansas, has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in any capacity based upon allegations that Treece failed to provide a response to a FINRA investigatory request, or otherwise comply with a settlement agreement or an arbitration award. Case No. 12-00453 (Dec. 1, 2016). FINRA Public…
Marc Ang, of Sherman Oaks, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Pruco Securities, LLC, has been terminated from employment on November 23, 2016, based upon allegations that Ang, inter alia, engaged in outside business activities which were not approved by Pruco Securities, utilized a business name and advertising mechanism which was not authorized, and established…
Carlos Velazquez, of Elgin, Illinois, a stockbroker associated with Waddell & Reed, has been terminated from employment on December 1, 2016, based upon allegations that Velazquez admitted to falsifying statements to the firm’s personnel concerning the purpose of an outside business activity which Velazquez was involved in. Who knows what this means, as it could…
Mark Nicholas Wesley, of Independence, Ohio, a stockbroker with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., was permitted to resign by the firm on June 17, 2016, based upon allegations that Wesley, inter alia, effected authorized trades in in customer accounts, and utilized discretion in accounts without firm approval. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Wesley has been named…
Victor Eugene Lambert III, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, was named in a written customer complaint, which settled on April 7, 2016 for $85,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Lambert effected unsuitable equity transactions in the customer’s investment account. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Lambert has been identified…
Alan Joseph Thomilson, of Edwardsville, Illinois, a stockbroker currently registered with Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, has been named in a customer initiated investment arbitration claim which settled on October 24, 2016 for $75,000.00 in damages, based upon allegations that Thomilson made misrepresentations and unsuitable recommendations to the customer regarding the replacement of the customer’s existing…
Kim Dee Isaacson, of Midvale, Utah, a stockbroker currently registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) investigation on April 8, 2016, which focuses on allegations that Isaacson made misrepresentations to a customer concerning the customer’s investment performance and account details. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Isaacson…
Michael Laurence DiGaetano, of Lewiston, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer has requested $725,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that DiGaetano breached his fiduciary and contractual obligations to the customer, negligently handled the customer’s…
Caeron Arlington McClintock, of New York, New York, a broker formerly registered with EJ Sterling, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on November 22, 2016, in which the customer has requested $135,593.00 in damages based upon allegations that McClintock breached his fiduciary and contractual duties to the customer, churned the…
David Bruce White, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a stockbroker currently registered with Centaurus Financial, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 27, 2016, in which the customer requested $75,000.00 in damages based upon allegation that White’s recommendations in limited partnership interests and direct participation programs caused the customer…
Gary Saitowitz, of Atlanta, Georgia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc., has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for eighteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member based upon consenting to findings that Saitowitz, inter alia, made unsuitable investment recommendations, participated in a private securities transaction, and misstated customer…
Alfred William Valz, of Manasquan, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with UBS Financial Services Inc., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Valz placed unauthorized trades in the accounts of customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
James Carolan Speno, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Spendo effected transactions in customer accounts without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
LPL Financial, LLC, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, was censured and fined $900,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm failed to distribute account notices containing customer suitability information. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015045887301 (Dec. 21, 2016). According to the AWC, between 2009 and 2016, the…
Regal Securities, a broker-dealer headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, has been censured and fined $25,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm failed to supervise the evaluation and authorization of outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015043657202 (Dec. 21, 2016). According to the AWC, in…
Principal Securities Inc., headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, has been censured and fined $125,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm failed to create and implement adequate supervision systems pertaining to consolidated reports. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015043589501 (Dec. 21, 2016). According to the AWC,…
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a broker-dealer headquartered in New York, New York, has been censured and fined $2,750,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm failed to create and preserve adequate procedures and systems geared to ensure that customers’ margin securities would be properly controlled and held…
Ross, Sinclaire & Associates, LLC, a broker-dealer headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, was censured and fined $214,545.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm, inter alia: made material omissions regarding municipal offerings; failed to conduct adequate due diligence; and failed to supervise investment offerings. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Mark H. Botsford, of Alexandria, Virginia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he engaged in outside business activities which were not approved by Wells Fargo. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
The tail wagging the dog. Broker sell you unsuitable investments, no problem. We will just secretly change your investment objectives. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, a broker-dealer headquartered in Purchase, New York, has been censured and fined $1,500,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm failed to set forth…
Jaime Hazael Aguilar, of San Diego, California, a stockbroker previously registered with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC, has been fired by his firm on May 10, 2016, based upon allegations that Aguilar was involved with a customer in pursuing a financial transaction outside the auspices of Morgan Stanley. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Aguilar has…
Kenneth John Saunders, of Coral Springs, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Investors Capital Corp., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration action on March 11, 2016, in which the customer requested $150,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Saunders made misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments, and effected unsuitable investments in…
William Dean Byrd, of Tampa, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc., was named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on June 2, 2016, which settled for $42,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Byrd breached his fiduciary obligations to the customer, made misrepresentations concerning investments, and made investment recommendations…
Matthew J. Giannone, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., 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 he entered into an unauthorized loan arrangement. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Rodger James Burskey, of Commerce Township, Michigan, a stockbroker formerly registered with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with FINRA in its investigation into allegations that Burskey made unsuitable…
Source Capital Group, Inc., a broker-dealer headquartered in Westport, Connecticut, has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that the firm, inter alia, failed to disclose to investors certain material facts concerning interests in limited partnerships. Department of Enforcement v. Source Capital Group, Inc., No. 2014038889501 (Dec. 23, 2016)….
First Financial Equity Corporation, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, was censured and fined $230,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement according to an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that the firm failed to supervise key aspects of the firm’s operations, which included the commissions charged by the…
Kirk Lynn Ferguson, of Salt Lake City, Utah, president and chief compliance officer of ACAP Financial, and Gary Hume, of Salt Lake City, Utah, compliance officer of ACAP Financial, have been sanctioned by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) according to an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Ferguson and…
Guy Bernard Deemer, of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker formerly registered with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., has been terminated by his firm on September 1, 2015, based upon allegations that Deemer did not abide by Oppenheimer’s policies which pertained to the way customers would be charged for services. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Deemer has been…
Raymond Willis Harrison, a stockbroker formerly associated with ProEquities, Inc. has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on October 12, 2016, in which the customer has requested $603,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Harrison made omissions to the customer concerning investments, did not conduct a reasonable level of due diligence…
Paul Ricky Mata, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, was barred by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from working as an investment advisor or broker, or associating with brokerage firms selling customers’ securities or advising customers, according to an SEC Order enjoining Mata’s future acts of fraud in violation of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Section…
Vincent Paul Sturm, of Perry, Iowa, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, was terminated by the firm and VisionPoint Advisory Group, LLC on August 26, 2016, based upon allegations that Sturm solicited loans from customers in violation of his firms’ policies. Since September 7, 2016, Sturm has been registered with Berthel, Fisher &…
Wayde Christian Carter Walker, of New York, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with National Securities Corporation, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 28, 2015, in which the customer requested $513,218.40 in damages based upon allegations that Walker made misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments, breached his fiduciary…
Mark Christopher Quale, a stockbroker formerly registered with First Financial Equity Corporation, was terminated by his firm on March 31, 2016, based upon allegations that Quale furnished documents to First Financial Equity Corporation containing customer signatures which were not genuine. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Quale has been named in four customer arbitrations concerning allegations…
Michael Murphy Hurtgen, of Greenwood Village, a stockbroker formerly registered with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., was terminated by his firm and affiliate Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. on February 23, 2016, based upon allegations that he solicited investors’ interest in a private placement. The firm indicated that the private placement was connected to…
John Jacob Avey, a stockbroker from Denver, Colorado, was terminated by employer Bosc, Inc. on January 15, 2016, based upon allegations that Avey admitted to the firm that a document which Avey provided in connection with a customer’s investment account contained signatures which were not authentic. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Avey has been named…
Brooke Ashley Clements, of Greenwood Village, Colorado, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, was terminated by the firm on May 1, 2015, based upon allegations that Clements effected transactions in customer accounts on a discretionary basis, when the firm did not authorize time and place based discretion to be…
John Mark Gregory, of New York, New York, was terminated from Citigroup Global Markets Inc. on March 12, 2015, based upon allegations that Gregory had customers sign blank documents which Gregory then completed without the customer’s involvement. Gregory was also alleged to have altered the data contained on forms that he had utilized previously for…
Achilleas Psihudakis, of Bayside, New York, was terminated by his employer, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated on April 16, 2015, based upon allegations that Psihudakis utilized discretion in customer accounts, which was conduct that his broker prohibited. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that on August 15, 2016, Psihudakis’ securities registration with Maryland Securities Commissioner…
Eric Wayne Harding, of Scottsdale, Arizona, has been terminated from employment with United Planners Financial Services of America on October 6, 2016, based upon allegations that Harding had failed to abide by the policies of the firm concerning repayment of monies that were owed to the firm. This is not the first time that Harding’s…
David Kenneth Rubenstein, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, was terminated from employment on April 11, 2016, based upon allegations pertaining to misconduct committed at his prior firm, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Rubenstein’s registration was terminated from Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. on July…
Steve Dale Health, of Newport News, Virginia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Capital Securities Management, Inc., is currently the subject of a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) investigation which was launched on November 11, 2016, and focuses on allegations that Heath may have traded in customer accounts on a discretionary basis, and effected or recommended…
Rodney Bahy Ibrahim, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Maxim Group, LLC, was terminated from the company on June 23, 2015, based upon allegations that he made misrepresentations to a customer following a wire transfer request. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that on December 9, 2009, Ibrahim was named in a customer…
Walter Joseph Marino, of Hauppauge, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Legend Equities Corporation, has been named in four customer initiated investment related arbitration actions between March 14, 2016, and July 18, 2016, in which the customers have collectively requested $433,101.00 in damages based upon allegations that Marino excessively charged the customers with commissions…
Charles John Obryant III, of Raleigh, North Carolina, a stockbroker formerly registered with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on October 2, 2015, which settled for $632,298.00 in damages based upon allegations that Obryant negligently handled the customer’s investment account, breached his fiduciary duty, and effected…
Dean John Kajouras, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Fordham Financial Management, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on March 7, 2016, in which the customer requested $115,414.22 in damages based upon allegations that Kajouras made misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments, breached his contractual obligations, effected…
Joel Nathan Burstein, of Coral Gables, Florida, a stockbroker currently registered with Raymond James & Associates, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim or civil action on March 5, 2016, in which the customer requested $200,000,000.00 in damages based upon allegations including fraud, theft, misappropriation of customer funds, conspiracy to…
Marc Neil Kalter, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Woodstock Financial Group, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on March 21, 2016, in which the customer requested $182,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Kalter breached his fiduciary duty to the customer, excessively traded and churned…
Rabinder Deshmukh, of Miami, Florida, a stockbroker with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from March 18, 2016, in which customers requested $9,000,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Deshmukh made unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer, which included overconcentrating the customers’ assets in risky investments….
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, both headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri, have been censured and fined $1,000,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firms failed to supervise consolidated reports that were disseminated to customers concerning outside assets. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Joel Martin Weiner, of Boyton Beach, Florida, a stockbroker formerly associated with LaSalle Street Securities L.L.C., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044783402 (Dec. 21,…
Frank J. Bodi, of Atlanta, Georgia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Coastal Equities, Inc., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected trades in customer accounts without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014041310601 (Dec….
Daryl Eugene Allison, of Lubbock, Texas, a stockbroker and former president of Caprock Securities, Inc., has been fined $10,000.00 and fined from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any principal capacity based upon consenting to findings that, inter alia, Allison failed to supervise registered representatives’ closed end fund sales to customers….
Texas E&P Partners, a Texas based broker-dealer formerly known as Chestnut Exploration Partners, Inc., has been expelled from Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) membership, and the firm’s president, Mark A. Plummer, has been barred from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity according to a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers Extended Hearing Panel Decision…
Suzanne Hagmeyer, of Naperville, Illinois, a former stockbroker with World Equity Group, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that she made misstatements to customers concerning variable annuity transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2013036907001 (Dec….
Stockbroker Fraud Lawyers | Scott F. Goldman, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, a stockbroker formerly associated with LPL Financial LLC, was fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Phillip Howard Palmer, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a stockbroker and principal formerly registered with First Independent Financial Services, has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Palmer, inter alia, failed to supervise variable annuity withdrawal transactions. Letter of Acceptance,…
Robert Steven Beck, of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected discretionary trades in a customer’s account. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042560001 (Dec….
Richard Edwin Seidel, of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker formerly registered with Pruco Securities, LLC, has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in an unauthorized borrowing arrangement with a firm customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016050057401…
Kenneth Alan Balser, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations of Balser’s participation in private securities transactions or…
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…
Neeraj Roy Chaudhary, of El Segundo, California, a stockbroker with Euro Pacific Capital, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer alleged that Chaudhary effected unsuitable investment transactions concerning private placements in the customer’s account. Guiliano Law Group Our practice is limited to the representation of investors….
Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa, has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm overcharged charitable organization and retirement account customers in connection with mutual funds transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015046952401 (Dec. 17, 2016). According to the AWC, Cambridge provides…
Michael Timothy Dolan, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a stockbroker currently registered with Dougherty & Company LLC, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Dolan effected unauthorized private securities transactions. Department of Enforcement v. Dolan, No. 2013039306601 (Dec. 14, 2016). According to the Complaint, from October of 2010 to October…
Manuel Mejia-Gomez, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, a stockbroker formerly associated with Popular Securities LLC, has been fined $15,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected transactions in customer accounts without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044285701…
Allstate Financial Services, LLC, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, has been censured and fined $1,000,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm, inter alia, had mass incomplete or missing accounts records concerning customer suitability. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047806501(Dec. 15, 2016). According to the AWC, between 2001…
Marc Donald Bushey, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, a stockbroker formerly registered with NYLife Securities LLC, 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. 2016051803901 (Dec. 13, 2016). According to the AWC, customer…
Kai Chen, of San Francisco, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in any capacity after consenting to findings that he exercised discretion in customer accounts without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2013039280301 (Dec….
Robert Edward Wamhoff, from Saint Charles, Missouri, a stockbroker formerly registered with VSR Financial Services, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from February 27, 2016, in which the customer alleged that Wamhoff effected unsuitable investments in the customer’s account. Two days prior, another customer filed an investment related arbitration…
Jesse Julian Griffin Jr., of Palm City, Florida, a stockbroker formerly associated with VSR Financial Services, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration action from June 19, 2015, which settled for $52,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Griffin effected unsuitable transactions in the customers’ accounts. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that…
Kevin Mark Nevin, of Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, a stockbroker formerly associated with VSR Financial Services, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on September 30, 2016, in which the customer requested $50,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Nevin breached his fiduciary and contractual relationship with the customer, effected unsuitable…
Richard Lyndon Brown, of Massapequa, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with Brookstone Securities, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from September 22, 2015, in which a customer was awarded $72,135.95 in damages based upon allegations that Brown breached his contractual and fiduciary duties to the customer, abused the…
Timothy Charles Hobbs, of Bedford, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with VSR Financial Services, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration action from February 3, 2014, in which the customer requested $82,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hobbs breached his fiduciary duty to the customer, and effected investment transactions in…
Eduardo Guillermo Diaz, of Biloxi, Mississippi, a former stockbroker formerly registered with Next Financial Group, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration action in which the customer received $250,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Diaz made misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments, failed to provide the customer with information concerning…
Thomas Paul Schober, of Westborough, Massachusetts, a former stockbroker who had been registered with SII Investments, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on September 21, 2016, in which the customer requested $5,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Schober effected unsuitable investment transactions in the customer’s account. FINRA Public…
Brian Harris Brunhaver, of Snohomish, Washington, a stockbroker previously registered with LPL Financial LLC, and Pacific West Securities, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from February 24, 2014, in which customers requested $637,100.00 in damages based upon allegations that Brunhaver effected unsuitable investments in real estate investments trusts within…
George William Cole, of Toms River, New Jersey, a stockbroker currently registered with Next Financial Group, has been named in a customer initiated, investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $1,000,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Cole provided customers with unsuitable investment recommendations which caused the customers to suffer substantial losses. The…
Robert Boris Hardcastle, of Chesterfield, Missouri, a stockbroker formerly registered with VSR Financial Services, has been nemed in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $366,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hardcastle breached his fiduciary duty to the customers, made misrepresentations to the customers concerning investments, and effected unsuitable…
Ibrahim Ethem Kurtulus, of New York, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Windsor Street Capital, LP, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 13, 2015, in which the customer requested $45,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Kurtulus effected unsuitable investment transactions in the customer’s account. FINRA Public…
Peter M. Alomar, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Woodstock Financial Group, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from January 28, 2016, in which the customer requested $293,924.00 in damages based upon allegations that Alomar effected unsuitable investment transactions in the customer’s account, and breached…
Jerry Gale Lowrimore, of Carmel, California, a stockbroker with M.L. Stern & Co., LLC, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration action on February 12, 2016, which settled for $250,000.00 in damages. The customer’s claim was based upon allegations that Lowrimore made unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer, and effected an unsuitable…
Maroof Miyana, of Pompano Beach, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Legend Securities, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from November 24, 2014, which settled for $72,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Miyana effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s investment account. FINRA Public Disclosure also reveals that on…
Robert Emmitt Gill, of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in an unauthorized borrowing arrangement with a firm customer. Letter of…
Ralph Worthington, of New York, New York, chairman and chief executive officer of Gilford Securities, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 2, 2014, in which the customer requested $875,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Gilford was liable, as a control person for the firm, for a subordinate…
Brandt Bob Wendland, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a stockbroker currently registered with Feltl & Company, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on May 30, 2014, in which the customer requested $55,000.00 in damages. The customer’s claim was based upon allegations that Wendland effected unsuitable trades in penny stocks and leveraged exchanged…
Gregory Martin Ellis, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a stockbroker formerly registered with VSR Financial Services, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration action on July 22, 2015, in which the customer requested $445,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Ellis negligently handled the customer’s account, breached his fiduciary duties to the customer,…
Douglas Jay Williams, of The Woodlands, Texas, a stockbroker currently registered with VFinance Investments, was subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim filed on May 23, 2014, alleging that Williams effected unsuitable investments in the customer’s account, and made poor investment recommendations which caused the customer to bear losses. According to Williams, the…
William Louis Baumner, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker currently registered with Buckman, Buckman & Reid, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration action on December 16, 2015, in which the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Baumner made misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments. FINRA Public Disclosure…
Frank David Marinelli, of Brooklyn, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration action, which settled for $15,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Marinelli negligently handled the customer’s account, breached his fiduciary duty to the customer, effected trades in the…
Francesco Anthony Scarso, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with PHX Financial Services, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from November 23, 2015, which settled for $12,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Scarso had effected an options transaction in the customer’s investment account which had…
Jack Graham Merritt, of Huntington Beach, California, a stockbroker currently registered with Crown Capital Securities, L.P., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on November 2, 2015, which settled for $19,000.00 in damages. The arbitration claim was based upon allegations that Merritt breached his fiduciary and contractual duties to the customer,…
Matthew Niederbaumer, of Huron, South Dakota, a stockbroker currently registered with Thrivent Investment Management Inc., was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected unauthorized trades in a customer’s account. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016050492401 (Dec….
Mark Robert Holcombe, of Westport, Connecticut, a stockbroker formerly registered with Source Capital Group, Inc., has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he participated in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015048236401 (Dec….
Kevin Curry, of New York, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Peterson Investments, Inc., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected unauthorized trades in a customer’s account. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
ACAP Financial Inc., a broker-dealer headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been expelled from Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) membership per an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that ACAP Financial, inter alia, facilitated unregistered securities sales. Department of Enforcement v. ACAP Financial, et al., No. 2012030459101 (Dec. 6,…
Tyson Jon Palyka, of Trenton, Michigan, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected trades in customer accounts without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
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….
