Misappropriation

FINRA Permanently Bars Kimberly Pine Kitts After Allegations

June 22, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Kimberly Pine Kitts (CRD #2768200) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor, last employed with Royal Alliance Associates Inc., (CRD #23131) from 2004 through 2017. In the industry since 1993, she was previously employed with ING Financial Partners, Inc. (CRD #2882) in Des Moines, IA, and Forum Fund Services, LLC (CRD #46106) in Portland, ME, among others.

Kitts was discharged from Royal Alliance on 11/15/2017 when the firm received a letter from the attorney of one of her clients. This letter alleged “conversion or misappropriation of funds” on Kitts’ part.

On 12/8/2017, FINRA requested information from Kitts regarding her termination from Royal Alliance. She failed to respond to the request, and was suspended for three months. When she failed to request her suspension to be ended, FINRA permanently barred Kitts, effective 03/12/2018. Kitts is not allowed to have any association with any FINRA member in any capacity.

Silver Law Group is Investigating Marcus Parker of Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC

May 30, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Marcus Parker was barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities. Without admitting or denying the findings, Parker consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to respond to FINRA’s requests for documents and information in connection with its investigation of Parker’s termination from his member firm. The findings stated that according to the firm’s Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration (Form U5) filing, it terminated Parker’s registration for his failure to appear for an interview and be questioned about misappropriations from client accounts.

Contact Our Firm if You’ve Invested with Marcus Parker

If you invested with Marcus Parker or Wells Fargo and believe you have lost money due to his misconduct, you may be able to file a claim to recover your losses through FINRA arbitration. For a free evaluation of your potential case by as securities attorney, please contact Silver Law Group. FINRA or securities arbitration can be a fast way to recover investment losses.

Silver Law Group is Investigating Sonya D. Camarco of LPL Financial LLC

May 15, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is currently investigating Colorado Springs, CO based broker Sonya D. Camarco regarding complaints pertaining to failure to provide due diligence to investor clients, misappropriation of client funds, and misrepresentation.

Bahram-Mirhashemi-Facing-Allegations-of-Elder-Financial-Fraud-300x200 Based on FINRA’s BrokerCheck report on Camarco, a complaint was filed on August 23, 2017 alleging that Camarco since approximately 2004 has misappropriated more than $2.8 million in investor funds from her clients and customers while employed at LPL Financial LLC by using her wholly owned company Camarco Investments, Inc. to funnel investor funds to her personal bank account. The complaint, commenced on August 23, 2017, is still pending; however, the damages are expected to be substantial. As a result of the complaint filed, clients have filed subsequent complaints dated on 12/05/2017 in the amount of $19,436.43 in damages for securities fraud and theft, 10/11/2017 in the amount of $12,664.75 in damages for securities fraud and theft, and on 10/20/2017 alleging damages of $52,234.20 that is still pending for breach of fiduciary duty with respect to an elderly individual, conversion, and fraud. As a result of these claims and additional pending actions, Camarco has received a permanent suspension from the securities industry.

Camarco has been employed at Linsco/Private Ledger Corp. from 2004 to the present. Previously, Camarco was employed at LPL Financial LLC from 2004 to 2017, Morgan Stanley DW Inc. from 2000 to 2004, and Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated from 1993 to 2000.

Silver Law Group is Investigating Cornelius Peterson of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

May 15, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is currently investigating Boston, MA and New York, NY based broker Cornelius Peterson regarding complaints pertaining to failure to provide due diligence to investor clients, misappropriation of client funds and misrepresentation.

Based on FINRA’s BrokerCheck report on Peterson, a complaint was filed on September 1, 2017 alleging that Peterson provided misleading information to investor clients during his employment at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. In 2016, Peterson and his colleague James S. Polese were both charged with allegations relating to stealing upwards of $450,000 from one of their elderly clients. The allegations include misappropriating at least $350,000 of client’s funds by using $100,000 of the funds to make investments in their own names and directing the remaining $250,000 to their own personal bank accounts. In addition, several unauthorized withdrawals from the client’s account were made that totaled $93,000. Thus far, Peterson has a permanent suspension and the current charge is still pending.

Peterson was previously employed at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney from 2011 to 2017 and St. Lawrence University from 2007 to 2011.

