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Articles Posted in Stockbroker Misconduct

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for December 2022, 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. However, these individuals remain bound by the securities arbitration agreement to arbitrate any disputes between themselves and their former customers:

NAME FORMER EMPLOYERS
  Albert Aviles   Reid & Rudiger LLC
  Spartan Capital Securities, LLC
  Ruth Chambers   Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
  Mutual Trust Co. of America Securities
  Seymour Cohen   Wilmington Capital Securities, LLC
  Clark Dodge & Co., Inc.
  Anthony DiLullo   LPL Financial LLC
  ING Financial Partners, Inc.
  John Fabiano   LPL Financial LLC
  JD Financial Services Inc.
  Samuel Heavrin   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Austin Lazarus   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  J.P. Morgan Secvurities LLC
  Jason Long   State Farm VP Management Corp.
  Pamelia Owensby   UBS Financial Services Inc.
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  Alexandra Smith   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Continue reading ›

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scott-silverIt’s not uncommon for employees of nearly any type of business to branch off and form their own company. When that company is a new broker dealer firm and a competitor for the former employer, things get complicated. Especially if that employer is Wells Fargo Advisors.  Continue reading ›

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Darien Bonney (Darien Euclid Bonney CRD# 4899007) is a former registered broker last employed with MML Investors Services, LLC (CRD#:10409) of Scottsdale, AZ. He was previously employed with NY Life Securities INC. (CRD#:5167), also of Scottsdale. He has been in the industry since 2005. Bonney has two similar customer disputes in the disclosures in his record. The first was filed on 7/12/2022, alleging that in late 2020, Bonney solicited the client to invest in “Spyglass Financial Strategies,” an entity Bonney himself owned. The client was led to believe that the investment would have no risks as it was related to oil. Bonney also drafted the promissory note himself. As of the filing date, the terms of that note have not yet been met, and the client has suffered losses. The client has requested damages of $1,053,250.00, and the case is currently pending. The second disclosure was filed on 9/16/2022 and alleges that Bonney recommended an investment to them “without a reasonable basis.” The claimants allege that Bonney indicated that there were no risks involved despite being unregistered. They have requested that Bonney return their investment but have only received a portion of that money. The clients are requesting damages of $49,000.00, and the case is currently pending.Darien Bonney (Darien Euclid Bonney CRD# 4899007) is a former registered broker last employed with MML Investors Services, LLC (CRD#:10409) of Scottsdale, AZ. He was previously employed with NY Life Securities INC. (CRD#:5167), also of Scottsdale. He has been in the industry since 2005. Continue reading ›

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Back in 2019, we blogged about broker Michael Venturino (CRD #5872439), the subject of multiple customer disputes totaling $1.6 million. Since then, he has additional disclosures, including two judgements, a bankruptcy discharge, and of course, more customer disputes. At this writing, Venturino is still registered and employed with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC (CRD#: 146251) of Garden City, NY. He began his broker career in 2010. In the disciplinary action, FINRA’s investigation found that Venturino exercised de facto control over the accounts of eleven clients while at Aegis and made unauthorized trades in a total of twelve accounts. He made recommendations to the clients of what they should buy and sell as well as unauthorized trading.Back in 2019, we blogged about broker Michael Venturino (CRD #5872439), the subject of multiple customer disputes totaling $1.6 million. Since then, he has additional disclosures, including two judgements, a bankruptcy discharge, and of course, more customer disputes. Continue reading ›

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Most investors believe their broker and broker-dealer have their best interests in mind when making recommendations. As we’ve reported many times in this blog, that’s not always the case. The SEC’s newest rule, called Regulation Best Interest, nicknamed Reg BI, is the latest in the effort to make the market a safe place for investors. Now, Reg BI has led to its first enforcement action. Silver Law Group represents investors in claims against selling broker-dealers for losses relating to GWG L Bonds and violations of Regulation Best Interest and other FINRA rules and regulations.Most investors believe their broker and broker-dealer have their best interests in mind when making recommendations. As we’ve reported many times in this blog, that’s not always the case. The SEC’s newest rule, called Regulation Best Interest, nicknamed Reg BI, is the latest in the effort to make the market a safe place for investors. Now, Reg BI has led to its first enforcement action. Continue reading ›