Dennis Anthony Edmonds, of Wilmington, North Carolina, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C., was suspended for eleven months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Michael S. Lavolpe, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Meyers Associates, L.P., has been permanently 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 Lavolpe failed to provide FINRA with a response to its requests…
Ronald F. Paull III, of Olyphant, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker formerly associated with LPL Financial LLC, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected trades in customer accounts without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015046621101…
Paul J. McCabe, Jr., of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with Olympus Securities, LLC, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that McCabe failed to cooperate in a FINRA cycle investigation of Olympus Securities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
John S. Simpson, of Hunt Valley, Maryland, a stockbroker formerly registered with RBC Capital Markets, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of his unauthorized trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
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…
Brian Carey Sak, of Deerfield, Illinois, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations that Sak engaged in selling away or the unauthorized solicitation of a firm customer…
John N. Crook, of Macon, Georgia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Raymond James & Associates, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 18, 2016, in which the customer requested $4,800,000.00 in damages based upon allegations including breach of contract, negligence, intentional omissions and misrepresentation, fraud, breach of fiduciary…
Ari M. Baum, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 5, 2016, in which the customer requested $1,285,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that unsuitable corporate debt investments were effected by Baum in the customer’s…
Leslie R. “Butch” Cabrinha, a stockbroker currently registered with Centaurus Financial, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on May 16, 2014, which was settled for $75,000.00 in damages. The customer’s claim, which pertained to Cabrinha’s conduct, was based upon allegations that the branch manager failed to supervise one of…
George Stefanou, of Orlando, Florida, a stockbroker currently registered with Edward Jones, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 24, 2015, which settled for $50,000.00 in damages. The customer’s claim was based upon allegations that Stefanou made an unsuitable investment recommendation concerning the transfer of the customer’s 457(b) and…
Cynthia Bolker, of San Diego, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with NYLife Securities LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that Bolker engaged in unauthorized borrowing arrangements with customers, and falsified statements to her firm and FINRA concerning such. Letter…
Keith A. Bradley, of Houston, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with VSR Financial Services, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 12, 2016, in which the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Bradley negligently handled the customer’s investment account, and effected unsuitable investment transactions. Bradley’s…
Luis Marquez, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Laidlaw & Company Ltd., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from October 10, 2015, in which the customer requested $340,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Marquez effected unsuitable investment transactions in the customer’s account. Since 1998, Powers has…
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, headquartered in New York, York, New York, was censured and fined $6,250,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to supervise loan management accounts, and failed to supervise suitability transactions pertaining to Puerto Rico securities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Christopher James Conroy, of New York, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with UBS Financial Services, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected unauthorized discretionary trades in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047589801 (Nov….
Jeffrey A. Hill, of Bemidji, Minnesota, a stockbroker formerly associated with Dougherty Company LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he utilized unauthorized discretion in customer accounts, and made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Glen J. Rauch, of Syosset, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Avenir Financial Group, Inc., was 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 findings that Rauch effected unsuitable and unauthorized transactions in customer accounts, and…
James V. Regier, of Topeka, Kansas, a stockbroker formerly associated with VSR Financial Services, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 14, 2016, in which the customer requested $76,642.00 in damages based upon allegations that Regier effected unsuitable investment transactions in the customer’s account pertaining to United Development…
Christopher P. Anthony, of Fort Worth, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Rhodes Securities, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 10, 2016, in which the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that from 2014 through 2015, Anthony churned the customer’s investment account, and effected unsuitable…
Anthony J. Mazzo, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker formerly associated with UBS Financial Services, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 5, 2016, which was settled for $138,855.92 in damages based upon allegations that Mazzo guaranteed investment performance to customers, and omitted facts to the customer concerning…
Levi D. Lindemann, of Oakdale, Minnesota, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on March 28, 2016, in which the customer requested $340,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Lindemann negligently handled the customer’s investment account, breached his fiduciary duty to…
Sven Bernhard Karlen, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors, has been fined $15,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected trades in customer accounts without authorization, mismarked order tickets, caused…
VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, was censured and fined $1,750,000.00 in damages by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that, inter alia, the firm failed to supervise its variable annuities business, and failed to create supervisory protocols pertaining to multiple share classes of variable annuities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
John Burns, of Chesterfield, Missouri, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been fined $17,500.00 in damages and suspended for fourteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected unsuitable and unauthorized trades in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
VFG Securities, Inc., as well as Jason B. Vanclef, of Culver City, California, a stockbroker and chief executive officer currently registered with VFG Securities, Inc., were censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) per an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Vanclef made investment recommendations to customers based upon…
Noble Financial Capital Markets, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, as well as the firm’s president, Nicolaas Petrus Pronk, have been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that the firm and Pronk defrauded the firm’s customers. Department of Enforcement v. Noble Financial Capital Markets et al., No. 2013035740901…
Principal Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm excessively charged its customers through mutual funds transactions, and failed to implement adequately supervisory procedures and protocols to make sure that eligible mutual funds customers received sales charge waivers. Letter…
HD Vest Investment Services, a broker-dealer headquartered in Irving, Texas, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm overcharged customers within mutual funds transactions, and failed to supervise the firm’s mutual funds business in order to ensure that customers received sales charge waivers when eligible for such. Letter…
Bryan G. Mazliach, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker registered with Laidlaw & Company Ltd., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from February 8, 2016, in which the customer requested $200,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Mazliach charged the customer with excessive commissions, and traded excessively in the customer’s…
Casey J. Alexander, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Gilford Securities Incorporated, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 2, 2014, which was settled for $50,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Alexander, as a control person for Gilford Securities, was liable for the wrongful…
Mark S. Garfinkel, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 18, 2015, based upon allegations that Garfinkel made misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments, and effected unsuitable investments in the customer’s account. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Garfinkel…
Frederick E. Monroe, Jr., of Albany, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc., has been subject to fifteen customer initiated investment related arbitration claims from June 5, 2015, to February 8, 2016, in which customers have alleged that Monroe misappropriated the customers’ funds. Fourteen of the fifteen customer initiated arbitration claims…
Robert C. Bragg, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a stockbroker formerly registered with VSR Financial Services, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 24, 2015, which was settled for $60,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Bragg made misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments, and made unsuitable investment recommendations….
Ronald E. Harrison, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with GWN Securities Inc., had his securities registration in The State of Texas suspended for ninety days based upon allegations that Harrison made an unsuitable investment recommendation to a customer, and effected transactions without having been properly registered with the Texas Securities Commissioner….
Toni L. Robertson, of Lubbrock, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Caprock Securities, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity based upon her failure to respond to FINRA’s request for information concerning her activities. Docket No. 2015046415002 (Oct. 21, 2016). FINRA Public Disclosure reveals…
Paul V. Blum, of West Palm Beach, Florida, a stockbroker registered with RBC Capital Markets, LLC, is subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from August 18, 2016, in which the customer requested $525,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Blum made unsuitable recommendations concerning investments of corporate bonds in the energy sector….
Nicholas M. Giaallourakis, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker formerly associated with VSR Financial Services, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from October 20, 2015, which settled for $14,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Giaalourakis violated Florida Securities Act, breached his contractual and fiduciary duties to the customer,…
John S. Cangialosi, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Legend Securities, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from November 20, 2015, which was settled for $9,999.00 in damages based upon allegations that Cangialosi made misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments, effected unsuitable investments in the…
Frederick Bremer, of Casselberry, Florida, a former stockbroker with G.A. Repple & Company, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 17, 2015, in which the customer requested $60,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Bremer effected unsuitable investment transactions regarding Church Capital Funding and other church bonds which California…
Aldo N. Marchena, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Northeast Securities, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 27, 2016, in which the customer requested $75,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Marchena breached his fiduciary duties to the customer by making unsuitable recommendations of…
James N. Forster II, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on March 24, 2016, which was settled for $7,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Forster traded in the customer’s investment account without authorization. FINRA…
Dwarka Persaud, of Little Silver, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Buckman, Buckman & Reid, Inc., is subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from October 10, 2016, in which the customer requested $40,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Persaud effected an investment strategy that was unsuitable, and charged the customer…
David William Major, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with GFI Securities LLC, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of his misconduct pertaining to fees charged to customers. Letter…
Harry Bennett, of New Boston, Michigan, a stockbroker formerly associated with Transamerica, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that Bennett obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations that Bennett made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016049208901…
MML Investor Services, LLC, a broker-dealer headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm excessively charged customers concerning mutual funds transactions, and failed to have adequate supervisory procedures and protocols designed to make sure that eligible customers received waivers of sales charges. Letter of…
Kevin L. Barbalace, of Columbia, Maryland, a stockbroker formerly associated with Dawson James Securities, Inc., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that Barbalace made unsuitable recommendations to a firm customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Thomas E. Omark, of Erie, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker formerly associated with PNC Investments, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected trades in customer accounts without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047550801…
Emily Michelle Thompson, of Wauseon, Ohio, a stockbroker formerly associated with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that she failed to cooperate with FINRA in an investigation into allegations of unauthorized trading. Letter of Acceptance,…
Paul McLellan Alexander Jr., of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Raymond James & Associates, Inc., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected transactions in customer accounts without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
James Larkin Powers of Atlanta, Georgia, a stockbroker formerly registered with du Pasquier & Co., Inc., has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging, inter alia, that Powers converted customer funds. Department of Enforcement v. Powers, No. 2014041985401 (Nov. 15, 2016). According to the Complaint, Power was provided…
John S. Hudnall, of San Francisco, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with U.S. Bancorp Investments and Bancwest Investments Services, Inc., was permanently barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement per an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Hudnall engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions or selling…
Gerald J. Cocuzzo, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Newbridge Securities Corporation, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 5, 2016, based upon allegations that Cocuzzo breached his fiduciary and contractual duties to the customers, overconcentrated the customers’ assets, and committed fraud. Additionally, the customers alleged…
Dominic Thomas DeBruin, of Mesa, Arizona, a stockbroker registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that DeBruin failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations that DeBruin engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions or…
Dawn Bennett, of Washington, District of Columbia, a stockbroker formerly associated with Western International Securities, has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Bennett failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations that she potentially engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions or selling away, committed…
John Billy Kakonikos, of Lake Success, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with Caldwell International Securities, was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for eighteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected unauthorized, as well as unsuitable and excessive trades in a customer…
Michael S. Androulakis, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Legend Securities, Inc., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected a transaction in a customer’s account without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
1st Discount Brokerage, headquartered in Lake Worth, Florida, was censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to create and implement adequate supervision protocols and systems pertaining to non-traditional exchange traded funds, and failed to provide reasonable supervision pertaining to non-traditional exchange traded fund sales. Letter…
Naveed A. Khan, of Staten Island, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Meyers Associates, L.P., was charged by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Complaint alleging that Khan engaged in securities fraud. United Stated Securities and Exchange Commission v. Naveed A. Khan, Docket No. 16-cv-02193 (E.D.N.Y. May 3, 2016). According to the Complaint,…
First American Securities, a broker-dealer headquartered in Orville, Ohio, was censured and fined $150,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to supervise two private placements offerings. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015046056405 (Nov. 7, 2016). According to the AWC, the firm had engaged into an agreement…
Terry J. Bagwell, of Birmingham, Alabama, a stockbroker formerly associated with Pruco Securities, LLC, was named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 22, 2016, in which the customer alleged that Bagwell made misrepresentations to a customer concerning a life insurance policy. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Bagwell has been subject…
Bruce Meyers, of New York, New York, a stockbroker and former president of Meyers Associates, L.P., was named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 7, 2016, in which the customer requested $545,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Meyers effected unsuitable trades in the customer’s account. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that…
David R. Wolk, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with Woodstock Financial Group, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 21, 2016, in which the customer requested $50,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Wolk breached his fiduciary duty to the customer and effected unsuitable…
John Tinnelly, of Hawthorne, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Woodstock Financial Group, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration action on April 15, 2015, in which the customer requested $60,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Tinnelly made misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments, breached his contractual obligations, negligently…
Enver R. Alijaj, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with Legend Securities Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration action on January 13, 2016, in which the customer requested $73,454.00 in damages based upon allegations that Alijaj effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account pertaining to over-the-counter equities,…
Michael J. Smeriglio III, of Greenwich, Connecticut, a stockbroker formerly registered with MetLife Securities Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on June 26, 2015, which settled for $2,500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Smeriglio breached his fiduciary duty to the customer, stole the customer’s funds, and committed fraud….
Daniel I. McCourt, of Aptos, California, a stockbroker formerly associated with Foothill Securities, Inc, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which customers have collectively requested $220,634.00 in damages based upon allegations that McCourt breached his fiduciary duty, negligently managed customers’ accounts, and converted customers’ funds. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals…
Richard Gomez, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with Avenir Financial Group, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 11, 2016, in which the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Gomez breached his fiduciary and contractual duties, and sold fraudulent investments to the…
Claus C. Foerster, of Greenville, South Carolina, a stockbroker formerly registered with Raymond James & Associates, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on March 26, 2015, in which the customer requested $509,100.00 in damages based upon allegations that Foerster committed forgery and misappropriated the customer’s monies. FINRA Public Disclosure…
Edgar A. Thomas, of Lakeland, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Investors Capital Corp., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 28, 2016, in which the customer requested $110,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Thomas effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account pertaining to United Development Funding III,…
Shahbul Molla, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker currently registered with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on March 7, 2016, in which the customer requested $115,414.22 in damages based upon allegations that Molla churned the customer’s investment account, overconcentrated the customer’s assets, made misrepresentations…
Gabriel Block, of Red Bank, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 6, 2015, which settled for $90,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Block breached his fiduciary and contractual duties to the customer, negligently handled the customer’s…
Levert Caldwell, of Red Bank, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with National Securities Corporation, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on September 30, 2016, in which the customer requested $400,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Caldwell breached his fiduciary duty to the customer, churned the customer’s account, and…
Joseph R. Connolly, of Staten Island, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Alexander Capital, L.P., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 8, 2016, in which the customer requested $660,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Connolly effected excessive and unsuitable trades in the customer’s account, and generated…
Rocco G. Guidicipietro, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C., has been subject to three customer initiated arbitration claims involving his misconduct. Particularly, on October 21, 2014, a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim involving Guidicipietro’s conduct was resolved for $60,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that…
Christopher Kazan, of South Norwalk, Connecticut, a former stockbroker with Maxim Group LLC, was subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 24, 2015, which was settled for $85,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Kazan effected unsuitable investment transactions in the customer’s investment account between October of 2012 through August of…
James Blinkhorn, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, a stockbroker formerly associated with Wedbush Securities Inc., was subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on September 11, 2015, which was settled for $83,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Blinkhorn effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s investment account, and failed to communicate with the customer…
Wayne M. Raymond, of New York, New York, a former stockbroker with Andrew Garrett Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 12, 2015, which was settled for $8,600.00 in damages based upon the customer’s allegations that Raymond effected excessive and unauthorized trades in the customer’s investment account. FINRA…
Thomas G. Gresham, of Overland Park, Kansas, a stockbroker formerly associated with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, has been subject to five customer initiated arbitration claims on July 10, 2015, which were settled for a total of $655,000.00 in damages based upon allegations against Gresham including unsuitable investment recommendations, breach of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, and…
Thomas A. Guerriero, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Meyers Associates, L.P., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 24, 2016, in which the customer has requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Guerriero breached his fiduciary duty to the customer, made misleading and…
Barry Link, of Fort Meyers, Florida, a stockbroker currently registered with World Equity Group, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 10, 2016, in which the customer requested $400,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Link breached his fiduciary duty to the customer and committed negligence in handling…
Charles E. White II, of Providence, Rhode Island, a stockbroker currently associated with Barrett & Company, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on November 27, 2015, which was settled for $105,000.00 in damages based upon the customer’s allegations that the firm made misrepresentations to the customer concerning White’s qualifications, position…
Jason B. Vanclef, of Culver City, California, a stockbroker currently registered with VFG Securities, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Vanclef made investment recommendations to customers based upon false and misleading statements. Department of Enforcement v. Jason Bryce Vanclef, No. 2013038283001 (Feb. 9, 2016)….
Randy Merrill, of Waco Texas, a stockbroker currently registered with First Financial Equity Corporation, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on October 19, 2015, which was settled for $22,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Merrill effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s investment account. The customer additionally alleged that First…
Jason Freiwald, of Scottsdale, Arizona, a stockbroker currently registered with Waddell & Reed, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 25, 2016, in which the customer requested $541,150.00 in damages based upon allegations that Freiwald effected unsuitable investment transactions in the customer’s account. According to the customer, Freiwald recommended…
Joseph I. Yanofsky, of Greenwood Village, Colorado, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 27, 2015, in which the customer alleged that Yanofsky effected unauthorized transactions in the customer’s investment account. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Yanofsky has…
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,…
Newport Coast Securities, a broker-dealer headquartered in New York, New York, has been fined $1,000,000.00 and expelled from Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) membership per an Extended Hearing Panel Decision in which Newport Coast Securities was found to have effected trades in customer accounts on a quantitatively unsuitable basis, churned customer accounts, made qualitatively unsuitable…
Charles Ehnot of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker currently registered with LM Kohn & Company, settled a customer initiated investment related arbitration based upon allegations that LM Kohn & Company failed to supervise Ehnot. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Ehnot has been subject to an additional twenty-eight disclosure incidents. Particularly, on December 23, 1992, a customer initiated…
Daniel L. Silverstein, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker currently registered with Primex, or Prime Electronic Execution, Inc. has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 19, 2016, in which the customer has requested $431,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Silverstein breached his fiduciary to the customer, traded in the…
Matthew T. Flynn, of Highland, Michigan, a stockbroker formerly with Fifth Third Securities, is subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim from February 3, 2014, in which the customer requested $275,000.00 in damages based upon allegations against Flynn of making unsuitable recommendations in non-public real estate investment trusts. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that…
A customer initiated an investment related arbitration claim involving the conduct of Pranav Patel, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker formerly associated with Dawson James Securities, Inc. Customers collectively requested $62,855.00 in damages based upon allegations that Patel sold securities in ForceField Energy Inc. to them outside the auspices of his firm. The customers alleged that…
Roger Deal, of Columbus, Nebraska, a stockbroker formerly associated with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., has been subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, in which multiple customers have collectively requested $3,200,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Deal effected unsuitable investment recommendations, made misrepresentations, as well as failed to conduct due diligence in…
Alfonso Papa, of Pennington, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly associated with Merrill Lynch, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of misconduct associated with “personal bank accounts.” Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016048730602…
Michael Babyak Jr., of Mine Hill, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected unauthorized private securities transactions or selling away. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015048141701 (Nov….
Andre LaBarbera, of Dix Hills, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Newport Coast Securities, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity per a FINRA Extended Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that LaBarbera effected unsuitable trades and churned customer accounts. Department of Enforcement v. LaBarbera,…
Rembert D. McNeer III, of Parsippany, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Summit Equities, Inc., was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for one-year from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to properly supervise the activity of a Summit Equities registered representative. Letter…
Joseph A. Likens, of Des Peres, Missouri, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Likens participated in unauthorized private securities transactions or…
Peter J. Neary, of Plymouth, Michigan, a stockbroker formerly with Wunderlich Securities, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that he effected unauthorized discretionary trades in a customer’s account. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044491201 (Nov. 3, 2016). Per the AWC, between July of 2012…
Tracy Turner, of Carlsbad, California, a stockbroker previously registered with Colorado Financial Service Corporation, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Turner effected unauthorized private securities transactions or selling away, and made misrepresentations to customers in connection with such. Department of Enforcement v. Tracy Turner, No. 2015047883501 (Nov. 3, 2016)….
