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Articles Posted in Churning

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Alphonse Stazzone (Alphonse Joseph Stazzone CRD:#4908107) is a previously registered broker and whose last known employer was Monmouth Capital Management LLC (CRD#:290248) of Holmdel, New Jersey. His previous employers include Garden State Securities, Inc. (CRD#:10083) of Red Bank, NJ and Woodstock Financial Group, Inc. (CRD#:38095) of Staten Island, NY. He has been in the industry since 2005. Maxim Beliakov (CRD:# 5968432) is a former registered broker whose last employer was Garden State Securities, Inc. (CRD#:10083) of Red Bank, NJ Woodstock Financial Group, Inc. (CRD#:38095) of Staten Island, NY, and Chelsea Financial Services (CRD#:47770), also of Staten Island. He has been in the industry since 2011.Alphonse Stazzone (Alphonse Joseph Stazzone CRD:#4908107) is a previously registered broker and whose last known employer was Monmouth Capital Management LLC (CRD#:290248) of Holmdel, New Jersey. His previous employers include Garden State Securities, Inc. (CRD#:10083) of Red Bank, NJ and Woodstock Financial Group, Inc. (CRD#:38095) of Staten Island, NY. He has been in the industry since 2005. Continue reading ›

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Donatas Belys Vildzius (CRD#: 2202883) is a former broker and registered investment advisor whose last known employer was Network 1 Financial Securities Inc. (CRD#:13577) of Danbury, CT. His previous employers include Rockwell Global Capital LLC (CRD#:142485), also of Danbury, Source Capital Group, Inc. (CRD#:36719), of Westport, CT, and Wachovia Securities, LLC (CRD#:19616) of St. Louis, MO. He has been in the industry since 1992. Vildzius is the subject of twelve disclosures, including two civil judgments from 2012 totaling $9,062 and multiple regulatory sanctions. The most recent action was initiated by FINRA after Vildzius was found to have churned the accounts of two clients with excess trading. This action occurred between August 2015 and April 2017, when he recommended a short-term trading strategy that involved in-and-out trading. The result of these trades was a high turnover rate and excessive fees.   Following Vildzius’ recommendations, the clients both executed the unsuitable trades. This also gave Vildzius de facto control over both customer accounts. After following Vilzus’ recommendations, the two clients suffered losses totaling $32,240, and paid commissions and fees totaling $33,449. After signing the Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (AWC) Letter, FINRA fined Vildzius $5,000 and suspended him from any association with any FINRA member firm for six months, beginning 10/9/2020.Donatas Belys Vildzius (CRD#: 2202883) is a former broker and registered investment advisor whose last known employer was Network 1 Financial Securities Inc. (CRD#:13577) of Danbury, CT. His previous employers include Rockwell Global Capital LLC (CRD#:142485), also of Danbury, Source Capital Group, Inc. (CRD#:36719), of Westport, CT, and Wachovia Securities, LLC (CRD#:19616) of St. Louis, MO. He has been in the industry since 1992. Continue reading ›

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Marc Reda (Marc Augustus Reda CRD:#2757330) is a registered broker currently employed with SPARTAN CAPITAL SECURITIES, LLC (CRD# 146251) of New York, NY. His previous employers include First Standard Financial Company LLC (CRD#:168340) of Staten Island, NY, PHX Financial, Inc. (CRD#:144403) and Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. (CRD#:119037) also of New York City. FINRA expelled three of his previous employers: John Thomas Financial (CRD#:40982) of New York, NY, on 10/31/2013 Prestige Financial Center, Inc. (CRD#:30407), also of New York, NY, on 5/23/2011 Clark Street Capital, Inc. (CRD#:38304) of Levittown, NY, on 2/24/2005 He has been in the industry since 1999.Marc Reda (Marc Augustus Reda CRD:#2757330) is a registered broker currently employed with SPARTAN CAPITAL SECURITIES, LLC (CRD# 146251) of New York, NY. His previous employers include First Standard Financial Company LLC (CRD#:168340) of Staten Island, NY, PHX Financial, Inc. (CRD#:144403) and Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. (CRD#:119037) also of New York City. Continue reading ›