Silver Law Group is Investigating James S. Polese of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

May 14, 2018 | Silver Law Group

South-Florida-Broker-Giovanni-Acevedo-Accused-of-Converting-Funds-and-Providing-False-Information-to-FINRA-300x198-300x198 Silver Law Group is currently investigating Boston, MA and New York, NY based broker James S. Polese regarding complaints pertaining to failure to provide due diligence to investor clients, misrepresentation regarding client fees and security of investments, and misappropriation of client funds.

Based on FINRA’s BrokerCheck report on Polese, a complaint was filed on January 31, 2018 alleging that Polese provided misleading information to investor clients during his employment at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. In 2016, Polese and his colleague Cornelius Peterson stole nearly $450,000 from one elderly client by misappropriating $350,000 of the client’s funds and using $100,000 of those funds to make investments in his own name and then directly taking the remaining $250,000 to his own personal bank account. In addition, Polese withdrew in excess of $93,000 of unauthorized withdrawals from the client’s account to pay his credit card expenses and children’s college tuition. The total in damages is yet to be decided as one of the actions is still pending.

Polese was previously employed at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney from 2010 to 2017. He has been employed at UBS Financial Services from 2004 to 2010.

Silver Law Group is Investigating Kimberly Kitts of Royal Alliance Associates

May 1, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Kimberly Kitts (CRD# 2768200) has been with Royal Alliance Associates in Palmer, Massachusetts since 2004. In a regulatory action from 2017, FINRA found that Kitts failed to respond to a FINRA request for information. Kitts also failed to request termination of her earlier suspension within the allotted time. As a result, FINRA permanently barred Kitts from being associated with any FINRA member firm. Kitts was also discharged from Royal Alliance Associates in 2017. The firm terminated Kitts after receiving correspondence from her client’s attorney alleging that Kitts converted or misappropriated the client’s funds.

Kitts has also been the subject of several customer disputes. In one dispute pending from 2017, the Claimant also alleges that Kitts converted or misappropriated the Claimant’s funds. In addition to this claim, Kitts has three other complaints against her that eventually were closed or dismissed. These complaints included allegations such as unsuitability and non-compliance with client requests.

FINRA requires that its members refrain from engaging in fraudulent or deceptive practices with their clients. FINRA also requires its members to only charge their clients a reasonable fee for services.

Utah-based Ameriprise Broker Kim Isaacson Under Investigation For Fraudulent Misrepresentation & Unauthorized Trading

January 9, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Kim D. Isaacson

CRD#855618

Silver Law Group is investigating former Midvale, Utah based Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc broker Kim D. Isaacson after FINRA received a complaint of fraudulent misrepresentation, omission of material facts and unauthorized trading

Roger Kroeger, Invest Financial Corporation: Misappropriated customers funds

December 14, 2017 | Silver Law Group

The Silver Law Group and the Law Firm of David Chase have announced their joint investigation into allegations that Fort Lauderdale, Florida based Invest Financial Corporation broker Roger Kroeger made improper loans from a customer account to a family members and/or misappropriated customers funds. Invest Financial Corporation terminated Kroeger on November 17, 2017, on the grounds that: “Representative admitted to facilitating a loan to his sister from a senior client, and was subsequently charged with multiple felony offenses in connection with these circumstances.”

The Sun Sentinel recently reported that Kroeger is facing state criminal charges arising out of his handling of this elderly customer’s brokerage account. The criminal charges include: exploitation of the elderly, grand theft and money laundering.

Securities brokerage firms are legally responsible for supervising the activities of their stock brokers and financial advisors, and can be held liable for their wrongful conduct, including misappropriation of customer funds.

Barry F. Connell, Formerly of Morgan Stanley, Under Investigation Over Allegations that he Stole From Clients

April 26, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former New Jersey-based Morgan Stanley (CRD# 149777) broker Barry F. Connell (CRD# 3070984) over SEC allegations that he stole money from his customers.

According to the SEC complaint, Connell misappropriated approximately $5 million from Morgan Stanley clients from December 2015 through November 2016. Allegedly, Connell carried out the scheme primarily by moving funds between certain client accounts and issuing wire transfers and checks from the accounts to third parties for his benefit. Over the course of approximately eleven (11) months, Connell made 100 unauthorized transactions, according to the SEC complaint.

According to Connell’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, Morgan Stanley discharged Connell in November 2016 after the allegations surfaced.