Kestra Financial Advisors, a broker-dealer headquartered in Austin, Texas, was censured and fined $475,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to supervise its variable annuity sales. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014039418401 (Nov. 2, 2016). According to the AWC, the firm failed to supervise recommendations…
Voya Financial Advisors, a broker-dealer headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, was censured and fined $2,750,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to supervise its variable annuity sales. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014039172901 (Nov. 2, 2016). According to the AWC, the firm’s supervisory failures pertained to…
Robert James Batchen, of Skokie, Illinois, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended for five months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected unauthorized discretionary trades and unsuitable transactions in a customer account. Letter of…
Douglas A. Leone, of Dix Hills, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Newport Coast Securities, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity per a FINRA Extended Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that Leone churned customer accounts and effected unsuitable trades. Department of Enforcement…
As a matter of firm policy, we have always recommended that our clients cooperate with securities regulators. Since 2009, the Central Review Group, Office of Fraud Detection and Market Intelligence of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or FINRA “performs preliminary investigations on certain matters and analyzes regulatory filings, investor complaints and other sources of regulatory…
The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, William F. Galvin, issued an administrative complaint against Stephen S. Eubanks for operating a text book Ponzi scheme According to the Complaint, since approximately October 2011, Eubanks presented himself as a successful hedge fund manager of Eubiquity Capital. According to the Complaint, Eubanks, sold approximately $562,000 of his hedge…
Matthew Digregorio, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Aegis Capital Corp., was subject to a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 28, 2016, in which the customer was awarded $50,000.00 in damages based upon allegations against Digregorio of churning the customer’s account, effecting unsuitable transactions, and breaching his fiduciary duty. FINRA…
Janet Ross, of Irvine, California, the chief compliance officer and a registered principal of Accelerated Capital Group, was named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on September 15, 2016, in which the customer requested $400,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Ross failed to supervise the sales of promissory notes to the…
Neil D. Pecker, of Longwood, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Coastal Equities, Inc., was suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after FINRA found that Pecker did not cooperate with FINRA’s request to provide information or documentation. Docket No. 2016050013101 (Sept. 26, 2016). FINRA Public Disclosure reveals…
Joel E. Archer, of Arden Arcade, California, a stockbroker currently registered with Summit Brokerage Services, Inc., has been named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on June 21, 2016, in which the customer requested $200,000.00 in damages based upon allegations against Archer of making unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer, and effecting…
Wilbanks Securities executives Randall Wilbanks and Aaron Wilbanks, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, have been named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on November 24, 2014, in which the customers have collectively requested $1,465,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Randall Wilbanks and Aaron Wilbanks, as control persons, were responsible for improper sales…
Henry C. Prange IV, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, a stockbroker currently registered with KCD Financial, Inc., has been named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on May 24, 2016, in which the customer requested $35,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Prange made investment recommendations that were unsuitable for the customer. Also, Randall…
Robert K. Ratcliff, of Denton, Texas, a stockbroker currently registered with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc., has been named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 8, 2016, in which several customers have collectively requested $75,000.00 in damages based upon allegations against Ratcliff of breaching his fiduciary and contractual obligations, making…
Rick A. Davidson, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with Morgan Stanley, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 22, 2016, in which the customer requested $1,000,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Davidson effected unsuitable investments in the customer’s investment account from January of 2013…
Parks Heard Brown Jr., of Marietta, Georgia, a stockbroker formerly associated with VSR Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on October 14, 2016, based on allegations that Brown effected unsuitable investment transactions in the customer’s account. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Brown has been subject to three…
Glenn McDowell, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with National Securities Corporation, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that McDowell effected unauthorized trades in a customer’s account. Department of Enforcement v. Glenn McDowell, No. 2013035902701 (Oct. 28, 2016). According to the Complaint, from May 24,…
Fernando de la Lama Merino, of Miami, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with EFG Capital International, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that de la Lama failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations of de la Lama’s sales practice violations. Department of Enforcement v….
Richard Sampley, of Atlanta, Georgia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Raymond James & Associates, Inc., was fined $15,000.00 and suspended for ten months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Anthony Paul Lombardi, of Carlsbad, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Capital Financial Services, was fined $7,500.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042740201 (Oct. 24,…
Stuart G. Dickinson, of Highland Park, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with WFG Investments, Inc., has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity per a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers’ Default Decision containing findings that Dickinson made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Department of Enforcement…
Donald Bartelt, of West Palm Beach, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Newport Coast Securities has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity per a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers’ Default Decision containing findings that Bartelt effected unsuitable trades and churned customer accounts. Department of Enforcement…
David M. Levy, of West Palm Beach, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Newport Coast Securities, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity per a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers’ Default Decision containing findings that Levy effected unsuitable trades and churned customer accounts, made recommendations…
Peter B. Cohen, of Simsbury, Connecticut, a stockbroker with Ameritas Investment Corp., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on March 17, 2016, based upon allegations against Cohen of misrepresentation of facts concerning investments, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment. Guiliano Law Group Our practice is limited to…
Titan Securities, of Addison Texas (CRD No. 131392), along with Brad C. Brooks, its hief compliance officer and president, and Richard Wayne Demetriou, a registered representative, were charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Demetrio made misrepresentations to customers and failed to disclose an outside business activity;…
Will R. Freeman, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a stockbroker formerly registered with Wilbanks Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on November 24, 2014, in which the customer requested $1,465,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Freeman effected an unsuitable investment transaction in the customer’s account pertaining to an…
Alex Etter, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Caldwell International Securities, was fined $10,000.00, and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per a FINRA Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Etter effected unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Department of Enforcement v….
Tom Puentes, of Langley, Washington, a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected discretionary trades in customer accounts without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042676301 (Oct. 13, 2016)….
Mark Tauzin of Lafayette, Louisiana, a stockbroker formerly associated with LPL Financial LLC, was fined $20,000.00 and suspended for eight months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he effected unsuitable trades of unit investment trusts in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Houlihan Capital, LLC, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, as well as Andrew Smith, its president, and chief compliance officer, were censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm and Smith made false statements, omissions, and unwarranted statements concerning the benefits and risks of private placement offerings. Letter of…
Gregory R. Bauer, a former stockbroker with Waddell & Reed, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he committed the fraudulent conversion of customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016051508101 (Oct. 13, 2016). According to the AWC,…
David Perez, of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with Aegis Capital Corp., has been named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration action, in which the customer requested $79,548.00 in damages based upon allegations that Perez effected excessive trades in the customer’s account, failed to follow the customer’s instructions, and was ultimately…
Dennis H. Cambal, of Yarmouth, Massachusetts, a stockbroker registered with NBC Securities, Inc., has been named in ten customer initiated investment related arbitration claims, according to FINRA Public Disclosure. Particularly, on March 24, 2015, Cambal settled a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim for $24,999.00 in damages based upon allegations that Cambal effected unsuitable investment…
William K. Bradley, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly with Newbridge Securities Corporation, now associated with Meyers Associates, has been named in a pending customer initiated investment arbitration claim, in which the customer has requested $30,236.00 in damages based upon allegations that Bradley effected unsuitable investments in the customer’s account. FINRA Public Disclosure…
Bishoy G. Mankarios, of Syosset, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with Rothschild Lieberman LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, in which the customer has requested $130,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Mankarios breached his fiduciary duty and contractual obligations with the customer, effected unsuitable investment transactions, churned…
Jan E. Haynes, of La Jolla, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Centaurus Financial, Inc., has been named in twelve customer initiated investment arbitration actions, according to FINRA Public Disclosure. Particularly, on July 17, 2014, Haynes settled a customer initiated investment arbitration action for $22,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Haynes misrepresented facts to…
Matthew A. Bell, of San Antonio Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Securities America, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 8, 2015, in which the customer requested $5,000.00 in damages based upon allegation that Bell breached his fiduciary duty to the customer and made investment recommendations which…
Wade Lawrence, of Dallas, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Southwest Securities, Inc., was charged by The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Complaint alleging that Lawrence defrauded customers and breached his fiduciary obligations by way of Lawrence’s unauthorized trades and misrepresentations. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Wade James Lawrence, Case No….
David Randall Lockey, of Dallas, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with SWS Financial Services, Inc., was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member, ordered to provide restitution of $5,329.75, and disgorged of $46,447.38 per a FINRA Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Lockey…
Jason H. Klabal, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Legend Securities, Inc., disclosed several customer initiated investment related arbitration claims. Specifically, on November 17, 2015, Klabal settled a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim for $50,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Klabal was responsible for the customer’s losses on an…
Michael B. Stern, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Herbert J. Sims & Co. Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on May 18, 2016, in which the customer requested $50,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Stern made unsuitable investment recommendations, breached his fiduciary duty, and…
Bruce A. Slater, of Northville, Michigan, a stockbroker with Sagepoint Financial, Inc. was named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 8, 2016, in which the customers requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Slater misrepresented the nature, fees, and risks associated with investment products that were recommended to the customers….
Leavitt F. Sanders, of West Point, Georgia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Triad Advisors, Inc., was named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 15, 2016, in which the customers requested $3,835,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Sanders effected an investment strategy for customers which was not suitable. From December 15,…
Lisa Lowi, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with RBC Capital Markets, LLC, has been named in a number of customer initiated investment related arbitration claims. Specifically, between September 14, 2016, and September 16, 2016, Lowi was named in three customer initiated investment related arbitration claims, in which customers have requested millions of…
Richard Lee, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Caldwell International Securities Group, was suspended for eighteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Lee made unsuitable investment recommendations. Department of Enforcement v. Richard Lee,…
Tobin J. Senefeld, of Carmel, Indiana, a stockbroker with Pin Financial, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations that Senefeld engaged in a Ponzi scheme. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015045728801 (Oct….
Stephen Giannantonio, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Aegis Capital Corp., was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047037401 (Oct. 4, 2016). According to the…
Donald Shelby Toomer, of Las Vegas, Nevada, a stockbroker formerly associated with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per a FINRA Officer of Hearing Officers Expedited Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that Toomer refused to cooperate with a FINRA…
Jeremy D. Hare, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker formerly registered with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., has been named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on September 14, 2016, in which the customer requested $1,000,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hare charged the customer with excessive commissions, committed negligence, breached his fiduciary…
Daren F. Dorval, of Staten Island, New York, a stockbroker with Legend Securities Inc., has been named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 10, 2015, in which a customer requested $150,000.00 in damages based upon allegations against Dorval of making false statements to the customer concerning investments, failing to abide…
Mark Kaplan, of Woodbury, New York, a stockbroker with Vanderbilt Securities, LLC, was named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 15, 2016, in which the customer has requested $1,130,000.00 in damages per allegations against Kaplan of effecting unsuitable investment transactions for the customer. FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that Kaplan has been…
Jay J. Gruenebaum, of Zanesville, Ohio, a stockbroker formerly registered with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations that Gruenebaum mishandled customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Jeffrey Hamilton Howell, of Chesterfield, Missouri, a stockbroker formerly registered with UBS Financial Services, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made misstatements to a customer concerning account values, attempted to conceal such conduct by altering firm statements, and…
Robert P. Lappin, of Las Vegas, Nevada, a stockbroker formerly associated with New England Securities, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable recommendations to customers regarding unit investment trusts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Carlo W. Corzine, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker with Dawson James Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on June 22, 2016, in which the customer requested $60,000.00 in damages based upon allegations against Corzine of effecting unauthorized trades in the customer’s account, breaching his fiduciary duty, making…
Charles C. Fackrell, of Yadkinville, North Carolina, a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC, has been named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on June 10, 2016, in which the customer alleged that Fackrell made unauthorized and excessive trades in the customer’s account, effected transactions in the customer’s account which were…
Mark A. Lisser, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with Global Arena Capital Corp, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on October 26, 2015, in which the customer has requested $61,458.00 in damages based upon allegations against Lisser of churning the customer’s account, using margin in the…
Michael Donnelly, of Lecanto, Florida, a stockbroker formerly associated with Coastal Equities, Inc., was named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 1, 2016, in which the customer has requested $53,183.00 in damages based upon allegations against Donnelly of misappropriating the customer’s assets that the customer provided him for investment opportunities….
Heather P. Weber, of Tampa, Florida, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has been named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 7, 2016, in which the customer requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Weber made omissions and misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments, and…
Alan Z. Appelbaum, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker with Aegis Capital Corp., has been named in a pending customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 21, 2015, in which the customer has requested $50,000.00 in damages based upon allegations against Appelbaum of failing to adopt an investment strategy that was suitable for customers…
Charles C. Kulch, of Nashua, New Hampshire, a stockbroker with Next Financial Group, recently disclosed that he settled a customer dispute for $120,000.00 on June 22, 2016, based upon allegations that Kulch mismanaged the customer’s securities account. FINRA BrokerCheck reveals that Kulch has been subject to seven other customer disputes. Particularly, on April 21, 2015,…
Trustmont Financial Group, Inc., headquartered in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, was fined $100,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm, inter alia, did not properly supervise unit trusts transactions, and failed to adequately supervise consolidated reports which the firm distributed to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014038914601 (Sept. 23,…
Robert R. Frith II, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, a registered representative with Larson Financial Securities LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that made misleading statements to customers concerning variable life insurance contracts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Justin Amaral, of Boston, Massachusetts, a stockbroker with Morgan Stanley, became subject to a pending customer dispute on February 4, 2016, in which the customer requested $750,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Amaral which included Amaral breaching his fiduciary duty to the customer pertaining to investments. FINRA BrokerCheck reveals that Amaral has been…
Tye C. Williams, of Frisco, Texas, a stockbroker with Next Financial Group, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm any capacity after he consented to findings that he obstructed an investigation into allegations that Williams converted funds from customers, effected transactions in customer accounts which were unauthorized,…
Thomas Fross, of The Villages, Florida, disclosed that a customer received a judgment or award against him for $24,000.00 in damages based upon the allegations that Fross breached his fiduciary duty and contractual obligations to the customer, made omissions and misrepresentations to the customer with regard to investments, and made unsuitable investment recommendations. FINRA BrokerCheck…
Neal Scott, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with with Euro Pacific Capital, Inc., and presently registered with Meyers Asociates, is subject to a pending customer dispute from September 9, 2015, in which the customer requested $150,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Scott breached his fiduciary duty to his customer, and…
Nathan A. Majors, of South Holland, Illinois, a stockbroker with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for four months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in outside business activities which were not permitted by his firm. Letter…
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…
Thomas J. Tedeschi, of Farmingdale, New York, a stockbroker with Salmon Whitney Financial, was suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after FINRA found that Tedeschi failed to abide by a settlement agreement or arbitration award in connection with a customer dispute. In late 2015, the FINRA…
David A. Allen, of Bethel, Vermont, one of the former owners of defunct Avenir Financial Group, on January 28, 2016, was terminated from Avenir Financial Group amid allegations that he had committed funds despite not having authorization, failed to supervise, and took possession of the firm’s funds without authority. At time tme of his termination,…
Wayne Fitzgerald Ford of Farmingdale, New York, a stockbroker formerly with Salomon Whitney Financial, but now out of the business is the subject of a pending customer dispute from March 14, 2016, in which the customer requested $50,000.00 in damages based upong the allegations that Ford breached his contractual and fiduciary obligations and effecting unsuitable transactions…
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…
Yousuf Saljooki, also known as Joe Saljooki, of Farmingdale, New York, a stockbroker with Salomon Whitney Financial, is subject to a pending customer dispute from March 23, 2016, in which several customers requested $300,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Saljooki of effecting investment transactions which were unsuitable, churning the customers’ investment accounts, charging…
Wesley O. Clinton, of Lynbrook, New York, a stockbroker with Network One Financial Securities Inc., is subject to a customer dispute from March 28, 2016, seeking $137,000.00 in damages based upon the allegations that Clinton engaged in unsuitable transactions, effected unauthorized trades in the customer’s account, and that Network One failed to supervise him. FINRA…
James R. Bernthal, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Dawson James Securities, has been named in pending customer initiated investment related claim filed on March 28, 2016 seeking $137,000.00 in damages based upon allegation that Bernthal effected unsuitable transactions in customer accounts and that Dawson James failed to supervise Bernthal. FINRA Public Disclosure…
Lucas Lichtman, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, a stockbroker for Caldwell International Securities Group, was fined $7,500.00 and suspended for nine months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Lichtman engaged in unsuitable investment recommendations. Department of Enforcement v….
