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Articles Posted in Stockbroker Misconduct

Anthony DiDonna (Anthony Vincent DiDonna CRD# 7283414) is a former registered broker last employed with Equitable Advisors, LLC (CRD#:6627) of Woodbury, NY. He began working in the industry with Equitable in 2020, and has no other employers of record.  Equitable Advisors terminated DiDonna’s employment on 4/27/2021 for “unauthorized transactions and misappropriation of client funds.”  On 4/28/2021, a customer filed a dispute indicating that they “did not authorize transfers from their accounts to fund new investments that were unauthorized.” They also indicated that a signature on their account opening documents were “forged.” This claim is currently listed as “pending.” No additional information is available.  FINRA’s investigation began on 12/14/2021, and DiDonna failed to provide documents and information as requested. Therefore, he was barred indefinitely and permanently by FINRA from association with any member, effective 3/17/2022.Anthony DiDonna (Anthony Vincent DiDonna CRD# 7283414) is a former registered broker last employed with Equitable Advisors, LLC (CRD#:6627) of Woodbury, NY. He began working in the industry with Equitable in 2020, and has no other employers of record. Continue reading ›

Ronald Molo (Ronald Terrence Molo CRD# 4371241) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last employer was Edward Jones (CRD#:250) of Joliet, IL. He began working for Edward Jones on 05/15/2001. The firm terminated him on 06/15/2021 and has no other employment in the industry. Following Molo’s termination, three customers filed disputes on 6/16/2021, 6/18/2021, and 6/22/2021 with identical allegations of “former FA stole funds from them by wiring client funds to a bank account controlled by former FA's spouse under the guise that they were making an investment.” It is not known if these were all filed by the same client or three different clients.Ronald Molo (Ronald Terrence Molo CRD# 4371241) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last employer was Edward Jones (CRD#:250) of Joliet, IL. He began working for Edward Jones on 05/15/2001. The firm terminated him on 06/15/2021 and has no other employment in the industry. Continue reading ›

Johan Pereira (Johan Manuel Pereira CRD#: 6252881) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employment was with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Beverly, MA. His previous employers are Santander Securities LLC (CRD#:41791) of North Andover, MA, Citizens Securities, Inc. (CRD#:39550) of Wilmington, MA, and Pruco Securities, LLC. (CRD#:5685) of Wakefield, MA. He has been in the industry since 2013.  Pereira became involved with an outside business activity (OBA) which included compensation. As required, he sought approval from Wells Fargo and was granted permission. In his request, Pereira stated that he would not offer advice on securities, financial planning, or financing through this OBA.  Later, Pereira did become involved in activity that was outside of the description he gave to Wells Fargo. He was approached to assist one of the OBA customers in purchasing Bitcoin, buying it for the customer personally. By doing so, Pereira went outside of the description he gave to Wells Fargo regarding his involvement. He did not disclose this activity to Wells Fargo as required.Johan Pereira (Johan Manuel Pereira CRD#: 6252881) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employment was with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Beverly, MA. His previous employers are Santander Securities LLC (CRD#:41791) of North Andover, MA, Citizens Securities, Inc. (CRD#:39550) of Wilmington, MA, and Pruco Securities, LLC. (CRD#:5685) of Wakefield, MA. He has been in the industry since 2013. Continue reading ›

Jeremy Fortner (Jeremy W. Fortner CRD# 4811478) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Beverly Hills, CA. His previous employers include J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (CRD#:79) of Sherman Oaks, CA, Chase Investment Services Corp. (CRD#:25574) of both Encino and Los Angeles, CA, and J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc. (CRD#:102920) of Kansas City, MO. He has been in the industry since 2004. On 8/1/2021, Wells Fargo Clearing Services discharged Fortner for “borrowing money from multiple firm clients.” There are seven customer disputes with settlements totaling $435,488.55 with similar allegations of: Borrowed funds not repaid, including two secured with promissory notes Involvement in Fortner’s outside business activities and outside private placements Recommendation of a real estate investment The purchase of a security in one client’s account without authorization These disputes are dated from 6/23/2021 from 10/04/2021. FINRA contacted Fortner for information related to its investigation, but he failed to respond with information. This led to a permanent and indefinite bar in all capacities against Fortner, beginning on 3/3/2022. FINRA imposed no fines.

Jeremy Fortner (CRD# 4811478) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Beverly Hills, CA. His previous employers include J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (CRD#:79) of Sherman Oaks, CA, Chase Investment Services Corp. (CRD#:25574) of both Encino and Los Angeles, CA, and J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc. (CRD#:102920) of Kansas City, MO. He has been in the industry since 2004. Continue reading ›

Michael Lian (Michael Emile Lian CRD# 2639356) is a previously registered broker whose last known employer was National Securities Corporation (CRD#:7569) of Clearwater, FL. His previous employers include Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD#:15007), National Securities Corporation (CRD#:7569), and Newbridge Securities Corporation (CRD#:104065), all in Red Bank, NJ. He has been in the industry since 1995.  National Securities Corporation discharged Lian after discovering that he accepted a cash gift of $8,000 in 2017 from a client without notifying the firm or requesting permission before accepting. The gift was made while he was registered with Aegis, as a “thank-you” for a recommendation. Lian also circumvented Aegis’ written policies to conceal the gift from the firm, which prohibited anything over $100. National discharged Lian on those grounds.  FINRA initiated an investigation and twice requested information from. After ignoring these requests, Lian finally supplied FINRA with the requested documentation. Lian was then suspended for 8 months and sanctioned with a $10,000 fine. He signed the Letter of Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (AWC) and the suspension became effective on 12/2/2021, set to end 8/6/2022.  Lian has one additional disclosure, dated. 12/12/2012. A client dispute alleges that Lian “misrepresented a recommendation to purchase VHC.” The client requested damages of $14,000 and the claim was settled for $6875. No additional information is available.Michael Lian (Michael Emile Lian CRD# 2639356) is a previously registered broker whose last known employer was National Securities Corporation (CRD#:7569) of Clearwater, FL. His previous employers include Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD#:15007), National Securities Corporation (CRD#:7569), and Newbridge Securities Corporation (CRD#:104065), all in Red Bank, NJ. He has been in the industry since 1995. Continue reading ›

