FINRA Disciplinary Actions

California Kestra Broker Tom Puentes Under Investigation Over Alleged Unauthorized and Unsuitable Transactions in Puerto Rican Bonds

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating California-based Kestra Investment Services, LLC (CRD# 42046) broker Tom A. Puentes (CRD# 1713812) amidst 23 disclosures on his FINRA BrokerCheck report.

According to Puentes’ FINRA BrokerCheck report, Puentes has a total of 23 disclosures, with 15 settling for over $750,000. A large majority of the settled claims allege unauthorized and unsuitable transactions in Puerto Rican municipal bonds.

Puentes’ actions concerning the settlements occurred while he was employed by Morgan Stanley (CRD# 149777). Morgan Stanley discharged Puentes in October 2014 over allegations against Puentes over his use of discretionary trading without written authorization.

Miami-based Broker Fernando de la Lama Merino Under Investigation

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Miami, Florida EFG Capital International (CRD# 40118) broker Fernando de la Lama Merino (CRD# 2257749) after FINRA permanently barred him.

According to Merino’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA initiated a regulatory action against Merino in October 2016. The action states, according to Merino’s BrokerCheck report, that Merino was named a respondent in a FINRA complaint alleging that he failed to provide any response to requests for documents and information related to a FINRA investigation into his potential misconduct involving the sales of illiquid structured notes and bonds referred by a foreign individual while he was associated with a FINRA member firm.

Structured notes have been subject to investor alerts and bulletins by both the SEC and FINRA.

Former New York Ridgeway & Conger Broker Kenley Brisard Under Investigation

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Jericho, New York Ridgeway & Conger, Inc. (CRD# 113055) Kenley Brisard (CRD# 2641960) after FINRA permanently barred the broker.

According to Brisard’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA permanently barred Brisard.

According to Brisard’s BrokerCheck report, in January 2016 Brisard was named a respondent in a FINRA complaint alleging that he sold an unregistered security. FINRA found that Brisard sold unsuitable investments at undisclosed markups of 14-33 percent using general solicitation emails that fraudulently misrepresented the product and the respondent’s role in its development.

National Securities Corporation Broker Leigh M. Garber Suspended by FINRA

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating New Woodstock, New York-based National Securities Corporation (CRD# 7569) Leigh M. Garber (CRD# 2768572) after FINRA fined the broker $10,000 and suspended her for three months.

According to Garber’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, in October 2016, FINRA and Garber entered into an Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (“AWC”) concerning the allegations.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Garber consented to the sanctions and certain findings. According to the AWC, Garber, as president and CEO of a Ridgeway & Conger, allowed her member firm to conduct a securities business while not maintaining sufficient net capital. According to the AWC, Garber was responsible for the firm’s net capital compliance.

Registered Individuals Barred by FINRA in January 2017 for Failing to Comply with FINRA Rules