The legal adage “bad cases make bad laws” is generally attributed to Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., the same distinguished jurist that brought us “three generations of imbeciles are enough.” Buck v. Bell, 274 U.S. 200 (1927). However, in fact, although the adage traces back to 1837, Holmes, in Northern Securities Co. v. United States…
Marlon O. Cole, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with Legend Securities, Inc., is the subject of a pending customer dispute filed in January against Legend Securities in which the customer has requested damages based upon allegations that Cole of effected unauthorized trades in the customer’s account. FINRA Public Disclosure records reveal that…
Robert J. Murray III, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly ssociated with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated, investment related dispute filed in November 12, 2015, based upon the allegation that Murray made unsuitable investment recommendations. FINRA BrokerCheck reveals that Murray has been subject to eleven customer initaited, investment…
Joseph M. Fedorko Jr., of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Laidlaw & Company, Ltd. is subject to a customer dispute filed on August 8, 2016, in which he was alleged by the customer to be responsible for the customer’s investment losses on bond investments. Prior to this action, Fedorko was also subject to…
Patrick H. Maddren, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker formerly associated with Dawson James Securities, Inc., became subject to a pending customer dispute from March 31, 2016, in which the customer has requested $1,000,000.00 in damages after alleging that Maddren made misrepresentations concerning investments to the customer, did not follow the customer’s instructions, engaged in…
Nathaniel R. Clay, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly with National Securities Corporation, is the subject of a pending customer dispute in which a customer seeks $513,218.40 in damages based upon the allegation that Clay committed negligence, breached his fiduciary obligations, and made misrepresentations to the customer. FINRA BrokerCheck reveals that Clay has been…
Timothy V. Longo, of Woodbury, New York, a stockbroker formerly with Trident Partners Ltd., is the subject of a pending customer dispute in which the customer has requested in damages based upon the allegation that Longo engaged in unauthorized and unsuitable trading in the customer’s account. FINRA BrokerCheck reveals that Longo has been previously subject…
Christopher Cervino, of Edison, New Jersey, a stockbroker with COR Clearing LLC, is subject to a pending customer dispute in which a customer has requested $778,119.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Cervino of perpetrating a fraud involving the sale of valueless securities to customers. FINRA Public Disclosure records reveal that Cervino is also…
Frank T. Dunn Jr., of Bend, Oregon, a stockbroker with Concorde Investment Services, LLC, is the subject of a pending customer dispute in which the customer has requested $452,368.15 in damages based upon with allegations that Dunn breached his fiduciary duty, was negligence, and made misrepresentations in connection with the recommendation and sale of a…
Michael D. Teutonico, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly associated with E.J. Sterling, LLC, is subject to a pending customer dispute from October 29, 2015, in which the customer has requested $206,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Teutonico of engaging in unsuitable investment practices, excessively trading the customer’s account, and over-concentrating…
Marc A. Reda, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly with PHX Financial, Inc. is the subject of a customer intiated, investment related dispute where Reda was alleged to to have breached his fiduciary duty and made unsuitable investment recommendations. FINRA Public Disclosure records reveal that Reda has been previously subject to nine customer…
Laurence M. Torres, of Staten Island, New York, a stockbroker with First Standard Financial Company LLC, is subject to a customer dispute from March 22, 2016, in which the customer requested damages of $99,999.00 based upon the allegation that Torres engaged in unsuitable investment practices, breached his fiduciary duty to the customer, and churned the…
Mark Ketner, of Woodbury, New York, a stockbroker with Maxim Group LLC, was named in a customer intiiated investment related claim where the customer has requested $475,000.00 in damages based upon the allegation that Ketner made excessive and unsuitable trades of investments in the customer’s account. FINRA’s BrokerCheck also reveals that Ketner has been subject…
Salvatore Gioe, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly with PHX Financial, Inc., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint where the customer is requesting $1,400,000.00 in damages based upon the allegations that Gioe engaged in unauthorized trading in the customer’s account. This brings the total number of customer claims based…
Larry C. Wolfe, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker with Herbert J. Sims & Co., Inc., is the subject of an investment related customer initiated arbitration claim before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority where the customer is seeking $1,500,000.00 in damages based upon the allegations that Wolfe engaged in fraudulent omissions and misrepresentations concerning investments,…
Michael McMahon, of Westbury, New York, a stockbroker with National Securities Corporation, is presently subject to eight customer initiated investment related arbitration claims alleging fraud. The customer disputes, which appear to have been lodged between July 20, 2015, and June 20, 2016, all contain allegations that McMahon made negligent misrepresentations to customers, breached his fiduciary to…
Sean P. McCabe, of Westbury, New York, a stockbroker with formerly with National Securities Corporation, is the subject of a customer customer initiated investment related claim in which the customer seeks $550,000.00 in damages based upon the allegations that McCabe committed negligence, breached his fiduciary duty to the customer, and made misrepresentations concerning investments. In…
Stephen H. Orr, of Houston, Texas, a stockbroker with H. Beck, Inc., has been named in a customer dispute where the customer is seeking $5,000,000.00 in damages based upon the allegations that Orr made unsuitable investment recommendations. FINRA’s BrokerCheck reveals that Orr has been previously subject to five other disclosure incidents, three of which involve…
Rafael Santiago, of Edison, New Jersey, a stockbroker with COR Clearing, LLC, has been named in a customer dispute where the customer has requested $778,119.00 in damages based upon the allegations that Santiago made recommendations to purchase securities that were valueless and engaged in a scheme to defraud the investor. According to FINRA BrokerCheck, Santiago…
Mark Trewitt, of Plano, Texas, a stockbroker with VFG Securities, Inc., has been named in a customer initated investment related dispute. On June 29, 2016, a customer filed an arbitration claim before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority requesting $130,000.00 in damages and alleging that Trewitt made misrepresentations concerning the safety of an investment program and…
Samuel D. Wyman, Jr., of Westhampton Beach, New York, a stockbroker with Gilford Securities Incorporated, is subject to a pending customer dispute from August 14, 2015, in which the customer requested $175,000.00 in damages after alleging that Wyman made unsuitable investment recommendations. FINRA Public Disclosure records reveal that Wyman has been previously subject to customer…
Bernard T. Weber, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, a stockbroker with Feltl & Company, is subject to a pending customer dispute from November 24, 2015, in which the customer has requested $238,000.00 in damages after alleging that Weber failed to follow the customer’s investment instructions, made misrepresentations to the customer concerning investments, and churned the customer’s investment…
Shawn M. McIntyre, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a stockbroker for Feltl & Company, has settled a customer dispute for $300,000.00 in damages after the customer alleged that McIntyre made misrepresentations to the customer, engaged in excessive trading, and failed to properly disclose to the customer the risks associated with investing in low priced penny stocks. On…
Richard J. Reynolds, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a stockbroker with Northland Securities, is currently subject to a pending customer dispute from August 22, 2014, in which the customer has requested $680,935.80 in damages in connection with allegations against Reynolds of committing securities fraud, breach of contract, and breach of his fiduciary duty to the customer pertaining…
Kirk J. Gill, of Tucson, Arizona, a stockbroker with Morgan Stanley, is subject to several pending customer disputes. Particularly, on August 3, 2016, a customer lodged a pending dispute against Gill, in which the customer requested $500,000.00 in damages after alleging that Gill made recommendations to the customer that were unsuitable. FINRA’s BrokerCheck reveals that…
Paul E. Smyth, of Fairfield, Connecticut, a registered representative with MML Investors Services, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of misappropriating a customer’s insurance payments. According to the AWC, MML Investors Services…
John P. Mosley, of Westbrook, Maine, a stockbroker with NYLife Securities LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after he consented to findings that he converted customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016051400601 (Sept. 30, 2016). According to the AWC, while Mosley…
Robert M. Kuhn, of Plano, Texas, a stockbroker with UBS Financial Services Inc., is subject to a arbitration claim by a customer requesting $100,000.00 in damages because allegedly Kuhn misrepresented an annuity that the customer purchased, and made an unsuitable investment recommendations. FINRA Public Disclosure records show that on October 20, 2015, UBS Financial Services…
Things are headed south for Southlake, Texas, Southwest Securities stockbroker Richard M. Ohlhaber, after he and his firm have been named in another customer dispute, this one seeking 300,000.00 in damages in for securities fraud. This is not the first time things have gone south for Ohlhaber. FINRA’s BrokerCheck reveals that Ohlhaber is also subject…
Terry W. Chilton, of Beaumont, Texas, a stockbroker with IMS Securities, Inc., is subject to a customer dispute from March 7, 2016, in which a customer alleged that Chilton made misrepresentations concerning investments, and engaged in the unsuitable recommendations. FINRA Public Disclosure records also reveal that on September 16, 2013, a customer was awarded $1,172,250.00…
Harris W. Kirk, of Richardson, Texas, a stockbroker Reef Securities, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from February 11, 2016, in which a customer has requested $250,000.00 in damages after alleging that Kirk failed to conduct due diligence concerning investments, failed to disclose investment risks to the customer, committed breach of contract, and…
Investors Capital Corporation, headquartered in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, was censured and fined $250,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm engaged in the unsuitable recommendations of unit investment trusts and steepeners to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2010022046101 (Oct. 3, 2016). According to the AWC, between June of…
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…
Reverse Convertible Notes are highly complex financial products that are structured to pay a higher interest rate than conventional debt of the same issuer because of the inclusion of the embedded derivative that provides essentially a synthetic put on the underlying stock. Investors get the higher rate of return which is capped, if the underlying…
Almost invariably, investors that fall prey to cold-calling boiler-room operations, find themselves on what best can be described as a “Suckers List.” The pitches are generally all the same: we are a Wall Street firm that specializes in certain investment research, we are formerly an “institutional” firm, but we are now offering our services to…
Felix A. Bartolomei, of Orlando, Florida, is subject to a pending customer dispute from June 16, 2016, in which the customer requested $50,000.00 in damages after alleging securities fraud, overconcentration of the customer’s investment account, and unsuitability of investments in connection with the customer’s purchase of closed-end funds and Puerto Rico bonds. FINRA Public Disclosure…
Much to his chagrin, Larry S. Werbel, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, a former stockbroker for Concorde Investment Services, LLC, whose career was wrecked when he was forever barred by FINRA earlier this year, is now subject to a pending customer dispute from August 3, 2016, in which the customer requested $778,119.36 in damages after alleging…
Steven L. Stahler, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is subject to a pending customer dispute from July 20, 2015, in which the customer requested $793,101.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Stahler of failing to diversify the customer’s investments that had been recommended by Stahler to the customer. According to FINRA Public Disclosure, Stahler has…
David L. Hannett Sr., of Vienna, Virginia, a stockbroker with Invest Financial Corporation, is subject to a pending customer dispute from March 10, 2015, in which the customer has requested $5,000,000.00 after alleging that Hannett mishandled the customer’s investment account assets. Public Disclosure records also reveal that on March 9, 2012, Hannett settled a customer…
Benjamin G. Aibel, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Wunderlich Securities, Inc., is currently subject to a pending customer dispute from December 18, 2015, in which the customer has requested $5,000.00 amid allegations against Aibel for recommending unsuitable investments, and causing the customer to suffer from poor investment performance. Aibel is also subject…
Ralph E. Derose, of Beachwood, Ohio, a stockbroker with Wunderlich Securities, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from March 15, 2016, in which the customer has requested $3,000,000.00 in damages amid allegations against Derose of failing to follow the customer’s investment instructions and poor investment performance. Public Disclosure records reveal that in addition…
Murray B. Roark, of Dallas, Texas, a stockbroker with Wunderlich Securities, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from February 17, 2016, in which the customer requested $303,950.00 in damages after alleging that Roark failed to diversify the customer’s assets, over-concentrated the customer’s positions, and engaged in misrepresentation regarding investments. Public Disclosure Records show…
Michael J. Hebner, a stockbroker with IFS Securities, is subject to a pending customer dispute from May 3, 2014, in which customers have requested $500,000.00 in damages after alleging that Hebner made unsuitable investment recommendations, and engaged in unauthorized transactions in the customers’ accounts. Hebner has been the subject of five customer initiated investment related…
Bassam S. Salem, of Birmingham, Michigan, a stockbroker with Wunderlich Securities, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from May 3, 2016, in which the customer has requested $281,000.00 in damages amid allegations against Salem of engaging in unauthorized trading, failing to supervise, breach of fiduciary duty, and making unsuitable investment recommendations in several…
Charles Geraci, of The Woodlands, Texas, a stockbroker for VSR Financial Services, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from July 25, 2016, in which the customer has requested $500,000.00 in damages after alleging that Geraci made unsuitable investment recommendations in alternative investments and private placement investments. According to FINRA Public Disclosure Records, Geraci…
Michael A. Castillero, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Alexander Capital, L.P., is subject to a pending customer dispute from July 19, 2016, in which the customer has requested $190,000.00 in damages after alleging that Castillero made negligent misrepresentations, effected unauthorized trades in the customer’s account, and engaged in unsuitable investment recommendations. On…
Joseph L. Cotter, of Wall, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly with Next Financial Group, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from June 22, 2016, in which a customer has requested $625,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Cotter of mismanaging the customer’s brokerage assets. Public Disclosure records also reveal that on March…
Barry W. Lemay, a stockbroker with Concorde Investment Services, LLC, is currently subject to a pending customer dispute from July 29, 2016, in which a customer has requested $2,822,797.02 in damages in connection with allegations against Lemay of breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and unsuitable recommendations stemming from tenancy in common investments. FINRA Public Disclosure…
Gary L. Glover, of John’s Creek, Georgia, a stockbroker with Sterne Agee Financial Services, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from August 12, 2015, in which a customer has requested $800,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Glover of making unsuitable tenancy in common or TIC investment recommendations. Public Disclosure records reveal…
Rushton L. Ardrey III, of Boston Massachusetts, a stockbroker with Newport Coast Securities, Inc., is currently subject to pending customer disputes. Particularly, on February 9, 2016, Ardrey became subject to a pending customer dispute in which he was alleged to have engaged in unauthorized and unsuitable trading. According to FINRA Public Disclosure Records, Ardrey has…
James Paul Kolf, of Middleton, Wisconsin, a stockbroker with New England Securities, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made fraudulent misrepresentations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016050940701 (Sept. 6, 2016). According to the AWC, from October…
Richard Graham, of Lafayette, Indiana, a stockbroker registered with The Huntington Investment Company, was fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015046281401 (Sept. 29, 2016). According to…
Michael Scott Lincoln, of San Diego, California, a stockbroker with LPL Financial, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to supervise unauthorized outside business activities and unauthorized loans, and falsified statements to his firm. Letter of Acceptance,…
Steven Mark Newman, of Houston, Texas, a stockbroker with E*Trade Securities LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity per a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Newman engaged in unauthorized outside business activities. Department of…
Robert Estevez, of Greenwich, Connecticut, a stockbroker with Investors Capital Corporation, was fined $20,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014040158902 (Sept. 16, 2016). According to…
Glen J. Rauch, of Syosset, New York, a stockbroker with Avenir Financial Group, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Rauch engaged in significant sales practice violations, including the effecting of unauthorized and unsuitable transactions in customer accounts. Department of Enforcement v. Glen Rauch, No….
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,…
Peter F. Butler, of Cambridge, Ohio, a stockbroker and principal for Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., conducting business under the same Partners Financial Group, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that Butler failed to supervise a registered representative who converted…
Mark A. Stanczyk, of Manlius, New York, a stockbroker fomerly associated with Pinnacle Investments, is subject to a pending customer dispute from February 1, 2016, in which the customer has requested $490,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Stanczyk of making unsuitable investment recommendations and trades in the customer’s account. Disclosure records reveal that…
Aaron P. Brodt, of Scottsdale, Arizona, a stockbroker with Accelerated Capital Group, is currently subject to two pending customer disputes. Particularly, on April 26, 2016, a customer lodged a dispute against Brodt, in which the customer requested damages of $200,000.00 in connection with allegations against Brodt of making unsuitable investment recommendations to the customers for…
Jeffrey A. Smith, of Irvine, California, a stockbroker with Accelerated Capital Group, is subject to a customer dispute from May 25, 2016, in which four customers have requested $750,000.00 in connection with allegations against Smith for failure to supervise, negligence, breach of contract, excessively trading in customer accounts, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud. Public…
Stuart Horowitz, of Coral Springs, Florida, a stockbroker with Securities America, Inc., was fined $100,000.00 and suspended for one year from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2013036692001 (Feb….
David M. Levy, of West Palm Beach, Florida, a stockbroker with Newport Coast Securities, is currently subject to a pending customer dispute. Particularly, on November 3, 2014, a customer requested $60,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Levy of churning the customer’s investment account. FINRA’s BrokerCheck reveals that Levy has been subject to thirteen…
Donald A. Bartelt, of Cave Creek, Arizona, is currently subject to a pending customer dispute from May 28, 2013, in which the customer requested $113,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Bartelt of engaging in misconduct over several years in the customer’s investment account. Public Disclosure records reveal that Bartelt has previously settled a…
Chad E. Thompson, of Atlanta, Georgia, a stockbroker with IFS Securities, is currently subject to a pending customer dispute from October 21, 2015, in which a customer has requested $150,000.00 in damages after alleging that Thompson made unsuitable recommendations, and churned the customers’ investment account. Public Disclosure records ‘ reveal that Thompson was previously subject to…
Michael Lavolpe, of New York, New York, a stockbroker for Meyers Associates, L.P., is currently subject to four pending customer disputes. Particularly, on April 7, 2016, a customer lodged a dispute against Lavolpe, requesting $110,480.00 in damages in connection with allegations of unsuitability. On April 7, 2016, Lavolpe became subject to another customer dispute, in…
Barry Hartman, of Missoula, Montana, a stockbroker registered with FSC Securities Corporation, became subject to a pending customer dispute on October 19, 2015, in which a customer requested $45,000.00 in damages after alleging that Hartman engaged in unauthorized transactions in the customer’s account and selected investments which were not suitable. On the same day, Hartman…
Thomas J. Dailey, of Youngstown, Ohio, a stockbroker with Sterne Agee Financial Services, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from December 7, 2015, in which a customer requested $500,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Dailey of making misrepresentations to customers regarding Florida Capital Real Estate Partnerships. The customers alleged to have…
Gregory Dean, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker with Worden Capital Management LLC, is currently subject to four pending customer disputes. Particularly, on June 20, 2016, Dean became subject to a pending customer dispute in which the customer has requested $138,032.66 amid allegations against Dean of fraud, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of…
Donald J. Fowler, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker with Worden Capital Management LLC, is currently subject to two pending customer disputes. Particularly, on June 6, 2016, a customer requested $812,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations against Fowler of securities fraud in violation of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Section 10(b) and 20(a),…
Michael A. Valdini, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker with Worden Capital Management LLC, is subject to a pending customer dispute from April 2, 2015, in which the customer requested damages of $125,956.33 in connection with allegations against Valdini of negligent supervision, charging of excessive commissions, overconcentration of the customer’s assets, unsuitability, unauthorized trading…
Joseph Clemente, of Syosset, New York, a stockbroker with J.D. Nicholas & Associates, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from October 24, 2014, in which a customer is requesting $57,130.00 in connection with allegations against Clemente of negligence, churning of the customer’s account, overconcentration of investments, negligence, unsuitability, and failure to supervise. Public…
Nick Son, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Aegis Capital Corp., was named in a pending customer dispute on April 19, 2016. Specifically, the customer requested $65,984.66 in damages after alleging that Son utilized high pressure sales tactics with the customer, and made misrepresentations and other misleading statements to the customer in connection…
Paul Falcon, of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker with Aegis Capital Corp., was named in a customer dispute on April 25, 2016. Particularly, the customer requested $190,672.12 in damages after alleging that Falcon made investment recommendations that were unsuitable for the customer, and alleged that the customer’s investment performance was poor. Public Disclosure records reveal…
Steven R. Luftschein, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker with Aegis Capital Corp., is currently subject to a pending customer dispute from June 3, 2016, in which a customer has requested $2,000,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations that Luftschein made investment recommendations that were unsuitable to customers, and mishandled the customers’ accounts. Disclosure records…
Bruce Stark, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker with Aegis Capital Corp., is currently subject to two pending customer disputes. Particularly, on August 21, 2015, a customer requested $534,150.00 in damages after alleging that Stark churned and excessively traded in the customer’s account, engaged in unauthorized trades, and made unsuitable investment recommendations. According to FINRA…
James B. Schwartz, of Melville, New York, a registered representative with Aegis Capital Corp., is currently subject to a pending customer dispute from June 3, 2016, in which several customers requested $2,000,000.00 in damages in connection with allegations that Schwartz made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers, and mishandled customers’ accounts. According to FINRA Public Disclosure…
Barbara L. Bottoms, of Fairbanks, Arkansas, a stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, was fined $17,500.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that she engaged in the unauthorized trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Gerard F. Cipolla, of Rego Park, New York, a registered representative with PFS Investments Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of Cipolla’s unsuitable investment recommendations. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Andrew B. Kramer, of Brooklyn, New York, a stockbroker registered with Capital Securities Management, Inc., is subject to two pending customer disputes. Particularly, on November 16, 2015, customers lodged a complaint against Kramer, in which $27,000.00 in damages were requested in connection with allegations that Kramer’s lack of attentiveness to the customers’ accounts resulted in…
Joe M. Pazmino, of New York, New York, a stockbroker for Aegis Capital Corp., is subject to two pending customer disputes. Particularly, on February 17, 2016, customers lodged a complaint against Pazmino, requesting $500,000.00 in damages per allegations that Pazmino engaged in excessive trading in the customers’ accounts, and made unsuitable investment recommendations. Public Disclosure…
Michael P. Dalessandro, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, a stockbroker with The Investment Center, Inc., became subject to a pending customer dispute on February 3, 2016, in which several customers alleged that Dalessandro made unsuitable recommendations to the customers. Apparently, the recommendations were made in 2013 and 2015, and involved investments in gas and oil,…
Dean T. Nicholson, of Summerfield, Florida, recently settled a customer dispute on June 27, 2016, in which the customer received $18,000.00 in damages after alleging that Nicholson engaged in the sale of unsuitable investments. On March 1, 2016, Nicholson was named in a customer dispute in which the customers requested $35,000.00 in damages after alleging…
Rick J. Sande, of Melville, New York, is subject to a pending customer dispute from March 8, 2016, in which the customer requested $80,000.00 in damages after alleging that Sande engaged in unsuitable trading and churning in the customer’s account, and committed a breach of fiduciary duty. According to Public Disclosure Records, Sande was also…
Shadi T. Barakat, of New York, New York, is subject to a pending customer dispute from October 19, 2015, in which a customer has requested $195,723.67 in damages after alleging that Barakat engaged in misrepresentations, and committed breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and unauthorized and unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account. Barakat previously associated with…
Jonathan E. Rago, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker with Craig Scott Capital, LLC, is subject to a pending customer dispute from November 6, 2015, in which a customer requested $29,806.00 after alleging churning, and unsuitable investment recommendations. Public Disclosure records also reveal that on May 22, 2015, Rago was fined $7,500.00, and had his…
John R. Stevens, of Grand Junction, Colorado, is subject to several customer disputes. On February 18, 2016, Stevens became subject to a pending customer dispute, in which the customer requested $300,000.00 after alleging that Stevens had misrepresented aspects of a variable annuity, causing the customer to bear investment losses. On February 5, 2016, another customer…
Larry D. Freie, of Lincoln, Nebraska, a stockbroker with Ameritas Investment Corporation, is subject to a pending customer dispute from March 9, 2015, in which a customer alleged that Freie made unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer. This is not the first time that Freie has been subject to a customer dispute regarding unsuitable recommendations….
George P. Koulouris, of Manilus, New York, a stockbroker registered with KCD Financial, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from August 10, 2015, in which a customer alleged that purchases made via Manilus in private placement investments were not suitable for the customer. Public disclosure records also reveal that Koulouris has been subject…
Marcello Lattuca, of Massapequa, New York, a stockbroker with NBC Securities, Inc., is subject to a pending customer dispute from March 15, 2016, in which the customer requested $109,078.00 after alleging that Lattuca did not fully disclose investment risks to the customer. The customer further alleged that given the customer’s risk objectives and investment objectives,…
Thomas J. Briguccia, Jr., of Ronkonkoma, New York, a stockbroker with K.C. Ward Financial, is subject to a pending customer dispute from May 13, 2016, in which a customer requested $100,000.00 in damages in connection with trading losses attributable to Briguccia’s misconduct. According to FINRA’s BrokerCheck, Briguccia has been subject to thirteen other disclosure incidents,…
Joseph F. Comiskey, Jr., of Ronkonkoma, New York, a stockbroker with K.C. Ward Financial, became subject to a pending customer dispute on July 20, 2016, in which the customer requested $450,000.00 in damages after alleging that Comiskey engaged in the speculative trading in the customer’s account. Public disclosure records also reveal that Joseph Comiskey, Jr….