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Kevin Meadows (Kevin Kimball Meadows CRD #2878889) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose most recent employer was IBN Financial Services, Inc. of Liverpool, NY. Prior to working at IBN, Meadows was registered with Lombard Securities Incorporated, Cape Securities Inc, and First Allied Securities, Inc.  Meadows has been in the securities industry since 1997. Kevin Meadows Failed To Cooperate With FINRA’s Investigation Into Misconduct In May 2021, FINRA indefinitely barred Meadows from working in the brokerage industry. According to FINRA’s Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent with Meadows, he declined to provide documentation and information along with on-the-record testimony after a former employer disclosed a customer complaint on his record. Just a year earlier, FINRA suspended Meadows for three months following an investigation into his aggressive trading of three accounts belonging to an elderly customer at Cape Securities, resulting in losses. According to FINRA: Meadows excessively and unsuitably traded three accounts of a senior customer Meadows controlled the trading in these three accounts by recommending almost all of the tradesKevin Meadows (Kevin Kimball Meadows CRD #2878889) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose most recent employer was IBN Financial Services, Inc. of Liverpool, NY. Prior to working at IBN, Meadows was registered with Lombard Securities Incorporated, Cape Securities Inc, and First Allied Securities, Inc.  Meadows has been in the securities industry since 1997. Continue reading ›

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Ryan Raskin (Ryan Ashley Raskin CRD# 5539610) is a former registered broker and investment advisor was registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#7691) in Beverly Hills, California from 2016-2020. Raskin previously worked with Morgan Stanley in Woodland Hills, California from 2009-2016. In March 2020, Raskin was discharged from Merrill Lynch following allegations of “business practices inconsistent with Firm standards, including inappropriate investment recommendations.” Following Raskin’s Termination From Merrill Lynch, FINRA Investigates According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), after Merrill Lynch reported Raskin’s discharge, FINRA started an investigation that included sending requests for production of information and documents to Raskin. Raskin did not respond to these requests. FINRA’s Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent with Raskin (AWC), states that Raskin acknowledged receipt of the requests, but “stated that he did not intend to respond . . .”. Failure to produce information and documents in response to FINRA’s request is a violation of FINRA Rules.  As a result, Raskin consented to a permanent bar from associating with any FINRA member in all capacities. Ryan Raskin (Ryan Ashley Raskin CRD# 5539610) is a former registered broker and investment advisor was registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#7691) in Beverly Hills, California from 2016-2020. Raskin previously worked with Morgan Stanley in Woodland Hills, California from 2009-2016. Continue reading ›

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Steven Luftschein (Steven Robert Luftschein CRD# 2690117) was recently barred from acting as a broker by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) following an investigation into allegations that Luftschein violated federal securities laws. Luftschein, who operated in the greater New York area, was registered with Aegis Capital Corp. from 2013-2016, and then with Joseph Stone Capital LLC for the years 2017-2018. FINRA Filed A Disciplinary Complaint In May 2020 In May 2020, the FINRA Department of Enforcement filed a Complaint against Luftschein alleging that “while associated with Aegis Capital Corp. . . . [Luftschein] churned and excessively traded the accounts of three of his Firm customers . . .”.  Specifically, FINRA alleged: Luftschein frequently engaged in unauthorized trading by making purchases and sales of securities without first discussing the transactions with Customers and obtaining their authorization; Luftschein’s churning and excessive trading was unsuitable and caused losses of more than $261,000 in the Customers’ accounts; and Luftschein’s trading in the Customers’ accounts generated gross sales credits and commissions of approximately $136,200, with Luftschein receiving a substantial percentage of this amount. For allegedly engaging in this misconduct, FINRA brought causes of action for (1) Churning in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act, Rule 10b-5, and FINRA Rules 2020 and 2010, (2) Excessive Trading/Quantitative Unsuitability in violation of FINRA Rules 2111 and 2010, and (3) Unauthorized Trading in violation of FINRA Rule 2010. In January 2021, Luftschein ultimately accepted an offer of settlement wherein he agreed to a bar from association with any FINRA member firm in any capacity.Steven Luftschein (Steven Robert Luftschein CRD# 2690117) was recently barred from acting as a broker by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) following an investigation into allegations that Luftschein violated federal securities laws. Luftschein, who operated in the greater New York area, was registered with Aegis Capital Corp. from 2013-2016, and then with Joseph Stone Capital LLC for the years 2017-2018. Continue reading ›