January 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for January 2017, the following individuals were barred from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS
Debbie Sue Arnold	Farmers Financial Solutions LLC
Bridgett Elizabeth Beard
Anthony Joseph Calascione	Astor Wealth Management
Anthony Joseph Calascione	Legend Financial Management
Samuel David Campos	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Samuel David Campos	Chase Investment Services Corp
Ladonna Carlisle
Nichele Alexis Cavins
Shannon Kathleen Daniels	US Bancorp Investments Inc.
Shannon Kathleen Daniels	Commerce Brokerage Services Inc.
Jonathan Roth Ellis	Pruco Securities LLC
Michael Joseph Farinella	Allstate Financial Services LLC
Ricky Reid Harris Jr.	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Oded Joseph Jacobowitz	Securities America Inc.
Oded Joseph Jacobowitz	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Erik Scott Jacobsen	Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
Erik Scott Jacobsen	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Andrew Scott Jensen	Horner Townsend & Kent Inc.
Andrew Scott Jensen	AXA Advisors LLC
Tedla Ebou Khan	Goldman Sachs & Co.
Bilal Samouri McClendon	Equinox Securities Inc.
Bilal Samouri McClendon	JP Turner & Company LLC
Kevin Michael Murphy	BMO Harris Financial Advisors Inc.
Kevin Michael Murphy	LPL Financial LLC
Christopher Vincent Paul	Joseph Stone Capital LLC
Christopher Vincent Paul	Aegis Capital Corp
Jennifer Rainwater
Theodore Gerald Rothman	First Allied Securities, Inc.
Theodore Gerald Rothman	Rothman Securities, Inc.
Craig Clifford Ruschmeyer	Feltl & Company
Craig Clifford Ruschmeyer	Wells Fargo Advisors LLC
David Aaron Seigerman	Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
David Aaron Seigerman	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
David Garrett Shaw	LPL Financial LLC
David Garrett Shaw	Private Advisor Group LLC
Ladd W. Tanner	Trustmont Financial Group Inc.
Ladd W. Tanner	Tanner Financial Services LLC
Dang Hung To	Wells Fargo Advisors LLC
William Upchurch Jr.	PFS Investments Inc.
Michael Vetere	Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc.
Michael Vetere	Penn Mutual Life Ins Co
Kuana Nicole Vick	First Citizens Investor Services, Inc.
Larry Phillip Vogel	IFS Securities
Larry Phillip Vogel	Ausdal Financial Partners Inc.
William Christopher Wade	Prudential Investment Management Services LLC
William Christopher Wade	USAA Financial Advisors Inc.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

FINRA Suspends Registered Individuals in January 2017 for Failing to Comply with FINRA Rules

January 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for January 2017, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA for failing to comply with a FINRA arbitration award or settlement agreement pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS
James Patrick Acosta	Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Terrence Daniels	MSI Financial Services, Inc.
	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Darnell Anthony Deans	Blackbook Capital, LLC
	John Carris Investments LLC
Barbara Lucille Desiderio	Global Arena Capital Corp
	Herbert J. Sims & Co. Inc.
Joseph Ellison	Mutual Securities, Inc.
	Beverly Hills Wealth Management LLC
Niaz Elmazi	Global Arena Capital Corp
	HFP Capital Markets LLC
Brian Joseph Hagerman	Global Arena Capital Corp
	Equities Trading Corp
Candice Joy Hutton	Hutton Wealth Management Servcies, LLC
	Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
Gregory Marcel Martino	Blackbook Capital LLC
	Coastal Equities, Inc.
Jeffrey Allen Rehling	Lincoln Financial Advisors
	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Keith Patrick Sequeira	Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.
	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Penne Wilson Stafford	Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
	LPL Financial LLC
Vincent Evan Wilson	Wilbanks Securities, Inc.
	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

FINRA Suspends Registered Individuals In January 2017 for Violations of FINRA Rules

January 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for January 2017, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS
Kristen Denys Bartley	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Kristen Denys Bartley	Touchstone Securities, Inc.
Jasper Eugene Boykin Jr.	MetLife Securities Inc.
Jasper Eugene Boykin Jr.	Quest Capital Strategies, Inc.
Kathy Campos
Louis Vincent Fontanella Jr.	Allstate Financial Services, LLC
Louis Vincent Fontanella Jr.	David Lerner Associates, Inc.
Yohandy Gonzalez	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Yohandy Gonzalez	AXA Advisors LLC
Michael P. Gopie	AXA Advisors LLC
Michael P. Gopie	Bank of America, NA
Dennis Dewain Hern	Ameriprise Financial Services Inc.
Dennis Dewain Hern	First Command Financial Planning INc.
Bao Tran Dinh Hoang	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Bao Tran Dinh Hoang	Chase Investment Services Corp
Christopher Wayne Hunt II
Kyle Ryan Kurtz	Thrivent Investment Management Inc.
Kyle Ryan Kurtz	Lutheran Brotherhood Securities Corp.
Reginald Lewis McCarthy	Horace Mann Investors, Inc.
Reginald Lewis McCarthy	Allstate Financial Services LLC
Caleb Layton Morris	Country Capital Management Company
Caleb Layton Morris	Country Insurance and Financial Services
Brian Patrick Murphy	Signator Investors, Inc.
Brian Patrick Murphy	MetLife Securities Inc.
Wesley Marion Oler IV	LPL Financial LLC
Wesley Marion Oler IV	Global Retirement Partners
Raymond John Pirrello Jr.	Garden State Securities Inc.
Raymond John Pirrello Jr.	The Concord Equity Group, LLC
Richard Byron Raff	Infinex Investments, Inc.
Richard Byron Raff	M&F Bank/UVest Financial Services
Gary Harland Sisler Jr.	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Gary Harland Sisler Jr.	Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC
Jay Steven Sutherland	Ameriprise Financial Services Inc.
Jay Steven Sutherland	Wells Fargo Advisors LLC
Quyen Trong Tran	UnionBanc Investments Services LLC
Joe Don Treece	Arvest Wealth Management
Joe Don Treece	Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Cetera Investment Services, LLC Sanctioned by FINRA for Failure to Notify of Material Changes to Accounts