Russel Leo Sadler, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, a stockbroker with LPL Financial, LLC, was fined $25,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity for twelve months after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014039725301 (Sept….
Francine A. Lanaia, of Hauppauge, New York, a stockbroker with Meyers Associates, L.P., and formerly Alexander Capital, L.P., was named in regulatory action by The State of Montana’s Securities Division on August 2, 2016, in which Lanaia was alleged to have failed to supervise two registered representatives, Joseph Connelly and William Gennity. The two individuals,…
William C. Gennity, from Staten Island, New York, a stockbroker with First Standard Financial Company LLC, and previously registered with Alexander Capital, L.P., was named in regulatory action from Montana’s Securities Division, in which Gennity was alleged to have engaged in unauthorized and excessive trading, unsuitable investment recommendations, charging of excess fees, unauthorized use of…
Anthony Mastroianni, Jr., of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Meyers Associates, L.P., was named in a pending customer dispute, in which the customer has requested $2,000,000.00 in damages amid allegations against Mastroianni of breach of fiduciary duty, unsuitable investment recommendations, breach of contract, and churning of the customer’s account. Mastroianni is also subject…
Bryon E. Martinsen, of Northport, New York, a stockbroker with Centaurus Financial, Inc., was named in a customer dispute in which a customer is requesting $1,787,000.00 in damages after alleging that Martinsen sold the customer products that were unsuitable and had not been vetted with proper due diligence. According to FINRA BrokerCheck, Martinsen has also…
Christian J. Stoltz, of Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker with Centaurus Financial, Inc., was named in a pending customer dispute on August 8, 2016, in which a customer has requested $32,000.00 in damages after alleging Stoltz made unsuitable recommendations concerning annuities and the customer’s managed investment account. Public Disclosure records reveal that Stoltz has also…
Joseph M. Thurnherr, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Meyers Associates, L.P., was named in a pending customer dispute on June 23, 2016, in which the customer has requested $93,624.00 in damages after alleging that Thurnherr made unsuitable investment recommendations and over-concentrated the customer’s investment accounts from February through November of 2015. Public…
Matthew A. Siliato, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Meyers Associates, L.P., was named in a pending customer dispute on June 23, 2016, in which the customer requested $250,627.60 in damages amid allegations against Siliato of making unsuitable investment recommendations. Siliato has also been named in another pending customer dispute on December 28,…
Public disclosure records via FINRA’s BrokerCheck reveal that on July 26, 2016, Jeffrey E. Sigman, of Englewood, Colorado, was terminated by Neidiger, Tucker, Bruner, Inc. Apparently, the firm permitted Sigman to resign amid allegations of violating the firm’s policies regarding outside business activities. The firm indicated that it conducted an internal review into Sigman after…
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., headquartered in New York, New York, was fined $358,000,000.00, and issued a Cease and Desist Order by The Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with findings that Merrill Lynch failed to properly safeguard the clients’ assets from creditor claims, and improperly utilized investors’ funds in order to rake…
Jerry McCutchen, of Mobile, Alabama, a stockbroker for Berthel, Fisher & Company Services, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations that McCutchen made unsuitable alternative investment recommendations. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
TradeSpot Markets, Inc., headquartered in Davie, Florida, and Mark B. Beloyan (president, chief operating officer, and chief compliance officer) were censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement per an Order Accepting Offering of Settlement containing findings that the firm and Beloyan failed to effect compliant penny stock transactions, and failured to adequately…
John Batista Bocchino and Rafael Barela Jacinto, of New York, New York, stockbrokers with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, were charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that the individuals engaged in material misrepresentations and omissions concerning bond investments, unauthorized activity in connection with such, and falsified firm records….
Robert M. Lyons, of Augusta, Georgia, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014040668202 (Sept. 1, 2016). According to the AWC, Lyons made recommendations and subsequently…
Caldwell International Securities Group, headquartered in Fischer, Texas, along with the firm’s supervisory staff members (Greg Caldwell, Lennie Freiman, and Paul Jacobs) were censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) per an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that the firm and individuals committed, inter alia, unsuitable investment strategy recommendations, unsuitable exchange…
Conversion is a fancy name for stealing. James Michael Griegel, of Chicago, Illinois, a registered principal with Melvin Securities, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he converted pension funds for his own personal use. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
William Fredrick Kerschbaumer, Jr., of Carrollton, Ohio, was fined $12,500.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he forged his firm customer’s signatures and made misrepresentations to customers and his firm concerning annuity terms. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
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…
Leigh Garber, of New Woodstock, New York, president of Ridgeway & Conger, Inc., was fined $15,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any principal capacity per an Office of Hearing Officers’ Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that he failed to supervise mark-ups and unregistered securities sales….
Boenning & Scattergood, Inc., headquartered in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, was fined $100,000.00 and censured for, inter alia, failing to adequately supervise private securities transactions as well as consolidates reports. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014038906401 (Aug. 24, 2016). According to the AWC, between April 25, 2011, and March 13, 2014, a registered representative…
Robert S. Gleason, Sr., of Owensboro, Kentucky, a stockbroker with Ross, Sinclaire & Associates, LLC, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of his unauthorized trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Daniel John Meyers, of New Haven, Connecticut, a stockbroker with Morgan Stanley, was fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015048045501 (Aug. 19, 2016)….
Craig D. Dima, of Ronkonkoma, New York, a stockbroker registered with K.C. Ward Financial, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Dima made unauthorized trades in a customer’s account and fraudulent representations in connection with such. Department of Enforcement v. Craig David Dima, No. 2015046440701 (Aug. 18, 2016). According…
Devindra Sukhram, of McDonough, Georgia, a stockbroker with Cape Securities, was suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the unauthorized discretionary trading of customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014041613501 (Aug. 17, 2016). According to the…
Adam Denny Estes, of Bloomington, Indiana, a stockbroker with J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended for fifteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in private securities transactions and outside business activities, and made misstatements to…
Robert E. Heath, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, a registered representative with AXA Advisors, LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the unauthorized borrowing of customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Joey Cless Broussard, of Allen, Texas, a registered representative with Source Capital Group, Inc., was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity per a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers Default Decision containing findings that Broussard forged and falsified a document in connection with a customer’s investment. Department…
Timothy N. Payne, of New Woodstock, New York, a stockbroker with Adirondack Trading Group LLC, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed an investigation into allegations of Payne’s unsuitable investment recommendations. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014040289802 (Sept….
Leonard V. Fox, Jr., of Marlton, New Jersey, a stockbroker with FSC Securities Corporation, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations of his misappropriation of customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Neither a borrower nor a lender be. Ciro Gilbert Cavazos, of Chico, California, a stockbroker with Edward Jones, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the unauthorized borrowing of customer funds. Letter of…
Hal Irving Marcus, of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, a stockbroker with Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the unauthorized discretionary trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Michael J. Barranco, of Montgomery, Alabama, a stockbroker with LPL Financial, LLC, was fined $20,000.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the unauthorized participation of private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Paul George Liebzeit, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker with LPL Financial, LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014043011201 (Aug 11, 2016). According to…
Sigma Financial Corporation, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was censured and fined $100,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that it overcharged customers concerning their purchases of unit investment trusts, and for the firm’s failure to implement adequate supervisory procedures pertaining to sales charge discounts to ensure customers received them. Letter…
Samuel Ryan McClain, of Boston, Massachusetts, a stockbroker with Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, was named in a FINRA Department of Enforcement Complaint alleging that McClain failed to comply with a FINRA investigation into allegations of McClain’s misconduct which consisted, inter alia, of outside business activities. Department of Enforcement v. Samuel Ryan McClain, No. 20150455320-02…
If you steal $2.3 million, it is probably best not to talk about it. Robert P. DePalo, of Greenwich, Connecticut, a stockbroker with Arjent, LLC, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity in connection with a FINRA Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that DePalo obstructed a FINRA…
Thomas J. Brenner, Jr., of Orrville, Ohio, a stockbroker with First American Securities, Inc., was fined $30,000.00 and suspended for sixteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made misrepresentations and unsuitable recommendations with regard to private placement transactions. Letter of…
Steven Paul Colacurcio, of Boynton Beach, Florida, a stockbroker with Dawson James Securities, Inc., was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the unauthorized discretionary trading of customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014043592102…
Jonathan J. Casiano, of Arlington, Texas, a stockbroker with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he misappropriated funds from firm customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016050795201 (Aug 18, 2016). According to the AWC,…
Henry Liaw, of Clayton, Missouri, a stockbroker with AXA Advisors, LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042365201 (Aug 8, 2016). According to…
Brian James Egan, of Laguna Niguel, California, a stockbroker with Independent Financial Group, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that he failed to disclose outside trading accounts, made misrepresentations to his firm, and obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of his misconduct. Letter…
Landon L. Williams, of Jacksonville, Florida, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Williams had made misrepresentations to firm customers concerning securities transactions. Department of Enforcement v. Williams, No. 2014042524301 (Aug 4, 2016). According to the Complaint, from March…
KCD Financial, headquartered in De Pere, Wisconsin, was censured and fined $73,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) per a National Adjudicatory Council Decision stating that the firm engaged in the sales of unregistered securities and failed to supervise staff who sold such unregistered securities. Department of Enforcement v. KCD Financial, Inc., No. 2011025851501 (Aug…
Steven M. Wisniewski, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all capacities after consenting to findings that he forged customer signatures on accounts documents. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044110101 (July 22, 2016). According…
ProEquities, Inc., headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, was censured and fined $200,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to supervise non-traditional exchange-traded funds and variable annuities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014039418801 (Aug 8, 2016). According to the AWC, from January of 2008 through April of…
Legend Securities Stockbroker Charged With Fraud. Hank M. Werner, of New York, New York, a stockbroker associated with Liberty Partners Financial Services, LLC, and later Legend Securities, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Werner engaged in securities fraud, made unsuitable investment recommendations, and engaged in excessive amounts…
Robert Tuffy, of East Brunswick, New Jersey, a stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the unauthorized trading in a customer account. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Christopher Lawrence Wacker, of Brookfield, Wisconsin, a stockbroker with Park Avenue Securities was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for two months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had made misrepresentations concerning trading authority in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Daniel Terry Fischer, of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with Four Points Capital Partners LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the unauthorized discretionary trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Seth David Lampman, of Osceola, Iowa, a stockbroker for Edward Jones, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042505601 (July 13, 2016). According…
James Earl Mahan, of Braunfels, Texas, a stockbroker with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of his unauthorized outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047115101 (July 25,…
Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc., headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, was censured and fined $950,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had not identified and prevented misappropriation from a firm customer, and failed to properly implement its supervisory procedures to detect theft by former LPLFinancial broke, Travis A. Wetzel. Letter…
Paul S. Plemenos of Sparta, New Jersey, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, was fined $7,500.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
H.D. Vest Investment Securities, Inc., headquartered in Irving, Texas, was censured and fined $100,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to adequately supervise variable annuity transactions, and failed to effectively utilize surveillance procedures to detect rates of annuity exchanges. According to the AWC, from May of 2010…
Lawrence Randolph Roberson, of Detroit, Michigan, a stockbroker with Capital City Securities, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions concerning the sale of a bond investment to a customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Summit Brokerage Services, Inc., headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, was censured and fined $75,000.00 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that it overcharged customers regarding unit investment trust purchases, and failed to implement adequate supervisory procedures to prevent the overcharging of customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014041840301…
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…
David O. Braeger, of Irvine California, a stockbroker with Newport Coast Securities, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Braeger converted customer funds and made misrepresentations concerning investments. Department of Enforcement v. David O. Braeger, No. 2015045456401 (July 20, 2016). According to the Complaint, customers…
Another bucketshop broker bites the dust. John Buonocore, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Meyers Associates, L.P., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he did not cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations of Buonocore’s trading abnormalities…
Gary Delfino, of Bedminster, New Jersey, a stockbroker with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047790401 (July…
Dustin Cain Walsh, of Saint Louis, Missouri, a stockbroker with Scottrade, Inc., was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of Walsh’s unauthorized outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Richard William Lunn Martin, of Penang, Malaysia, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Martin made unsuitable recommendations to customers, and false and misleading statements to customers regarding investments. Department of Enforcement v. Richard William Lunn Martin, No. 2013035817701 (June 27, 2016). According to the Complaint, from…
Robert G. Simons, of Brooklyn, Connecticut, a stockbroker with Center Street Securities, Inc., was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014041298501 (June 1, 2016)….
Craig Scott Capital, LLC, headquartered in Uniondale, New York, along with owners Craig Scott Taddonio and Brent Morgan Porges, were charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that the firm and its owners had engaged in excessive and unsuitable trading, fraudulent churning, and other supervisory failures. Department of…
David J. Sullivan of Boston, Massachusetts, a registered representative with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities for fifteen days after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent No….
The Guiliano Law Group, P.C. is investigating claims against securities broker-dealers in connection with the sale and recommendation of Business Development Companies or BDCs. Citing the “high commissions and fees,” the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or FINRA claims that “many of the firms that distributed nontraded REITs are now turning to nontraded BDCs,” BDCs arre frought…
Robert W. Baird, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as Rolf Parker Griffith III, a stockbroker and supervisor with Robert W. Baird, were sanctioned by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm and Griffith failed to properly supervise a registered representative’s misuse of customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Brokers International Financial Services, LLC, headquartered in Panora, Iowa, was censured and fined $45,000.00 after consenting to findings that the firm failed to fully inform investors regarding variable annuities prior to investment, and authorized solicitation of purchases of annuities prior to ensuring suitability. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2013038934401 (July 26, 2016). According…
Alexander P. Brown, III, of Baltimore, Maryland, a stockbroker with Chaplin Davis, was fined $2,500.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047883501 (July 22, 2016)….
J. Randall Gladden of El Cajon, California, a stockbroker with Securities Equity Group, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended for twelve 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 Gladden had engaged in unauthorized private securities…
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…
William Norris Jordan Jr., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker with Kildare Capital, Inc., was named in a Complaint by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement alleging that Jordan partook in a deceptive and fraudulent scheme concerning round trips of municipal securities, charged customers excessive prices, and provided false information to his firm as…
Winston Wade Turner of Sarasota, Florida, a registered representative with Pruco Securities, LLC, and MetLife Securities, Inc., was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers Default Decision containing findings that Turner committed fraud pertaining to customers’ variable annuity purchases, partook in unauthorized…
James McCormick, Jr., of Harrisonburg, Virginia, a stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations stemming from customer complaints against McCormick. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
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…
FCG Advisors LLC, headquartered in Chatham, New Jersey, was censured and fined $50,000.00 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm sold securities that were not registered. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2012030676501 (June 28, 2016). According to the AWC, from August 2011 through October 2011, the…
Securities America, Inc., headquartered in Lavista, Nevada, was censured by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that it overcharged customers regarding mutual funds purchases, and failed to implement adequate supervisory procedures to prevent the overcharging of customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047269801(July 29, 2016). According to the AWC,…
Nathan Silva, of Omaha, Nebraska, a stockbroker with Ameritas Investment Corp., was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of misconduct against him. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 20140426897-01 (July 8, 2016). According to…
Kenneth Daley, of Garden City, New York, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he concealed customer funds and made an unsuitable investment recommendation. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
David M. Joyce, a municipal securities trader for Kildare Capital, Inc., was fined $25,000.00 and suspended for twelve months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unlawful pre-arranged round trip transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 20120317482-02 (June…
Francisco G. Hervella, of Miami, Florida, a stockbroker with Invex Inc., was fined $50,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity for two years after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized outside business activities as well as unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
John A. Coleman, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker for Geneos Wealth Management, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations of non-disclosure of outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Bernard G. McGee, of Cazenovia, New York, a stockbroker with Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per a National Adjudicatory Council Decision containing findings that McGee engaged in fraud, unsuitable recommendations, and unauthorized outside business activities. Department of Enforcement v….
Nathan D. Bartow, of Barberton, Ohio, a stockbroker with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of mismanagement and conversion of customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Darrin B. Farrow, of Rocky River, Ohio, a registered representative with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., was fined $25,000.00 and suspended for one year from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in several unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Ameriprise Financial Services, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was censured and fined $100,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to create and adequately maintain a supervisory system to identify and prevent unsuitable trading in closed end funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014039843501 (June 20, 2016)….
Newbridge Securities Corporation, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, was censured and fined $115,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to apply sales charge discounts to eligible customers’ purchases of unit investment trusts (UITs); and failed to develop and manage supervisory practices and protocol to make sure eligible…
Edward Manges, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a municipal securities broker with Kildare Capital, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in a fraudulent trading scheme, and falsified statements to FINRA in the course of an investigation into his misconduct….
Douglas Simanski, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, a registered representative with NEXT Financial Group, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations that he converted customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016049621301…
Arthur Espinoza, of Vero Beach, FL, a stockbroker with Freedom Investors Corporation, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in outside business activities, misrepresented documents to his firm, and failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into his misconduct….
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…
Brandon D. Gioffre, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Constellation Wealth Advisors LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015046448701 (June 22, 2016)….
Andres F. Talero, of Miami, Florida, a stockbroker with Invex, Inc., was fined $50,000.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in outside business activities and private securities transactions. According to the AWC, in June 29,…
Shannon Marie Rowland, of Tempe, Arizona, a registered representative with State Farm Insurance Co., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that she converted customers’ insurance premiums. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042783901 (June 8, 2016). According to the…
WFG Investments, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, was censured and fined $65,000.00 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to apply sales charge discounts to eligible customers’ purchases of unit investment trusts (UITs); and failed to develop and manage supervisory practices and protocol to make sure eligible…
Dion R. Padilla, of San Antonio, Texas, a stockbroker with Next Financial Group, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that that Padilla engaged in willful securities fraud and effected an unauthorized annuity purchase. Department of Enforcement v. Padilla, No. 2014040362001 (June 9, 2016). According to…
Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., headquartered in New York, New York, was censured and fined $2,250,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to properly supervise exchange traded funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2012034556901 (June 7, 2016). According to the AWC, from August 4, 2009 through September…
David C. Cannata, of Uniondale, New York, a stockbroker with Craig Scott Capital, LLC, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per a Default Decision containing findings that he engaged in excessive trading and churning, and failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into his misconduct. Department…
Dennis Mark Adam Merritt, of Clearwater, Florida, a stockbroker with Wells Fargo, was suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity pursuant to an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Merritt engaged in private securities transactions, made unsuitable recommendations to investors, and falsified information to Wells Fargo…
Armando Fernandez, of Miami Beach, Florida, a stockbroker with Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, was fined $7,500.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized trading and mismarked order tickets. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2013038283001 (May…
Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc. headquartered in New York, New York, was censured and fined $5,000,000.00 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to properly disclose costs associated with strategic return notes. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2012032967901 (June 23, 2016). According to the…
Richard Gomez, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Legend Securities, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity in connection with a Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that Gomez engaged in private securities transactions, and made unsuitable recommendations to investors. Department of Enforcement…
Gary Donovan of Newark, Ohio, a stockbroker with Sagepoint Financial, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that engaged in stock price manipulation. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015045600101 (May 27, 2016). According to the AWC, on August 28, 2014, Donovan had effected an…
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….
Daniel S. Miller, of San Francisco, California, a stockbroker with Growth Capital, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044394701 (May 26,…
Jim Jinkook Seol, of Irvine, California, a stockbroker with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging Seol engaged in unauthorized outside business activities, private securities transactions, and made false statements to his firm concerning his conduct. Department of Enforcement v. Seol, No. 201403983910101…
Francisco Javier Sumavielle, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Murex Capital, LLC, was fined $12,500.00 and suspended for seven months from associating with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized borrowing from customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
James P. Scullin, of Coral Gables, Florida, a stockbroker with UBS Financial Services Inc., was fined $15,000.00 and suspended for nine-months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014043554601 (May…
David Newman, of Duncan, Oklahoma, a stockbroker with First Western Securities, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended for fifteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015046649901 (May 20, 2016). According to…
Edward R. Segur, III, of New York, New York, was fined $7,500.00 and suspended for thirty days from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he opened unauthorized securities accounts and engaged in unauthorized trading. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044591701 (May…
Lizabeth Gotuaco Ty of Houston, Texas, a stockbroker with Park Avenue Securities LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that she obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of her involvement in unregistered securities sales. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Robert J. Kerrigan, of Scottsdale, Arizona, a stockbroker with First Financial Equity Corporation, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into his alleged misconduct. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047151401 (May 11, 2016)….