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We’ve written frequently about GWG Holdings, the now-bankrupt Dallas-based company that bought out life insurance policies from people who needed cash more than their policies. The company sold those policies to other investors who would see a return when the original policyholder passed away. Then the company crashed and burned. The L Bonds, as they were called, required patience from investors. After all, the policy payout would come when the original policyholder died. Last August, the company temporarily halted the sales of their L Bonds, leading to a series of events that ended with GWG Holdings declaring bankruptcy in April of 2022. Investors in L Bonds were left with nothing. So, what happened to the investor’s funds that were going to earn them great returns?We’ve written frequently about GWG Holdings, the now-bankrupt Dallas-based company that bought out life insurance policies from people who needed cash more than their policies. The company sold those policies to other investors who would see a return when the original policyholder passed away.

Then the company crashed and burned. Continue reading ›

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Scott Silver, managing partner of Silver Law Group, was selected as a top-rated securities litigation attorney by Super Lawyers for 2022. Scott received the same award in 2021, and was previously selected for Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list. Scott represents investors nationwide in securities arbitration, investment fraud, and stockbroker misconduct cases, as well as in plaintiff-side class action litigation and represents victims of Ponzi schemes. Silver Law Group represents individual investors and institutions in claims against investment advisors, brokerage firms, hedge funds and others. Scott also serves as counsel to receivers related to recovering investor losses from Ponzi schemes. Scott has vast experience representing investors in arbitration before FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), AAA (American Arbitration Association), and NFA (National Futures Association).  Scott Silver, managing partner of Silver Law Group, was selected as a top-rated securities litigation attorney by Super Lawyers for 2022. Scott received the same award in 2021, and was previously selected for Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list.

Scott represents investors nationwide in securities arbitration, investment fraud, and stockbroker misconduct cases, as well as in plaintiff-side class action litigation and represents victims of Ponzi schemes. Continue reading ›

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James Seijas (James Alan Seijas CRD# 2392901) is a former broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Short Hills, NJ. His former employers include TD Ameritrade, Inc. (CRD#:7870) of Morristown, NJ, Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (CRD#:7784) of Wayne, NJ, and Barclays Capital Inc. (CRD#:19714) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1997. Seijas worked for Wells Fargo Clearing Services from March of 2013 through March of 2019, when he voluntarily resigned. However, on March 24th, 2020, Wells Fargo filed an amendment to his Uniform Termination Notice For The Security Industry Registration Form, or Form U5. In the amended version, Wells Fargo revealed for the first time that Seijas had been named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging that he was misrepresenting investments as part of a Ponzi scheme.James Seijas (James Alan Seijas CRD# 2392901) is a former broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Short Hills, NJ. His former employers include TD Ameritrade, Inc. (CRD#:7870) of Morristown, NJ, Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (CRD#:7784) of Wayne, NJ, and Barclays Capital Inc. (CRD#:19714) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1997. Continue reading ›

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James Simpson (James Earl Simpson CRD# 424828) is a former registered broker and investment adviser whose last known employer was Equitable Advisors, LLC (CRD#:6627) of Toledo, OH. His previous employer was The Equitable Life Assurance Society Of The United States (CRD#:4039) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1972. in Simpson's nearly 50-year career, he has a total of five disclosures, three of which are customer disputes. The most recent was filed on 9/24/2021, in which the client alleged misappropriations of funds for an investment sold outside of the firm. This is known as “selling away,” since the product being sold is not part of the firm's offerings. At this writing, the claim is currently listed as pending. A previous disclosure filed on August 6, 2021, also still pending, contains allegations that Simpson sold her an unsuitable variable annuity and misinformed her about a mutual fund investment. No specified damages are listed in either one of these claims.James Simpson (James Earl Simpson CRD# 424828) is a former registered broker and investment adviser whose last known employer was Equitable Advisors, LLC (CRD#:6627) of Toledo, OH. His previous employer was The Equitable Life Assurance Society Of The United States (CRD#:4039) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1972. Continue reading ›

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