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Peter Girgis (Peter N. Girgis CRD: 4520444) is a registered broker currently employed with SW Financial (CRD#: 145012) of New York, NY. His previous employers include Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366) and Legend Securities, Inc. (CRD#:44952, expelled by FINRA, 04/17/2017), also of New York, NY, and Joseph Gunnar & Co. LLC (CRD#:24795) of Staten Island, NY. One other former employer, Brookstone Securities, Inc. (CRD#:13366) of Staten Island, was also expelled by FINRA on 10/09/2012. He has been in the industry since 2002. On 9/15/2020, FINRA filed a note to begin a preliminary determination to recommend disciplinary action against Girgis. This came after an allegation that he engaged in excessive trading and churning as well as recommended an “unsuitable active trading strategy” to his clients. FINRA has not yet taken any further action in the matter. A client dispute filed on 2/21/2017 filed against Peter Girgis alleged churning and excessive commissions on his part. The client requested damages of $21,000, and the firm settled for $4,999.00. The report is based on a notification to FINRA and a request for arbitration. Girgis’ comment indicated that because the amount was under $5,000 and settled prior to arbitration, it was not reportable to FINRA.Peter Girgis (Peter N. Girgis CRD: 4520444) is a registered broker currently employed with SW Financial (CRD#: 145012) of New York, NY. His previous employers include Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366) and Legend Securities, Inc. (CRD#:44952, expelled by FINRA, 04/17/2017), also of New York, NY, and Joseph Gunnar & Co. LLC (CRD#:24795) of Staten Island, NY. One other former employer, Brookstone Securities, Inc. (CRD#:13366) of Staten Island, was also expelled by FINRA on 10/09/2012. He has been in the industry since 2002. Continue reading ›

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William Athes (William Nicholas Athes CRD#: 3165470) is a currently registered broker employed by SW Financial (CRD#: 145012 of Melville, NY.) His previous employers include Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366), also of Melville, K.C. Ward Financial (CRD#:145135) of Ronkonkoma, NY, and Securities America, Inc. (CRD#:10205) of Port Jefferson, NY. He has been in the industry since 1999. A client filed a dispute on 5/4/2020 alleged that from 5/2/2019 to 4/23/2020, Athes engaged in unsuitable trading, breach of contract and fiduciary duty, and churning. This claim is pending, and the client requests damages of $84,932.35. Following this dispute, FINRA began an investigation and issued a preliminary determination on 9/14/2020 to recommend disciplinary action against Athes after allegations of churning, unsuitable recommendations, and other similar allegations.William Athes (William Nicholas Athes CRD#: 3165470) is a currently registered broker employed by SW Financial (CRD#: 145012 of Melville, NY.) His previous employers include Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366), also of Melville, K.C. Ward Financial (CRD#:145135) of Ronkonkoma, NY, and Securities America, Inc. (CRD#:10205) of Port Jefferson, NY. He has been in the industry since 1999. Continue reading ›

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Robert Buffington (CRD#:5220332) is a previously registered broker whose last employer was Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD# 15007) of New York, NY. Prior employers include Gunnallen Financial, Inc (CRD#:17609), Maxim Group LLC (CRD#:120708) and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. (CRD#:79), all of New York. He has been in the industry since 2007. No current employment information is available. Buffington is the subject of four disclosures, all customer disputes. The most recent was filed on 3/9/2020, with allegations of unsuitability, and breaches of contract and fiduciary duty in an unspecified time frame. This dispute requests damages of $642,224.00. Two previous disputes were filed on 1/17/2020 and 1/21/2020, respectively. Both contain allegations of unsuitability, churning, common law fraud, and breaches of contract and fiduciary duty. The dispute filed on 1/17 claims a timeframe of November 2018 through the present. The other dispute has an unspecified time frame. All three of these disputes are pending.Robert Buffington (CRD#:5220332) is a previously registered broker whose last employer was Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD# 15007) of New York, NY. Prior employers include Gunnallen Financial, Inc (CRD#:17609), Maxim Group LLC (CRD#:120708) and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. (CRD#:79), all of New York. He has been in the industry since 2007. No current employment information is available. Continue reading ›

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