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…
Gary Lee Rathbun and Douglas Scott Miller, both of Toledo Ohio, and stockbrokers for Triad Advisors, Inc., were permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after engaging in unauthorized outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014041919401 (May 17, 2016). According to the AWC,…
Steven A. Larson, of Saint Louis, Missouri, a stockbroker with Oakbridge Financial Services, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Larson made material omissions and false statements to clients concerning investments. Department of Enforcement v. Larson, No. 2014039174202 (May 11, 2016). According to the Complaint, Larson…
Kovack Securities, Inc., headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was censured and fined $125,000.00 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply sales charge discounts to eligible customers’ purchases of unit investment trusts, in addition to failing to develop and manage the requisite supervisory practices to ensure that eligible customers received sales charge…
Justin K. Wine, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, a stockbroker with LPL Financial LLC, was fined $12,500.00 and suspended for two months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2012033934201(May…
Lance J. Ziesemer, of Wayzata, Minnesota, a stockbroker for Feltl & Company, was fined $7,500.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2013036524903 (May 12, 2016)….
Paul Anthony Akre, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, a stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended for four months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized outside business activities, a private securities transaction, and improper loans with customers….
Equinox Securities, based in Redland, California, was expelled as a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm, and the firm’s chief executive officer, Stephen Michael Oliveira, was permanently barred from associating with any FINRA member firm in a principal capacity, in connection with an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Equinox excessively traded…
Eric Kuchel, of Brea, California, a stockbroker with Crown Capital Securities, L.P., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member per a Default Decision from FINRA’s Department of Enforcement containing findings that Brea failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into Kuchel’s alleged private securities transactions. Department of Enforcement v….
Terry L. Haggerty, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, president and chief executive officer of Penvest Securities, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in securities fraud; and failed to supervise his and his firm’s trading conduct to prevent fraudulent trading…
Peyton Nelson Jackson, of New York, New York, was fined $20,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2012032095801 (Apr. 28, 2016). According to the AWC, FINRA launched…
World Equity Group, Inc., headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois, was fined $50,000.00 and censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to supervise unsuitable and excessive equity trading. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014039231401 (Apr. 25, 2016). According to the AWC, from November 2009 through September…
Steven Silver, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Casimir Capital L.P., was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity, and disgorged of $40,000.00 in connection with an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Silver engaged in unauthorized private…
Michael J. Russo, of Melville, New York, a stockbroker with Global Arena Capital Corporation, was fined $35,000.00, and suspended for one year from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he sent false and/or misleading statements to prospective customers regarding investment opportunities; and also…
Christopher J. Pierce, of Exton, Pennsylvania, a representative with Wells Fargo Advisors, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that converted customer funds. According to the AWC, on March 1, 2016, Pierce had issued a Wells Fargo client a debit card,…
William H. Jennings II, of New York, New York, a securities principal with Jefferies LLC, was fined $30,00.00 and suspended in a principal capacity for three months, and had his principal license revoked after consenting to findings that he failed to supervise representatives who made misrepresentations to firm customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Jonothon M. Lieberman, of Farmingdale, New York, a stockbroker with Rockwell Global Capital, 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 a FINRA investigation into Lieberman’s alleged sales practice violations. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. Jonothon…
John R. McKinstry Jr., of Saint Louis, Missouri, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in an investigation into allegations of whether McKinstry engaged in unsuitable recommendations and unauthorized lending agreements with customers. Letter of Acceptance,…
MetLife Securities, Inc., headquartered in New York, New York, was censured and fined $20,000,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm made negligent omissions and misrepresentations concerning annuity products, and failed to supervise annuity transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 20140408700001 (May 3, 2016). According to the…
David Michael Miller, of Columbus, Ohio, a stockbroker with Huntingdon Investment Company, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity per an Office of Hearing Officers Default Decision containing findings that Miller engaged in unsuitable recommendations and negligent misrepresentations concerning customer accounts. Department of Enforcement v….
Robert Turpin, of Scottsdale, Arizona, a stockbroker with Source Capital Group, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations of his private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Feltl & Company Corporation, headquartered in Minneapolis, Florida, was censured and fined $250,000.00 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply sales charge discounts to eligible customers’ purchases of unit investment trusts; for failing to develop and manage the requisite supervisory practices to ensure eligible customers received sales charge discounts on UIT…
INVEST Financial Corporation, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, was censured and fined $175,000.00 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply sales charge discounts to eligible customers’ purchases of unit investment trusts; and for failing to develop and manage the appropriate supervisory practices to ensure eligible customers received sales charge discounts on UIT…
John S. Hudnall, of San Francisco, California, a stockbroker with U.S. Bancorp Investments and Bancwest Investments Services, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Hudnall engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions, unsuitable recommendations, and made false representations to FINRA regarding his misconduct. Department of Enforcement…
Brett W. Burgesser, of Orlando, Florida, a stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for sixty-days from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the unsuitable switching of mutual funds in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
In July 2012, or in legal terms, a long time ago, at a place, not so far away, Redlands, California, a stockbroker, Chris B. Palkowitsh, of Equinox Securities, Inc. was charged by FINRA and thereaftyer terminated by his employer for doing bad things to his customers, including churning the daylights out of his customer accounts, in among…
Jeffrey C. Borneman, of Lancaster, Kentucky, a stockbroker with Cambridge Investment Research, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in an unauthorized private securities transaction. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044368901 (Apr. 22, 2016). According…
Frank John Capuano, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, a stockbroker with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for a year from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015046273001…
Sharon Fall, of Annapolis, Maryland, a stockbroker with LPL Financial LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that she failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations that she engaged in the unauthorized borrowing of funds from firm customers….
Timothy Francis Dufresne, of Bamberg, South Carolina, a stockbroker with SagePoint Financial, 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. 2016049412601 (Apr. 8, 2016). According to the AWC, between October…
SM Imaze Hasnain, of Roseville, California, a stockbroker with State Farm VP Management Corp, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of his misappropriation of customer funds and acceptance of unauthorized loans from customers….
Apostolos Nicholas Papadea, of Columbia, South Carolina, a registered representative with Wells Fargo Advisors, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015048044301 (Apr. 19, 2016)….
Gerarld Fagnant, of Leominster, Massachusetts, a stockbroker with LPL Financial LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he accepted unauthorized loans from frim customers, and made false statements on his firm’s compliance questionnaires regarding such. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Gwendolyn M. Berry, an employee with Next Financial Group, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that she failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that she misappropriated customer assets. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047059701…
Multiple Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member broker dealers, including Robert W. Baird & Co, Inc., BB&T Securities, LLC., U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Fifth Third Securities, Inc., and PNC Investments LLC, were recently censured and ordered to pay restitution to customers after consenting to findings that the firms’ overcharged customers in mutual funds purchases, and…
Scott Muirhead, of Jacksonville, Florida, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that Muirhead failed to comply with a FINRA investigation. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 20150447853-01 (Apr. 19,…
Bruce William McNabb, of San Antonio, Texas, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., was fined $50,000.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in an unauthorized private securities transaction. Letter of Acceptance,…
Ka Kiertonkaysy Lor, of Sacramento, California, a registered representative with Farmers Financial Solutions, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that she converted customers’ funds. Department of Enforcement v. Lor, No. 2014041073501 (Apr. 7, 2016). According to the Complaint, in October 2013, Lor, an insurance agent who…
RBC Capital Markets LLC, headquartered in New York, New York, was censured and fined $225,000.00 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply sales charge discounts to eligible customers’ purchases of unit investment trusts; and for failing to develop and manage the requisite supervisory practices to ensure eligible customers received sales charge…
C.L. King and Associates, Inc., headquartered in Albany, New York, along with the firm’s chief executive officer, Gregg Alan Miller, were charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint containing allegations that the firm and Miller engaged in the improper redemption of death put investments, and failed to develop and…
Mark Peter Koestner, of Naples, Florida, a stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, 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 a FINRA investigation into allegations that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Leonard Allen Goldberg, of Palm Springs, California, a stockbroker with Newport Coast Securities, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Goldberg engaged in unsuitable and fraudulent trading of funds in customer accounts. Department of Enforcement…
As securities lawyers generally representing investors before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in cases against stockbrokers and financial institutions for fraud in connection with the sale of defective securities, or defective financial advice, we always inform our clients that they need to pay special attention to any notice regarding the pendency or settlement of any…
This morning I received an e-mail from Chrystal Loyer of the FINRA Office of Dispute Resolution stating that she was from FINRA’s Case Administration Department and was checking on the status of the motion to vacate an Arbitration Award rendered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in Reeve v. Sky Capital LLC and Ross Mandell…
Christopher Charles Burtraw, of Lake Wood, Colorado, a stockbroker with J.P. Turner & Company LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations that Burtraw engaged in the “unauthorized borrowing” of multiple…
George Dahl, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Newport Coast Securities, was fined $20,000.00 and suspended for nine months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized outside business activities; placed unauthorized trades in a customer’s account; and…
Billy Wayne Allen, of Bentonville, Arkansas, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into his unauthorized solicitation and receipt of loans from customers….
Triad Advisors LLC, headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, was censured and fined $125,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply sales charge discounts to eligible customers’ purchases of unit investment trusts; and failed to develop and adequately implement supervisory policies and procedures to ensure that such customers received sales charge discounts on all…
Kenneth Lynn Miller, of Greeneville, Tennessee, a registered representative with FTB Advisors, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations that he converted customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 20160490980-01 (Mar….
Jorge Gonzalez, of Closter, New Jersey, a stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC and branch-manager for Wells Fargo Advisor’s affiliate banking company, 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….
John L. Shockey, of Shreveport, Louisiana, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., was fined $15,000.00; disgorged of $70,070.00; and suspended for one year from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the participation of multiple unauthorized private…
David Randall Lockey, of Dallas, Texas, a stockbroker with SWS Financial Services, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Lockey prompted unsuitable switching and trading of investments; while also falsifying forms pertaining to customer accounts. Department of Enforcement v. Lockey, No. 2013034954001 (Mar. 30, 2016)….
Justin L. Ferguson, of Columbus, Georgia, a stockbroker for Country Capital Management Company, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he misappropriated customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016048699301 (Mar. 15, 2016). According to the AWC, on January…
Kevin J. Kuhlow, of Los Gatos, California, a stockbroker with LPL Financial LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry. 2016048430801 (Mar. 16, 2016). According to the AWC, LPL informed FINRA that it terminated Kuhlow on March 3, 2016, amid allegations of Kuhlow’s conduct of directing LPL’s customers to unapproved investments or selling away. FINRA…
Lance E. Slater, of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, a stockbroker with Morgan Stanley, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations of unauthorized borrowing of funds from a firm customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Edward Beyn, of Syosset, New York, a stockbroker with Craig Scott Capital LLC, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Beyn engaged in excessive trading or churning of his firm’s customers’ accounts. Department of Enforcement v. Beyn, No. 2015044823502 (Mar. 16, 2016). According to the Complaint,…
Steven D. Ridgley, of Louisville, Kentucky, a stockbroker with Waddell & Reed, was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for two months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014043025703…
Lombard Securities Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, was censured and fined $50,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) pursuant to an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that the firm committed supervisory violations pertaining to mutual fund switches, uniform investment trusts (UITs), and non-traditional exchange traded funds (ETFs); and failed to provide customers with…
Alfred K. Chan, of Oakland, California, a stockbroker with Signator Investors, Inc., was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized outside business activities, and distributed unapproved and unbalanced sales materials to prospective customers….
Christopher J. Elliott, of Washington, District of Columbia, a stockbroker with Infinex Securities, Inc., was fined $7,500.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged customers in unsuitable recommendations and acted with unauthorized discretion in customers’ accounts. Letter…
Most stockbrokers get barred for failure to cooperate, but not this one. Jeffrey E. Rodgers, of Bend, Oregon, a stockbroker with Morgan Stanley, was suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Rodgers engaged in unauthorized…
Brett I. Friedberg, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with HFP Capital Markets LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity per an Extended Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that Friedberg made unsuitable securities recommendations and negligently misrepresented information to customers. Department of Enforcement…
Giustino Destefano, of Williamsville, New York, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading and mismarked customers’ order tickets as unsolicited. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
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,…
Christopher Thomas Tolmacs of Portage Michigan, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Tolmacs engaged in unauthorized transactions with customers, made misleading statements in connection with such, and potentially converted customer…
Alicia M. Moe, of Woodland Hills, California, a stockbroker with UnionBanc Investment Services, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that she failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations that she may have committed the conversion of customer funds….
Robert Kevin Connors, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Gilford Securities Incorporated, was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions or selling away and unauthorized borrowing from a…
Harold Joseph Petro, of Indianapolis, Indiana, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014040640101 (Mar….
Jeffrey S. Ingros, of Beaver, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations that he engaged in unauthorized loans and outside business activities….
Lev Slootsky, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Goldman, Sachs & Co., was fined $15,000.00 and suspended for one year from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions and outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance,…
Matthew Edward O’Callaghan, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Odeon Capital Group LLC, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations that O’Callaghan stole customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Thomas P. Schober, of Westborough, Massachusetts, a stockbroker with SII Investments, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable recommendations to customers and attempted to conceal his misconduct to his firm. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044007001 (Mar. 3,…
Robert O’Keef, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a stockbroker with RBC Capital Markets, LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014040938602 (Feb. 23,…
Kenneth J. Mathieson, of New York, New York, a stockbroker with Morgan Stanley, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Mathieson engaged in private securities transactions, outside business activities, and false compliance certifications. Department of Enforcement v. Mathieson, No. 2014040876001 (Mar. 3, 2016). According to the Complaint,…
Derek Prater, of Baytown, Texas, a stockbroker with Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., was fined $17,500.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized trades in customer accounts; and misled his firm in the course…
Winston Wade Turner, of Sarasota, Florida, a registered representative with Pruco Securities, LLC, and MetLife Securities, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Tuner committed fraud in connection with customers’ variable annuity purchases, participated in unauthorized private securities transactions, and failed to cooperate with a…
David Joseph Escarcega, of Phoenix, Arizona, a stockbroker with Center Street Securities, Inc., was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity in connection with a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers Extended Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that Escarcega communicated misleading and materially false statements to customers, and…
Bahram Mirhashemi, of Irvine, California, a stockbroker registered with Accelerated Capital Group, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had engaged in unauthorized and excessive trading, churning, and unsuitable recommendations. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2012033566201 (Feb….
Robert G. Stein, of Worcester, Massachusetts, a stockbroker with Capital Securities Management, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable recommendations and prompted unsuitable sales of reverse convertible notes. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
The financial sector has always taken a cost benefit approach to stockbroker misconduct. Modest income producing stockbrokers may be fired or terminated after one complaint or disclosable incident. However, the pay-out to customers of the larger producers is simply the cost of doing business, and it is not uncommon to see registered representatives, with extensive…
In July 2012, the United States Securities & Exchange Commission brought an action against Emanuel L. Sarris, Sr. “Manny Sarris” of Doylestown Pennsylvania for four counts of federal securities fraud. According to the SEC complaint, from 2001 through 2009, Sarris conned over 70 individuals to invest approximately $30 million in a private hedge fund that…
Wayne Anthony Shultz, of Branchburg, New Jersey, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all capacities after consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into notes that Schultz issued a client. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044640601 (Feb. 5, 2016). According to the AWC, on…
James P. Hilty, Jr., from Ocala, Florida, as stockbroker for Edward Jones, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for forty-five days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014041875801 (Jan. 29,…
Karen Hajek, of Saint Petersburg, Florida, a stockbroker with Cetera Financial Specialists, LLC, was recently fined $15,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after Hajek consented to findings that she engaged in multiple undisclosed outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Joel S. Bovee, of Wayzata, Minnesota, a stockbroker with Feltl & Company, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for two months from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in a principal capacity after consenting to findings that he had failed to supervise a stockbroker who engaged in unsuitable transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Andrew Scott Corbman, of Lansdown, Virginia, was suspended for one month from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unsuitable recommendations and provided misleading communications to investors. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2010024620302 (Feb. 1, 2016). According to the AWC,…
Kevin Patrick Murphy of Summit, New Jersey, a stockbroker with TGP Securities, Inc., was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for twelve months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Michael Rene Lavelanet, of Garden City, New York, was charged by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Lavelanet willfully failed to disclose an estimated $382,490.00 in state warrants and federal tax liens via Form U4 updates, as well as falsely attesting the annual compliance questionnaire administered by Woodstock regarding such…
Carlton Eugene Burton, of Pace, Florida, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Miller had misappropriated assets of his investment advisory firm. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 20150481049-01…
Key Investment Services, LLC, Next Financial Group, Inc., Stephens Inc., Bankers & Investors Co., and J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons LLC were all recently censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply sales charge discounts to certain customers’ eligible purchases of unit investment trusts (“UITs”) in violation of FINRA Rule 2010;…
Walter Francis Grenda, Jr., of Buffalo, New York, a stockbroker with Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities per an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that he engaged in fraudulent omissions and misrepresentations, engaged in improper loans from the…
George Johnson, of Chicago, Illinois, a stockbroker for Meyers Associates, L.P., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity in connection with an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Johnson committed fraudulent market manipulation; fraudulent omission of material conflicts concerning purchases/sales of a security;…
Christopher Wynne, of Chicago, Illinois, a stockbroker with Meyers Associates, L.P., was fined $25,000.00, barred from acting as a principal in any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm, and received a two-year suspension from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity per an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Wynne…
Clay Emerson Hoffman, of Brunswick, Georgia, a stockbroker with Summit Brokerage Services, Inc., was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for fifteen days from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading in a customer account. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
John Joseph Labarca, of Edison, New Jersey, a stockbroker for National Securities Corporation, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had not cooperated in a FINRA investigation regarding a customer complaint lodged against him. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Shakif A. Khalil, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, a registered representative with Allstate Financial Services, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Khalil misappropriated funds from customers. Letter of…
Stockbrokers lie, cheat and steal everyday. Just look at our blog, in today’s news, a broker was suspended for only a few months following an investigation and six unauthorized trading complaints. Another brokerage firm was found to have defrauded its customers 642 times and was simply fined. Such is not the case for Mia Carol Higens….
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…
Matthew D. Maberry, of Alton, Illinois, was fined $10,000.00, suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity, and ordered to pay restitution of $38,445 after consenting to findings that he failed to supervise non-traditional exchange traded funds and made unsuitable recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…
Merid Amde of Troy, Michigan, a stockbroker with Wunderlich Securities, was fined $20,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity per an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Amde engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading, mismarking order tickets as solicited, falsification of records,…
William Wesley Marshall of Plano, Texas, a stockbroker for Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., was fined $10,000.00 and suspended for fifteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2012033291204 (Feb….
Morgan Stanley paid $9.5 million for hiding 14.5 million e-mails sought by the SEC in connection with an investigation back in 2006. Citigroup pays $720 million based upon the $71 bilion in toxic securities linked to mortgages it sold to the public. Charles Schwab paid $200 mllion in connection with the YieldPlus fiasco where it…
Wade James Lawrence was a stockbroker at Dallas Fort Worth area offices of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.and Southwest Securities. Mr. Lawrence is now headed to jail for a three year prison term, and was ordered to pay restitution of $1,454,384.48, by a North Texas Federal Judge, See Case No. 3:15-cr-374- M: United States of America…
Jason Bryce Vanclef fist became registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in 2006, and since that time, he has been the subject of no less that seven customer initiated investment related complaints alleging fraud, and most recently on February 6, 2016, a FINRA regulatory action also alleging fraud in connection with the sale of…
Brian Lewis Pittman of Miami, Florida, a stockbroker with Sabadell Securities USA, Inc., was fined $10,000 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all capacities after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016048480901 (Feb….
Joseph G. Mahalick of Chicago, Illinois, a stockbroker for Newport Coast Securities Inc., was barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations of his sales practice violations. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
James W. Anderson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a stockbroker with WFG Investments, Inc., was fined $15,000 and suspended for fifteen months from associating with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in all principal capacities after consenting to findings that he failed to supervise a stockbroker who engaged in unsuitable trading. Letter of Acceptance,…
Sheldon Harber of St. Louis, Missouri, a stockbroker with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., was fined $10,000 and suspended for four months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042539101 (Jan….
