John Anthony Orlando of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Westpark Capital Inc., has been fined $2,500.00 and suspended for ten days from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity based upon allegations that Orlando engaged in excessive trading. Order Accepting Offer of Settlement No. 2019063633301 (Aug. 5, 2022).
According to the Order, from January 2017 to July 2019, Orlando caused inaccuracies in the books of West Park Capital Inc. He characterized 87 transactions as unsolicited, when in reality those transactions were solicited. The inaccurate characterizations related to transactions that Orlando had personally solicited. Orlando violated FINRA Rules 2010 and 4511.
Public Disclosure shows that Orlando is referenced in seven total customer initiated investment related disputes concerning Orlando’s conduct while associated with securities broker dealers, including Sterne Agee Financial Services and Westpark Capital Inc. On April 26, 2018, a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim involving Orlando’s activities was settled for $85,001.00 in compensatory damages based on allegations that Orlando made unsuitable recommendations while he was registered with Sterne Agee Financial Services. FINRA Arbitration No. 17-01615.
On November 24, 2021, an arbitration claim involving Orlando’s conduct was settled for $30,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Orlando acted negligently and breached a fiduciary duty with regard to the recommendation and sale of private placements when Orlando was associated with Westpark Capital Inc. FINRA Arbitration No. 20-02201.
Orlando is also referenced in an arbitration claim that was settled for $1,050,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Orlando overconcentrated the customer’s account, misused margin, and made excessive and unsuitable transactions at Westpark Capital Inc. and Newport Coast Securities. FINRA Arbitration No. 20-01721 (Mar. 15, 2022).
On August 11, 2022, a different arbitration claim involving Orlando’s activities in which the customer requested compensatory damages based upon allegations that Orlando breached a contract, made misrepresentations, acted negligently, and breached a fiduciary duty in connection with the recommendation and sale of private placements when Orlando was associated with SW Financial. FINRA Arbitration No. 22-01634.
Since 2019, Orlando has been associated with SW Financial. Orlando was associated with Joseph Gunnar Co. From 2016 to 2019, Orlando was associated with Westpark Capital Inc.
