Roberto Francisco Leslie (also known as Robert Leslie), of Brooklyn, New York, a stockbroker registered with Essex National Securities LLC and Infinex Investments Inc., was the subject of a customer-initiated investment related complaint filed on September 6, 2023, in which the customer requested $10,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Leslie advised the customer that a real estate security was a seven-year investment with no principal risk when Leslie was associated with Essex National Securities LLC. The securities broker dealer denied this complaint.
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure shows that Leslie is referenced in nine other customer initiated investment related disputes concerning Leslie’s conduct while he was associated with securities broker dealers. On June 11, 2019, a customer filed an investment related complaint involving Leslie’s conduct in which the customer requested $17,863.58 in damages based upon allegations that the customer was misled about real estate securities by Leslie when he was associated with Essex National Securities LLC. The complaint alleges that the customer was made to believe that they would be investing for five years at a fixed rate, but there was a decrease in both the distribution rates of the product and the market value.
On December 23, 2020, a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim involving Leslie’s conduct was settled for $80,000.00 in damages based upon alleged unsuitable recommendations of non-traded real estate investment trusts by the stockbroker, given the customer’s goal of investing in liquid products. FINRA Arbitration No. 19-01836.
Leslie is also referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim that was settled for $14,999.00 in damages based upon allegations that Leslie did not explain the risks of a private REIT but assured the investors the money was safe. FINRA Arbitration No. 21-01773 (December 23, 2021).
An additional customer initiated investment related arbitration claim involving Leslie’s conduct was settled for $75,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that the risks of non-traded real estate investment trusts were not explained to the customer. FINRA Arbitration No. 21-01210 (May 16, 2022).
On February 7, 2023, another customer filed an investment related complaint involving Leslie’s conduct in which the customer requested $20,000.00 in damages based upon allegations of unsuitable trading in real estate securities, given the customer’s income needs, age, and the amount of their net worth invested in real estate securities. This complaint was denied.
Leslie is also referenced in an arbitration claim that was settled for $40,000.00 in damages based upon alleged unsuitable trading. The claim alleges that Leslie placed a conservative investor into a REIT during the time that Leslie was associated with Essex National Securities Inc. FINRA Arbitration No. 22-01911 (May 1, 2023).
On July 28, 2023, a different arbitration claim involving Leslie’s conduct was settled for $150,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Leslie made an unsuitable recommendation of a Northstar annuity product during the period that Leslie was associated with Infinex Investments Inc. FINRA Arbitration No. 22-01367.
On August 28, 2023, a customer filed an investment related complaint involving Leslie’s conduct in which the customer requested $77,966.00 in damages based upon allegations that Leslie represented a real estate investment trust as having a guaranteed rate and no principal risk during the time that Leslie was associated with Essex National Securities LLC. The securities broker dealer denied the complaint.
Leslie was associated with Essex National Securities LLC in Brooklyn, New York from February 16, 2010, to July 1, 2016. He has been associated with Infinex Investments, Inc. in Brooklyn, New York since July 1, 2016.