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)….
Purshe Kaplin Sterling Investments , based in Albany, New York, and its stockbroker Gopi Krishna Vungarala, of Midland, Michigan, were charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging misrepresentation and omission of a material fact in connection with the sale of securities ; failure to disclose volume discounts ;…
Robert J. Cross of Rome, Georgia, a stockbroker with Allstate Financial Services, LLC, was barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) from associating with any FINRA member in any and all capacities after Cross consented to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations of his business activities. Letter of Acceptance,…
MidAmerica Financial Services, located in Joplin, Missouri, was censured and fined $150,000 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had failed to establish and maintain supervisory systems associated with placements and deferred variable annuities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014039194101 (Jan. 30, 2016). FINRA canceled the firm’s…
Michael William Hajeck III of St. Petersburg, Florida, a stockbroker with Genworth and Cetera Financial Services, LLC, was fined $35,000 and suspended for eighteen months by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) from associating with a FINRA member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he engaged in undisclosed outside business activities and…
Jason Daniel Sayles of St. Petersburg, Florida, a stockbroker with Genworth and Cetera Financial Services, LLC, was fined $15,000 and suspended for ten months by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) from associating with a FINRA member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he engaged in undisclosed outside business activities and private…
Jacob T. Turner of Orlando, Florida, a stockbroker with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., was fined $5,000 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 2013036516301…
Timothy Steven Dembski of Buffalo, New York, a stockbroker for Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation, was barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in connection with an Office of Hearing Officers Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Dembski made fraudulent omissions and misrepresentations to investors, engaged in improper loans from customers, and falsified testimony…
Michael Joseph Cortes of Hauppauge, New York, was fined $15,000 and suspended for six-months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in all capacities after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized outside business activities; willfully failed to disclose tax warrants and a lien; and borrowed from funds in violation…
Paul T. Mannion, Jr. of Roswell, Georgia, a stockbroker registered with StreetCapital, Inc., was fined $10,000 and suspended for six months from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in all capacities after consenting that he failed to disclose material information to potential investors. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2011028722201…
Kevin Donald Wanner of Bismarck, North Dakota, a stockbroker with Questar Capital Corporation, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after he consented to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015048162701 (Jan. 11, 2016)….
Morissa F. Rivo of Boca Raton, Florida, a registered representative with Signator Investors, Inc., was barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) from associating with any member in any capacity in connection with Rivo’s failure to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations of Rivo’s misconduct. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014041961001 (Jan….
Steve Hinkle of Englewood, Colorado, was fined $10,000 and suspended for twenty days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all principal capacities after consenting to findings that he failed to supervise procedures associated with detecting and preventing excessive and unsuitable trading. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014038969301 (Jan….
Thomas Edmund Connors, of Toms River, New Jersey, a stockbroker with Prime Capital Services, Inc., was fined $40,000 and suspended for fourteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity in connection with a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that Connors engaged in undisclosed…
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…
Marco Antonio Daniel of Chula Vista, California, a stockbroker with PFS Investments, Inc., was suspended for four months from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after engaging in unauthorized loans with a customer and engaging in an unauthorized outside business activity. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Michael Roger Griffith of Timonium, Maryland, a stockbroker with NYLIFE Securities LLC, was barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had submitted fictitious applications for life insurance and forged customer signatures without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015046129301 (Jan….
James J. Nixon of Westport, Connecticut, a stockbroker with Terranova Capital Equities, was fined $15,000 and suspended for three months in all capacities from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions and made misleading statements to investors. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Michael A. Nahass of Irvine, California, a stockbroker with Arque Capital, was fined $15,000.00 and suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in undisclosed outside business activities, opened an undisclosed outside securities account, and submitted false compliance questionnaires. Letter of…
Eric W. Kuchel of Brea, California, a stockbroker with LPL Financial LLC, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Kuchel repeatedly delayed and failured to provide requested testimony in connection with a FINRA investigation into Kuchel’s alleged mutual fund transactions and private securities transactions. Department of…
Michael D. Rasmovich of Louisville, Kentucky, a stockbroker with Waddell & Reed, was fined $10,000 and suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities for two months after consenting to findings that he exercised discretion in eighty customer accounts without prior written authorization from the customers or…
Carlos Benavidez, Jr., of Louisville, Kentucky, a stockbroker with Waddell & Reed, was fined $10,000 and suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities for two months after consenting to findings that he exercised discretion in eighty customer accounts without prior written authorization from the customers or…
Katherine Lapidoth of Aventura, Florida, a stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, has been suspended for two years from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member and fined $15,000 in connection with an Office of Hearing Officers Order Accepting Offer of Settlement that contained findings that Lapidoth provided false information to regulators and failed to…
Jeffrey Davidson of Stuart, Florida, a stockbroker with American Portfolio Financial Services, was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any and all capacities for three months and fined $10,000 after consenting to findings that he engaged in unsuitable mutual fund switching in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis Missouri, was censured and fined $200,000; while one of the firm’s supervisors, Kurt LaLomia of Baltimore, Maryland, was fined $15,000 and suspended for thirty-one days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any principal capacity, after consenting to findings that from…
Jose A. Zapata of San Antonio, Texas, a stockbroker with formerly registered with Argentus Securites, LLC, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made misrepresentations to one of his customers in order to conceal information from a customer regarding her account…
Liberty Associates, Inc. of New York, New York, was censured and fined $3,500.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had failed to establish, maintain, and enforce adequate supervisory procedures concerning private placements. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2013035239001 (Dec. 29, 2015). According to the AWC, from…
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. of New York, New York, was censured and fined $1,250,000 after consenting to findings of the firm’s failure to fingerprint or timely fingerprint associated persons; failure to adequately screen for statutory disqualification; failure to create required documents; and failure to establish and maintain an adequate supervisory system and…
Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., of New York, New York, was censured and fined $225,000 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed have adequate supervisory procedures to address short positions in tax-exempt municipal bonds that resulted primarily from trading errors and which resulted in inaccurate representations to Oppenheimer’s clients….
Richard Marvin Muhlberg of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, a stockbroker with Sigma Financial Corporation, was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities for a period of three months and fined $10,000 after consenting to findings that he had borrowed money in violation of his firm’s procedures…
John Vincent Ballard of Memphis, Tennessee, a stockbroker with International Finance Solutions, Inc., was barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) per a National Adjudicatory Council Decision affirming findings that Ballard had engaged in undisclosed outside business activities, failed to provide documents in response to FINRA’s request for documents, and failed to appear for on-the-record…
William B. Fretz, Jr., and John P. Freeman, both of Oaks, Pennsylvania, were found by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement to have engaged in business-related conduct that is inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade as a consequence of providing misleading information to FINRA and filing a false Form U4….
Richard A. McCollam of Layfayette, California, a stockbroker with National Planning Corporation, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging McCollam willfully failed to disclose two customer arbitrations and seven customer complaints on his Uniform Application for Securities Industry Regulation filed on January 22, 2014, referred to as…
John D. Wiswell of Stuart, Florida, a stockbroker with American Portfolio Financial Services, was fined $5,000 and suspended for fifteen business days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any principal capacity after consenting to findings that she failed to supervise a Stockbroker’s conduct in order to prevent unsuitable recommendations from…
Carl W. Busch of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a Stockbroker with WFG Financial, was fined $5,000 and suspended in all principal capacities from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm after consenting to findings that he failed to adequately supervise the sales practice of Larry Michael Crabtree, a Stockbroker of WFG, who had…
Larry Michael Crabtree of Edmond, Oklahoma, a stockbroker with WFG Investments, Inc., was suspended for six-months in all capacities from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm after consenting to findings that Crabtree engaged in unsuitable trading and improperly exercised discretion in the account of a customer; sent inappropriate and unapproved communications…
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…
Edward J. Vierling, Sr. of New York, New York, 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 Vierlings’s alleged misconduct regarding bond…
Craig Scott Capital, LLC, headquartered in Uniondale, New York, along with owners Craig Scott Taddonio and Brent Morgan Porges, were charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that the firm and its owners had engaged in excessive and unsuitable trading, fraudulent churning, and other supervisory failures. Department of…
Barclay’s Capital, Inc., headquartered in New York, New York, was censured and fined $3,750,000 after consenting to findings that the firm had inadequate supervisory systems and written supervisory procedures for supervising the sale of mutual funds to retail brokerage customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044544001 (Dec. 18, 2015). According to the AWC,…
John Soon Lee, a stockbroker with Wunderlich Securities, 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 Lee converted customer funds and failed to provide requested information and testimony to FINRA in connection with an investigation into allegations…
William W. Brown of Beverly Hills, California, a stockbroker with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, was fined $10,000 and suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in all capacities for fifteen business days, and ordered to pay a customer restitution in the amount of $1,473.88 pus prejudgment interest after consenting to…
Randall Gladden of El Cajon, California, a stockbroker with Securities Equity Group, was just charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Gladden had engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions; undisclosed outside business activities; and made material misrepresentations and omissions. Department of Enforcement v. J. Randall Gladden, No….
Quest Capital Strategies, Inc. of Miami, Florida, was censured and fined $25,000 from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had failed to establish adequate supervisory systems and written supervisory procedures pertaining to supervision of mutual funds sales, supervision of accounts to prevent overcharging of customers, and other compliance…
Valentino Infante of Miami, Florida, a Stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity per an Office of Hearing Officers Default Decision containing findings that Infante engaged in outside business activities without providing his employer with prior written notice; provided false…
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….
Scott J. Freeze of Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker with Street One Financial (SOF), was fined $10,000 and suspended for three-months from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had improperly engaged in outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., headquartered in New York, New York, was censured, fined $6,000,000 and disgorged of $1,285,561 plus interest after consenting to findings that the firm had failed to adequately supervise sales of microcap securities pertaining to due diligence and identifying red flags with unlawful distributions of unregistered securities. The firm’s executive managing director…
Aon D. Miller of Chattanooga, Tennessee, a stockbroker with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, was fined $50,000 and suspended for two years from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member per an FINRA Extended Hearing Panel Decision which contained findings that Miller engaged in private securities transactions without providing prior written notice to…
Yinyi Chen of Alhambra, California, a stockbroker with Fortune Securities, Inc., was fined $7,500.00 and suspended for thirty days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any principal capacity after consenting to findings that she failed to supervise the investment-advisory activities of a Stockbroker’s private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Craig G. Langweiler of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, a registered representative with Meyers Associates, L.P., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Langweiler had willfully failed to update his Uniform Application for Securities Industry Regulation or Transfer (Form U4) to timely disclose tax liens and civil judgments. Department…
John Charles Kautter of Bethesda, Maryland, a registered representative with New England Securities, was suspended for two months from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities in connection with an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that he had facilitated an unapproved loan transaction. Department of Enforcement…
William H. Watson III of Brookfield, Wisconsin, a registered representative with Finance 500, was fined $5,000 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity for ten business days after consenting to findings that he had participated in securities offerings using marketing materials that were not fair and…
Barry David Abrams of Marlton, New Jersey, a registered representative with Securities Service Network, Inc., was fined $5,000 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities for a period of fifteen business days after consenting to findings that he had engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading in…
Lori A. Hermanson of Greenwood Village, Colorado, a registered representative with TransAmerica Financial Advisors, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that Hermanson had converted funds and engaged in unauthorized outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047979601 (Dec….
Fidelity Brokerage Services, headquartered in Smithfield, Rhode Island was censured, fined $500,000, and ordered to pay customers restitution of $529,270 plus interest after consenting to findings that the firm had failed to prevent or detect conversion of more than $1,000,000 from nine Fidelity customers by a convicted felon; and failed to establish and maintain adequate…
Samuel Wylie Sloane of Fort Worth, Texas, a registered representative with Morgan Stanley, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he had failed to comply with a FINRA investigation into allegations of Sloane’s conversion of customer funds. Letter of…
Rick Esparza of Rancho Murieta, California, a registered representative with Princor Financial Services Corporation, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he had failed to comply with a FINRA investigation into allegations of Esparza’s participation in unauthorized loans. Letter…
Pariter Securities, LLC, headquartered in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, was censured and fined $10,000 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had failed to adequately establish, maintain and enforce a supervisory system and written supervisory procedures to prevent its registered representatives from exercising discretionary power in customer accounts prior to…
Thomas M. Phillips II of Columbus Ohio, a registered representative with Wesbanco Securities, Inc., was censured and fined $10,000 after consenting to findings that he misstated fees associated with variable annuity transaction switch forms. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014039231201 (Dec. 4, 2015). According to the AWC, from November 2013 – September 2014,…
Finance 500, Inc., headquartered in Irvine, California, was censured and fined $85,000 from Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had failed to establish, maintain and enforce a supervisory system and written procedures to review and monitor private placements sales practices and materials. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Paul D. Garnett of Beatrice, Nebraska, a registered representative for Edward Jones, was fined $40,000 and suspended for one year from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he participated in unauthorized private security transactions and an outside business activity. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Lincoln Financial Advisors, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was censured and fined $90,000 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm failed to adequately supervise the activities of a registered representative who engaged in unsuitable penny stock trading. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2011029739902 (Dec. 8, 2015). According…
Keilen Dimone Wiley of Houston, Texas, a registered representative with Farmers Financial, LLC, was found by the Securities and Exchange Commission to have converted insurance premium payments and provided false and misleading information to a self-regulatory organization (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) during an on-the-record interview. In the Matter of the Application of Keilen Dimone Wiley,…
Global Arena Capital Corp., headquartered in New York, New York, was fined $1,000,000 and expelled by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) per the terms of a Default Decision by the Office of Hearing Officers which contained findings that the firm charged customers unfair and unreasonable prices and excessive markups, along with failing to establish,…
In July 2014, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority formed a Task Force composed of three claimants lawyers, five defense lawyers from the securities industry, a state securities regulator, an arbitrator, a mediator, an academic, and a representative of the Consumer Foundation of America. It appears that the Task Force was organized to enhance the efficiency,…
J.P. Turner & Company, based in Atlanta, Goeorgia, was censured and fined $140,000 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had not charged customers prices that were fair and reasonable in the purchase/sale of securities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 20130358778 (Nov. 25, 2015). According to the…
Jeffrey B. Risinger of Carmel, Indiana, a registered representative with PIN Financial, LLC, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations of Risinger’s participation in a Ponzi scheme. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
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,…
David J. Sullivan of Boston, Massachusetts, a registered representative with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities for fifteen days after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized discretionary trading. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent No….
Leon William Vaccarelli of Waterbury, Connecticut, a registered representative with The Investment Center, Inc., was fined $7,500 and suspended for one month from associating in any and all capacities with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm after consenting to findings that Vaccarelli exercised unauthorized discretion in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Timothy Rodgers of Overland Park, Kansas, a registered stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, was fined $10,000 and suspended for five months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions and made false statements to his firm…
Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., of Oakdale, Minnesota, was censured and fined $100,000 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply sales charge discounts to certain customers’ eligible purchases of unit investment trusts (“UITs”) in violation of FINRA Rule 2010; as well as failing to establish, maintain and enforce a supervisory system and written…
John S. Matthews of New York, New York, the former owner of Global Arena Capital Corporation, was fined $25,000 and suspended for six months from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2013037235012 (Dec….
Jeffrey L. Rittberger of New Concord, Ohio, a stockbroker associated with Huntington Investment Company, was fined $10,000 and suspended for forty-five days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all capacities after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable recommendations to firm customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2013036874902…
Dennis P. Van Patter of Dallas, Texas, a registered representative with VSR Financial Services, Inc., was fined $10,000 and suspended for forty-five days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all capacities after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable recommendations to firm customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Cantone Research Inc., located Tinton Falls, New Jersey, along with its President and majority owner, Anthony J. Cantone, and Christine L. Cantone have been named by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions of material fact in connection with the sales and subsequent extensions of over…
Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. was censured and fined $225,000 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply sales charge discounts to certain customers’ eligible purchases of unit investment trusts (“UITs”) in violation of FINRA Rule 2010; as well as failing to establish, maintain and enforce a supervisory system and written supervisory procedures reasonably…
Robert N. Adrian of Memphis, Tennessee, a registered representative with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, was fined $5,000 and suspended for forty-five days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all principal capacities after consenting to findings that he failed to supervise a registered representative in a manner designed to detect the…
James Michael Johnson of Richmond, Virginia, a registered representative with Commonwealth Financial Network, was suspended in all capacities from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm for two years, and fined $50,000 after consenting to findings that he made negligent misrepresentations and omissions to firm customers in connection with securities investments, while…
Summit Brokerage Services of Boca Raton, Florida, was censured and fined $250,000 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm, via its registered representatives, made unsuitable recommendations for customers to purchase leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 2011029635101 (Dec. 2, 2015). According to…
David Paul Rankin, Jr. of Lexington, Kentucky, a registered representative with Lexington Investment Company, Inc., was fined $5,000 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacities after consenting to findings that he obtained loans from customers in violation of his firm’s policies. Letter of Acceptance,…
Mark J. Ciriaco of Omaha, Nebraska, a registered representative with Securian, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he had converted customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042879701 (Nov. 20, 2015). According to the AWC, in…
David Michael Miller of Columbus, Ohio, a registered representative with Huntington Investment Company, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Miller did not have reasonable grounds for believing his recommendations were suitable in purchases of unit investment trusts in one hundred and twenty-nine customer accounts. Department…
David Levorchick of Sidney, Ohio, a registered representative with U.S. Bancorp, Inc., was fined $7,500 and suspended for thirty days from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he negligently misrepresented to a customer that the liquidation of a variable annuity would not result in…
Michael Jump of Somonauk, Illinois, a registered representative with Investment Planners, Inc., was fined $10,000 and suspended for two months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he negligently misrepresented information pertaining to fees associated with variable annuities, while also failing to…
Jack Stuart O’Brien, Jr. of San Jose, California, a registered representative with Princor Financial Services Corporation, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with FINRA’s investigation into allegations that O’Brien accepted unauthorized compensation from a firm…
Glen Robert King of Shrewsbury, NJ, a registered representative with Buckman, Buckman & Reid, Inc., was charged by the Department of Enforcement of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that King made fraudulent misrepresentations to customers, engaged in excessive and unsuitable trading, and exercised discretion in accounts of customers without written authority….
Sheik F. Abida Khan of Murrieta, California, a registered representative with Ameritas Investment Corp., was suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker-dealer in any capacity for a period of four months plus ten additional days for participation in outside business activities without notice to his firm, sending misleading and false statements…
Christopher S. Scott of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a registered representative with Geneos Wealth Management, Inc., was suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm and fined $5,000 after consenting to findings that he borrowed money without permission or notice to his employer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044007101 (Nov….