Joseph Audia (Joseph Scott Audia CRD# 2909761) is a registered broker currently employed with VCS Venture Securities (CRD#: 127921) of Hauppauge, NY. His previous employers include Joseph Stone Capital (CRD#: 159744), First Midwest Securities, Inc. (CRD#:21786), and American Capital Partners, LLC (CRD#:119249), also of Hauppauge. He has been in the industry since 1997.  FINRA recently sanctioned Audia after allegations that he failed to supervise a representative in his division while employed with Joseph Stone Capital. The representative continually churned and excessively traded in a specific customer’s account.  The Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (AWC) letter detailed the allegations. During his tenure as branch manager, Joseph Audia received daily trading blotters. He failed to review these blotters, as well as failed to review and investigate instances of excessive trading by one representative. Audia also failed to enforce restrictions placed on the representative after the firm discovered the excessive trading. Two examples of this failure were detailed in the AWC:Joseph Audia (Joseph Scott Audia CRD# 2909761) is a registered broker currently employed with VCS Venture Securities (CRD#: 127921) of Hauppauge, NY. His previous employers include Joseph Stone Capital (CRD#: 159744), First Midwest Securities, Inc. (CRD#:21786), and American Capital Partners, LLC (CRD#:119249), also of Hauppauge. He has been in the industry since 1997. Continue reading ›

David Khezri (CRD# 2736831) is a previously registered broker whose last employer was Network 1 Financial Securities Inc. (CRD#:13577) of Hauppauge, NY. His previous employers include Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366) of Melville, NY, Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. (CRD#:159744) and Cape Securities Inc. (CRD#:7072), both of Holbrook NY. Currently, Khezri is neither registered nor associated with any FINRA member firm.  Five of Khezri’s former employers have been expelled by FINRA:  EKN Financial Services Inc. (CRD#:113525), Melville, NY, expelled on 10/12/2012 com Corp (CRD#:18281), Farmingville, NY, expelled on 8/19/2010 Seaboard Securities, Inc. (CRD#:755) of Florham Park, NJ, expelled on 2/11/2011 J. Meyers & Co., Inc. (CRD#:15609) of Rochester, NY, expelled on 03/01/1999 Investors Associates, Inc. (CRD#:958) of Hackensack, NJ, expelled on 05/14/1998  He has been in the industry since 1996.  David Khezri has a customer dispute disclosure in his CRD dated 3/15/2021, alleging unsuitable excessive trading and churning, as well as common law fraud, breach of contract, and other misconduct. The client has requested damages of $187,000. This claim is currently pending.David Khezri (CRD# 2736831) is a previously registered broker whose last employer was Network 1 Financial Securities Inc. (CRD#:13577) of Hauppauge, NY. His previous employers include Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366) of Melville, NY, Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. (CRD#:159744) and Cape Securities Inc. (CRD#:7072), both of Holbrook NY. Currently, Khezri is neither registered nor associated with any FINRA member firm. Continue reading ›

Anthony Graziano (Anthony Joseph Graziano CRD# 2862096) is a broker currently registered with Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. (CRD# 159744) of New York, NY. His previous employers include National Securities Corporation (CRD#:7569) of Westbury, NY, Brookstone Securities, Inc. (CRD#:13366, expelled by FINRA 10/9/2012) of Garden City, NY, and Salomon Whitney LLC (CRD#:145012) of Babylon Village, NY.  He has been in the industry since 1997.Anthony Graziano (Anthony Joseph Graziano CRD# 2862096) is a broker currently registered with Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. (CRD# 159744) of New York, NY. His previous employers include National Securities Corporation (CRD#:7569) of Westbury, NY, Brookstone Securities, Inc. (CRD#:13366, expelled by FINRA 10/9/2012) of Garden City, NY, and Salomon Whitney LLC (CRD#:145012) of Babylon Village, NY. He has been in the industry since 1997. Continue reading ›

Narith Long (CRD# 6598152) is a previously registered broker whose last known employer was NY Life Securities LLC (CRD#:5167) of Glendale, CA. He was previously employed with Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (CRD#:2881) of Long Beach, CA, where he began his career in the industry in 2018.  New York Life Securities terminated Long’s employment on December 1st, 2020. The company terminated him for engaging in unauthorized securities transactions. This activity included recommending to his customers that they open brokerage accounts with a separate, non-affiliated firm. Once the clients opened these brokerage accounts, Long went in using their login information and traded securities that were held in these non-firm accounts.  FINRA requested information from Long, which he failed to provide. Therefore, FINRA issued notices of Suspension and Suspension from Association letters on September 1st, 2021, and September 27, 2021. Long then failed to request termination of his suspension within three months of the. Notice of Suspension. As of December 6th, 2021, Narith Long is now permanently barred from any association with FINRA members in all capacities.Narith Long (CRD# 6598152) is a previously registered broker whose last known employer was NY Life Securities LLC (CRD#:5167) of Glendale, CA. He was previously employed with Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (CRD#:2881) of Long Beach, CA, where he began his career in the industry in 2018. Continue reading ›

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