Silver Law Group is investigating former Texas-based Rhodes Securities, Inc. (CRD# 19610) broker Christopher P. Anthony (CRD# 1157930) after a customer filed a $2 million FINRA arbitration against him. According to Anthony’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, a customer filed a FINRA arbitration complaint in January 2017 against Anthony alleging breach of…
Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog
Former Puerto Rico-based Popular Securities Broker Manuel Angel Mejia-Gomez Under Investigation
Silver Law Group is investigating former Puerto Rico-based Popular Securities, LLC (CRD# 8096) broker Manuel Angel Mejia-Gomez (CRD# 2259727) after FINRA suspended him. According to Mejia-Gomez’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA suspended and fined Mejia-Gomez in December 2016 for three months and fined him $15,000. According to Mejia-Gomez’s BrokerCheck report, he…
New York-based Beech Hill Securities Broker Frank Hamrak Under Investigation Over Unsuitability Allegations
Silver Law Group is investigating New York-based Beech Hill Securities (CRD# 24771) broker Frank Hamrak (CRD# 1385077) after a customer complaint filed against him alleging unsuitable recommendations settled. According to Hamrak’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, a customer complaint filed in November 2016 against Hamrak settled. The complaint alleged unsuitability and settled…
Edward Jones Broker Austin Wayne Morton Accused of Elder Fraud Involving 82-Year Old Client Diagnosed with Dementia
The financial advisor’s alleged financial stress stemmed from gambling losses that exceeded his annual income. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is currently investigating former St. Louis, MO- and Oklahoma-based broker Austin Wayne Morton after his dismissal from his member firm, Edward Jones, under suspicion of elder fraud. According to…
Barry Franklin Connell Has Been Barred by FINRA and Charged by the SEC for Allegedly Stealing $5M from Elderly Clients
Connell is reported to have stolen $5 million from his elderly clients In January, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) permanently barred Barry Franklin Connell from working as a broker. The decision came after an investigation reported that he made numerous transfers from client accounts without authorization. FINRA first suspended…
Elder Financial Fraud News Round-Up
Mormon seniors reportedly victimized in San Diego investment scam, Ohio broker admits guilt in theft of more than 500k from senior client, and Oklahoma begins educational initiative Throughout the U.S., seniors are experiencing perhaps a higher prevalence of fraud than ever before– and scammers are getting increasingly inventive in the…
SEC Takes Action to Reduce Instances of Senior Fraud
New rules are intended to assist financial institutions in reducing the amount of investment fraud targeting seniors and other vulnerable investors. Senior investment fraud. Elder fraud. Elder financial abuse. Scamming older investors. No matter what it is termed, this unfortunate activity takes place at a far greater rate – with…
How to Spot Elder Financial Fraud (and How Ethical Financial Advisors Should Act to Stop It)
Advisors and other trusted professionals have an ethical duty to stop senior financial fraud Elder financial fraud is an increasingly serious issue in the U.S. As more Americans become seniors – at the rate of about 10,000 a day – new victims across the country are feeling the consequences. This…
Elder Financial and Investment Fraud Continues to Grow at an Alarming Rate
Research suggests nearly 40% of American seniors may experience financial abuse Across the U.S., millions of seniors each year become the victims of fraudulent financial and investment scams. In fact, one recent survey reported that 37% of senior caregivers said their client had been a victim of financial fraud or…
FINRA Bars Former Kovack Broker For Allegedly Naming Himself as Inheritor of 91-year-old Customer’s Condo
FINRA has barred Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based broker Douglas W. Studer (CRD# 4440047) for refusing to testify on the record in a FINRA-led investigation into whether Studer violated his employing firm’s policy by being named in an elderly customer’s estate documents to inherit the customer’s waterfront condominium. Studer was employed by…