January 17, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Cetera Investment Services, LLC (CRD# 15340) entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (“AWC”) with FINRA after the regulatory body alleged it failed to notify account owners regarding changes to their account records.

According to the AWC, from October 1, 2008 through November 15, 2013, Cetera failed to mail or otherwise furnish 57,881 notifications to account owners of record regarding changes to their accounts, including, changes in the name of the account holder, address changes and more importantly, investment objective changes in the account. The significance of this that any change in the investment objectives in the account would affect what would be considered a suitable investment.

As part of the AWC, Cetera agreed to a censure and a fine in the amount of $75,000. Since Cetera’s formation in November 2012, it has been subject to nine (9) disclosures on its FINRA BrokerCheck report.

FINRA Suspends Registered Individuals in December 2016 for Violations of FINRA Rules

December 28, 2016 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for December 2016, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS
Troy Christopher Baldridge	Capitol Securities Management, Inc.
Troy Christopher Baldridge	Anderson & Strudwick, Inc.
Michael Banjany	National Securities Corporation
Michael Banjany	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
William Joseph Broccio	Meyers Associates, L.P.
William Joseph Broccio	Blackbook Capital, LLC
Michael James Coolican IV	LPL Financial LLC
Michael James Coolican IV	Edward Jones
Brian Michael Gamard	Spartan Capital Securities, LLC
Brian Michael Gamard	John Thomas financial
Brian Marc Kennison	U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
Brian Marc Kennison	Financial West Group
Laurence H. King	Legend Securities, Inc.
Laurence H. King	Domestic Securities, Inc.
Jonathan H. Lowell
Farid Morim	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Farid Morim	Chase Investment Services Corp.
Neil David Pecker	Coastal Equities, Inc.
Neil David Pecker	Westpark Capital, Inc.
Jean Paul Pierre
Michael Quiles III	LPL Financial LLC
Michael Quiles III	MetLife Securities Inc.
Peter Michael Riley	Morgan Stanley
Peter Michael Riley	UBS Financial Services Inc.
Robert Shaffer	Fordham Financial Management, Inc.
Robert Shaffer	PHX Financial, Inc.
Patrick Justin White Sr.	Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.
Patrick Justin White Sr.	BlackBook Capital LLC

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Registered Individuals Suspended by FINRA in December 2016 for Failing to Comply with FINRA Rules

December 28, 2016 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for December 2016, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA for failing to comply with a FINRA arbitration award or settlement agreement pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS
Keeland Douglas Howe	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Keeland Douglas Howe	UBS Financial Services Inc.
Christopher Lawrence Love	LPL Financial LLC
Christopher Lawrence Love	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
James Michael Roberts	Cullum & Burks Securities, Inc.
James Michael Roberts	WFP Securities
Cary Rosenfeld	Chase Investment Services Corp.
Cary Rosenfeld	Wells Fargo Investments, LLC

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.