Following both an SEC action and a criminal action, Joshua B. Gladtke of New York, New York, a registered representative formerly with Arjent LLC, was permanently barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after he failed to appear for on-the-record testimony in connection with an investigation into Gladtke’s private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Christian B. Harkness of Lacrosse, Wisconsin, a registered representative with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc., was fined $15,000 and suspended for nine months fromChristian B. Harkness associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he had engaged in unauthorized borrowing from a customer, engaged…
William A. Sloane of Glastonbury, Connecticut, a registered representative with Buell Securities Corp., was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all capacities for twenty days after engaging in unauthorized discretionary trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042924501 (Nov. 3, 2015). According…
Jason L. Reid of New York, NY, a registered representative with Halcyon Cabot Partners, Ltd., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he sold securities by means of false and misleading information; acted as a principal and engaged in…
ProEquities, Inc. was censured and fined $165,000 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply sales charge discounts to certain customers’ eligible purchases of unit investment trusts (“UITs”) in violation of FINRA Rule 2010; as well as failing to establish, maintain and enforce a supervisory system and written supervisory procedures reasonably designed to…
Miguel Ortiz, a registered representative with John Thomas Financial, was barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all capacities in a Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that Ortiz willfully defrauded customers in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, along with willfully failing to disclose a…
Katherine Lapidoth of Aventura, Florida, a registered representative with Wells Fargo Advisors, has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Lapidoth had provided false information to regulators and failed to comply with a FINRA investigation into her potential misconduct. Department of Enforcement v. Lapidoth, No. 2013039650502…
Indiana Pennsylvania based stockbroker Bernard M. Parker has plenty of tax liens. Since 2006, according to public disclosure records, he appears to have had at least six liens against him for failure to pay his taxes. In fact, Bernard Parker had so many tax liens against him, he began selling tax liens…
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…
On November 5, 2015, by consent, the Securities and Exchange Commission obtained a judgment against George P. Brown, age 81, in connection with an action against George P. Brown and his son Kevin C. Brown, age 49, both of Pennsylvania, and their related entities, for fraud in connection with the sale of various unregistered securities…
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…
Monex Securities, Inc., of Houston, Texas, was censured and fined $25,000 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm sold (or bought) corporate bonds to (or from) customers and failed to sell (or buy) such bonds at a price that was fair within six transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…
Daniel Kasbar of Hollywood, Florida, a registered representative with LPL Financial, LLC, was permanently barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Kasbar engaged in undisclosed outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance,…
Jacob Lerman of Souderton, Pennsylvania, a registered representative of Univest Investments, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Lerman had committed forgery on customer documents. Letter of…
Donna Kay Beers of Dallas, Texas, a registered representative with Titan Securities of Addison Texas (CRD No. 131392), was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that she failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Beers had engaged in…
Xavier R. Endress of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a registered representative with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., was permanently barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) registered firm in all capacities after consenting to findings that he engaged in undisclosed outside business activities and provided false information to his employer in…
Richard J. Rubin, Jr. of Stamford, Coonecticut, a registered representative for Northwestern Mutual, was fined $5,000 and suspended for fifteen days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he engaged in an outside business activity without the written approval of his…
Radnor Research and Trading Company, based in the Philadelphia area, was censured and fined $50,000 per an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Radnor disregarded supervisory obligations that resulted in the failure to meet important reporting, disclosure, and compliance responsibilities. Department of Enforcement v. Radnor Research & Trading Company, et al., No. 2013036681701…
Stephens, Inc., located in Little Rock, Arkansas, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for disadvantaging certain retirement plan and charitable organization customers that were eligible to purchase Class A shares in certain mutual funds without a front-end sales charge; and for failing to establish and maintain a supervisory system and procedures reasonably designed…
Vivian Dragoo, a non-registered associated person with Fidelity, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that she had converted customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015045420101 (Oct. 28, 2015). Fidelity terminated Dragoo on April 21, 2015, in connection…
Janney Montgomery Scott, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvana, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for disadvantaging certain retirement plan and charitable organization customers that were eligible to purchase Class A shares in certain mutual funds without a front-end sales charge; and for failing to establish and maintain a supervisory system and procedures reasonably designed…
Stifel Nicolaus & Co., located in St. Louis, Missouri, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for disadvantaging certain retirement plan and charitable organization customers that were eligible to purchase Class A shares in certain mutual funds without a front-end sales charge; and for failing to establish and maintain a supervisory system and procedures…
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., located in St. Louis, Missouri, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for disadvantaging certain retirement plan and charitable organization customers that were eligible to purchase Class A shares in certain mutual funds without a front-end sales charge; and for failing to establish and maintain a supervisory system…
Alan Cashaw, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a registered representative with FSC Securities Corporation, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Cashaw failed to respond to FINRA’s requests to provide information in connection with a FINRA investigation into Cashaw’s alleged misconduct. Department of Enforcement v. Alan Cashaw,…
Ameritas Investment Corp., Cetera Advisors LLC, Comerica Securities, Inc., Fifth Third Securities, Inc., First Allied Securities, Inc., Park Avenue Securities, LLC, Securities America, Inc., Huntington Investment Company, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Commonwealth Financial Network, MetLife, and Infinex Investment, Inc., were all recently censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply…
Chandler D. Le of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, a registered representative with NYL Securities, was fined $7,500 and suspended for two months from associating with any Financial industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in an outside business activity and commingled customer funds in a business account…
Mark S. Prokay of New Castle, Pennsylvania, a registered representative with W&S Brokerage Services, Inc. and affiliated with Western Southern Life, was permanently 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 a FINRA investigation into allegations…
Anthony C. Gray of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a stockbroker with Edward Jones, was permanently barred in all capacities from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in all capacities after consenting to findings that he had misappropriated nearly $138,000 from two elderly customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015047279101 (Oct….
Salena Lynn Woods of Pearland, Texas, a stockbroker with J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity after consenting to findings that she failed to comply with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Woods misappropriated funds from a firm customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No….
Lydia B. Barraza, a stockbroker with Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that she converted funds from a firm customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015045880301 (Oct. 20, 2015). On June 17, 2015, her…
Liam Gerard O’Keeffe from Danbury, CT, a Stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to provide information and documentation requested by FINRA in the course of their investigation into allegations that O’Keeffe exercised discretion…
Tracy Neal Wengert from Mesa, Arizona, a stockbroker with Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc., was permanently barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had failed to comply with FINRA’s investigation into allegations against Wengert, including that he opened brokerage accounts outside of his…
Randy Warren Burke of Hickory, North Carolina, a stockbroker with Synergy Investment Group, LLC, Capital Investment Group, Inc., and most recently Carlton & Associates, Inc., was permanently barred in all capacities from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that he participated in private securities transactions that were not…
Rodney Dewayne Welch of Minden, Louisiana, a Stockbroker with State Farm, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he failed to comply with an investigation into allegations that Welch mishandled a policyholder’s premium payments. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…
Clifford Morgan from Chicago, Illinois, a stockbroker with Uhlmann Price Securities, LLC, was barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had engaged in private securities transactions without approval from his firm; made material misrepresentations to firm customers; and failed to fully and…
Jason L. Figueroa of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker with GMS Group, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he had recommended and engaged in unsuitable trading in nontraditional ETFs in customer accounts, while exercising discretion without prior written authority…
Andrew Lyman Quinn of Reno, Nevada, a stockbroker with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity in connection with a Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that Quinn failed to respond to FINRA’s requests for information in connection with an investigation…
Joseph R. Daigneault of Biddeford, Maine, a stockbroker with Investors Capital Corp., was fined $10,000 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity for twenty days after consenting to findings that he had provided customers with consolidated statements that contained misleading and inaccurate information regarding customers’ financial…
David A. Scholl of Grand Rapids, Michigan, a stockbroker with PlanMember Services Inc., was fined $5,000 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he participated in private securities transactions in violation of his firm’s policies. Letter of Acceptance,…
Wunderlich Securities, Inc., a FINRA member firm located in Memphis, Tennessee, was censured and fined $50,000 after consenting to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) findings that the firm had failed to establish, maintain, and enforce an adequate supervisory system and written procedures concerning the preparation and dissemination of consolidated reports, while also failing to supervise…
James G. Christianson from Portland, Oregon a Stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, was suspended for fifteen days from association with all Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) members and fined $10,000 after consenting to findings that he exercised discretion in three accounts of a customer without obtaining written authorization from the customer and without written…
Marc A. Arena of Westbury, New York, a stockbroker with Newport Coast Securities, Inc., was suspended for twenty-three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in a principal capacity, while being suspended for ten business days from association with any FINRA member firm in any capacity per an Order Accepting…
Capital Securities Management, Inc., a brokerage firm and investment adviser firm from Glenn Allen, Virginia, was censured and fined $470,000 after consenting to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) findings that the firm engaged in unsuitable sales of reverse convertible notes; charged excessive commissions; failed to establish, maintain, and enforce an adequate supervisory system and written…
Scott Neal Glazer of Calabasas, CA, a stockbroker with GBS Financial Corp., was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all capacities for six months and fined $50,000 in connection with an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that Glazer engaged in manipulative trading and caused the publication of…
Fred Perelman, a Stockbroker with Avenir Financial Group, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Perelman failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into Perelman’s outside business activities and business practices within Avenir. Department of Enforcement v. Perelman, No. 2015047104201 (Oct. 18, 2015). According to the Complaint,…
Emily S. Pao, a Stockbroker with HSBC Securities (USA), Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that Pao had refused to cooperate in an investigation into allegations of converting funds from a customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 20150459320-01…
Jeffrey David Snyder, a Stockbroker with Network 1 Financial Securities, was permanently 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 fully cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations of Snyder’s covering of a customer’s losses. Letter of Acceptance,…
Andrew M. Abern, a Stockbroker with Dalton Strategic Investment Services Inc., was permanently barred from association with any member of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into Abern’s recommendations to customers regarding variable annuities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent,…
Heon Kim, a Stockbroker with Ameritas Investment Corporation, was barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any and all capacities after consenting to FINRA findings that he failed to cooperate in an FINRA investigation into allegations that Kim had engaged a non-licensed individual to solicit and sell variable products…
Aaron Heimowitz, a Stockbroker with Newport Coast Securities, was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity for a period of seven months and fined $15,000 after consenting to findings that Heimowitz participated in private securities transactions and outside business activities in violation of firm policies. Letter of…
Brodie Johnson, a Stockbroker with Merrill Lynch, was permanently barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that Johnson had failed to provide information and documentation pursuant to a FINRA investigation into Johnson’s alleged outside business activities and trading in personal accounts. Letter of Acceptance,…
Paul Anthony Steffany, a Stockbroker with Raymond James, was permanently barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Industry (FINRA) after consenting to findings that he converted funds from his firm’s customer, while also forging the signature on checks made payable to the estate of an individual. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 2014041650301…
Santander Securities, LLC, was censured, fined $2,000.000.00, and ordered to pay restitution of roughly $4,300,000.00 after consenting to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) findings that the firm had failed to have a reasonably designed supervisory system and set of procedures pertaining to sales of Puerto Rico Municipal Bonds to customers in Puerto Rico, and had…
Joseph Murray Snyder III, a Stockbroker with Allstate Financial Services, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with FINRA in their investigation into allegations of Synder’s misappropriation of customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 2014040233501 (Oct….
Stockbroker J. Michael Casas was barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in any and all capacities and ordered to pay restitution in connection with an Extended Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that Casas had fraudulently sold securities issued by his company on the basis of false statements of material fact and that Casas converted…
John Thomas Oates, Jr., a Stockbroker with Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities for six months and fined $10,000 after consenting to findings that Oates engaged in outside business activities in violation of his firm’s policies. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver,…
Halcyon Cabot Partners, Ltd. was expelled from Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) membership, while two of its principals, Ronald Mark Heineman and Michael Trent Morris, were permanently barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity per an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings of widespread violations of securities laws including a scheme…
Darnell A. Deans, a Stockbroker with Garden State Securities, was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities for eight months and fined $10,000 per an Office of Hearing Officers Settlement containing findings that Deans had borrowed funds in violation of his firm’s policies. Department of Enforcement…
David D. Lewis, who held the positions of chairman, chief executive officer, chief compliance officer, and compliance registered options principal with First Washington Corporation, was suspended from association with all Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) members in all capacities for two years and fined $30,000 per an Office of Hearing Officers Settlement containing findings that…
UBS is a Swiss corporation, and the owner of UBS Financial, which conducts business in the United States and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. In 2014, UBS, one of the largest issuers of structured notes in the world, issued and sold 2.7 billion in structured notes. Structured notes are securities issued…
Michael S. Bell, a Stockbroker with Westpark Capital, was suspended from association with all Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firms after consenting to findings that he violated his firm’s written supervisory procedures in sending e-mails that were unbalanced, promissory, and misleading. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2014041848801 (Apr. 30, 2015). Westpark Capital…
Jeffrey D. Daggett, a Stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, received a four-month suspension from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity, as well as a $20,000.00 fine after consenting to findings that he recommended unsuitable transactions in exchange trade notes, as well as leveraged and inverse leveraged exchange traded…
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…
Daniel P. Glavin, a Stockbrokerwith Country Capital Management Company, was recently barred in all capacities from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that Glavin had obstructed a FINRA investigation and had converted approximately $45,000 in customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 2015044416501 (Mar. 31, 2015)….
Robert Charles Mangold, a Stockbrokerwith LPL Financial LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) registered firm after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with FINRA in their investigation into allegations that Mangold borrowed funds from a customer in violation of his firm’s policy. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver,…
Paul Joseph Godlewski, a Stockbroker with Allstate Financial Services, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that he engaged in unapproved outside business activities and failed to follow his firm’s…
Jon L. Cox, a Stockbrokerwith LPL Financial, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Cox had violated his firm’s policies concerning outside business activities. Department of Enforcement v. Jon L. Cox, No. 2014040234701…
Sylvester King Jr., a Stockbroker with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities for eighteen months and fined $35,000 after consenting to findings that he circumvented his firm’s policies and procedures, made an unauthorized loan to a customer, and engaged…
Michael A. Lovett, a compliance officer with Cape Securities, Inc., was suspended from association in a principal capacity with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm and fined $5,000 after consenting to findings that he failed to adequately supervise the establishment of the firm’s supervisory system to detect and prevent conversion of customer funds….
Michael DeMaria, a Stockbroker with Northwestern Mutual, was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all capacities for twenty months and fined $15,000 after consenting to findings that he caused a transfer of a firm client’s funds without her knowledge or consent, in violation of FINRA Rule 2010. Letter of…
Blue Capital Securities, a broker dealer with its primary office in New York, New York, was censured and fined $50,000 after accepting and consenting to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) findings that the firm provided misleading marketing materials by failing to disclose risks and failed to educate staff on collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO) prior to…
Michael Tepedino, a Stockbroker for Allstate, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with FINRA in their investigations into allegations that Tepedino was involved in outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 2014042533801 (June…
Vicki Smith, a Stockbrokerwith Country Capital Management Corp, was permanently barred in all capacities with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) firm after consenting to findings that she engaged in undisclosed outside business activities and converted funds from a customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 2013037426001 (June 5, 2015). Smith is barred from…
Patrick Landon Garrett, a Stockbrokerwith Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made verbal misrepresentations to a customer, misused customer funds, and falsified firm documents. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 2014040147501 (Aug….
Malcolm Jamal Babin, a Stockbrokerwith PFS Investments, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that he had failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Babin had converted customer funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 20150454876-01 (July 30, 2015). Babin…
Troy Mackey, a Stockbrokerwith Morgan Stanley, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to findings that Mackey failed to cooperate in FINRA’s investigation into allegations that Mackey converted funds from two minor relatives. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent, No. 4466980. (July 16, 2015). Mackey is barred…
Christopher Yoon, a Stockbrokerwith Pruco Securities, LLC, was permanently barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that he lied about a life insurance beneficiary to obtain a signed blank check and forged or caused to be forged customer signatures on life insurance documents and application related materials. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver,…
Andre Paul Young, a registered representative with MetLife Securities, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he improperly borrowed $208,000 in funds from customers in violation of his firm’s policies, and failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations of…
Armen Bahadourian, a registered representative with UnionBanc Investment Services, LLC, was suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacities for eighteen months in addition to being fined $10,000 and disgorged of $6,880.75 in commissions after consenting to findings that he executed fifteen unauthorized transactions in the accounts of…
Terri Lynn Anderson, a registered representative with Cetera Financial Specialists, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that Anderson had failed to provide information and documentation in connection with an investigation into allegations that Anderson played a part in misusing customer…
Rice Alexander Jacobs, a registered representative with TD Ameritrade, Inc., was permanently barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to provide information and documentation in connection with an investigation into allegations that Jacobs converted a local organization’s funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 20150439952 (Mar. 11, 2015). According to the AWC,…
Kirsten Flynn Hawkins, a registered representative with SunTrust Investment Services, Inc., was permanently barred by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to provide information and documentation in connection with an investigation into allegations that Hawkins stole funds from her firm’s customer. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 20149437894 (Mar. 23, 2015). According to…
Louis James Deeley, a registered representative with JPMorgan Chase Bank, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that Deeley converted $24,014 from a firm customer’s bank account for his own use and benefit. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 20140437239…
Kamran Daryush Nougzust, a registered representative with Wells Fargo Advisors, was permanently bared from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after failing to provide information and documentation requested by FINRA in connection with an investigation into Nougzust’s alleged conversion of a bank’s trust funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver,…
Daniel Gregory Retzke, a registered representative with Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., was permanently bared from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after failing to provide information and documentation requested by FINRA in connection with an investigation into Retzke’s alleged private securities offerings. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver,…
Miguel Ortiz, a registered representative with John Thomas Financial, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Ortiz willfully defrauded customers in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, along with willfully failing to disclose a $4,983,606.23 judgment against him on his Uniform Application for Securities…
Brian Scott Exford, a registered representative with IBN Financial Services, Inc., was permanently barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities after failing to appear for on-the-record testimony in connection with an investigation into allegations that Exford engaged in a private securities transaction. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver,…
Tricia Denise Willis, a registered representative with People’s Securities, Inc., was permanently barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that she converted funds from a customer of her firm and forged a customer’s signature without authorization. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 20130392989…
Ralph W. Savoie, a registered representative with Cambridge Investment Research, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that Savoie misappropriated in excess of $665,000.00 from a firm customer….
Jeffrey A. Mohlman, a registered representative with Questar Capital Corporation, was permanently barred in all capacities from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member after consenting to allegations that he had failed to cooperate with FINRA’s investigation into allegations that Mohlman engaged in unapproved and undisclosed private securities transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver,…
Aldo Comuzzi, a registered representative with Dawson James Securities Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation in connection with allegations that Comuzzi improperly utilized discretion without written approval in certain of…
Lombard Securities Incorporated was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that the firm failed to meet a myriad of supervisory responsibilities including written supervisory procedures designed to supervise the sale of leveraged, inverse, and inverse-leveraged exchange traded funds, prevent unsuitable mutual fund switching, and apply sales charge discounts to customers’…
UBS Financial was censured, fined $7,500,000.00, and ordered to pay restitution to 165 customers in the amount of $10,978,402.00 after the firm consented to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) findings that it failed to establish and maintain a supervisory system and procedures reasonably designed to ensure suitability of transactions in closed end funds. Acceptance, Waiver,…
Jeffrey E. Rodgers, a registered representative with Morgan Stanley, was charged by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Rodgers accepted an unauthorized customer loan, engaged in outside business activities, made false statements on an annual compliance questionnaire, and failed to provide documentation and information to FINRA pursuant to Rule 8210….
Andre Mitchell, a registered representative with MetLife, was permanently barred from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity after Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Office of Hearing Officers found Mitchell to have converted customer funds in addition to failing to cooperate in a FINRA’s investigation. Department of Enforcement v. Mitchell, No. 2013035618602 (Sept. 28,…
The National Adjudicatory Council for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) just upheld a Hearing Panel Decision to bar Fuad Ahmed from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity as well as upholding the expulsion of his firm, Success Trade Securities, after finding that the respondents willfully engaged in securities fraud and selling…
Royce O. Simpson, a registered representative with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity and faced a $15,000.00 fine after consenting to findings that he engaged in outside business activities without approval of his firm, while also failing to timely respond to…
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….
Bart James Ellis, a registered representative with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) firm in any capacity after FINRA’s Office of Hearing Officers rendered a Default Decision finding that Ellis had falsified customer account documents, exercised unauthorized discretion in a customer’s account, and failed to…
Jordon S. Trice, a registered representative with Great Circle Financial, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint containing allegations that Trice had effected options transactions in an account that was not approved for options trading. Department of Enforcement v. Trice, No. 2012030670603. According to the Complaint, from January…
Tammy C. Peterson, a registered representative for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to FINRA findings that Peterson had converted approximately $107,378 from four of her firm’s customers for her own personal benefit and use. Letter…
Sam M. Stull, a registered representative for J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, was permanently barred from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in all capacities after consenting to findings that Stull forged the signatures of several customers and failed to cooperate with FINRA in their investigation into allegations of Stull’s misconduct. Letter…
Daniel Hillius, a registered representative with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, was permanently barred from association with any FINRA member firm in any capacity after consenting to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) findings that he misappropriated and forged another person’s check while converting funds for his own benefit. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2014041988001…
Louis Karl Kittlaus, a registered representative with Wall Street Strategies, Inc., was suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity, fined $25,000, and ordered to requalify by examination in order to become registered in any capacity in the securities industry according to an Extended Hearing…