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Articles Posted in Stockbroker Misconduct

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Joshua Nicholas (Joshua David Nicholas CRD# 6529944) is a former registered broker and investment adviser whose last known employer was Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691) of Stuart, FL. Nichols previously worked for Midtown Partners of Chicago, IL, which was expelled by FINRA on 3/13/2020. He has been in the industry since. 2016. Merrill Lynch terminated Nicholas’ is employment on 7/29/20 after his voluntary resignation. It was alleged that Nicholas forged a client document. The firm filed an amended Form U5 on August 14, 2020, which included information about his outside business activities (OBA), along with the arbitration with two customers that included selling away, unsuitable investment recommendations and omission of material facts. Less than two weeks later, on 8/10/2020, a customer dispute was filed by trustees, who listed the above allegations in February of 2020. This dispute was settled for $275,000.Joshua Nicholas (Joshua David Nicholas CRD# 6529944) is a former registered broker and investment adviser whose last known employer was Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691) of Stuart, FL. Nichols previously worked for Midtown Partners of Chicago, IL, which was expelled by FINRA on 3/13/2020. He has been in the industry since. 2016. Continue reading ›

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Michael Knittel (Michael Murray Knittel CRD# 3274235) is a currently registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer is Fortune Financial Services, Inc. (CRD#:42150) of El Dorado Hills, CA. His previous employers include J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. (CRD#:124583) and Financial Advisers Of America, LLC (CRD#:142170), both of Folsom, CA, and RBC Capital Markets, LLC (CRD#:31194), also of El Dorado Hills. He has been in the industry since 1999. Knittel engaged in a private security transaction which was specifically prohibited by his firm, Fortune Financial Services. The transaction involved recommending an investment in a promissory note to four individuals who were not customers of FFS. The note was issued by an LLC to fund remodeling a residential property and to pay an existing lien on that property. When the remodeling was completed and the property sold, the investors would be repaid their principal investment and receive a portion of the profits from the eventual sale. After the investors were introduced to one of the LLC owners and the transaction completed, Knittel received a payment of $10,000 from the LLC. Knittel never provided FFS with written notification of his involvement in the transaction, nor did he receive any written notice from the firm.Michael Knittel (Michael Murray Knittel CRD# 3274235) is a currently registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer is Fortune Financial Services, Inc. (CRD#:42150) of El Dorado Hills, CA. His previous employers include J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. (CRD#:124583) and Financial Advisers Of America, LLC (CRD#:142170), both of Folsom, CA, and RBC Capital Markets, LLC (CRD#:31194), also of El Dorado Hills. He has been in the industry since 1999. Continue reading ›

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Joseph La Scala (Joseph Brian La Scala CRD# 3070261) is a registered broker and a previously registered investment advisor whose current employer is Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD#: 15007) of Melville, NY. His previous employers include Paulson Investment Company, Inc. (CRD#:5670), Gunnallen Financial, Inc. (CRD#:17609) of Hauppauge, NY, and Investec Ernst & Company (CRD#:266) of New York, NY.  He has been in the industry since 1998. La Scala engaged in short-term trading in a customer’s 401(k) retirement account between July 2014 and April 2016 and exercised de facto control over the account with discretionary authority. However, the trades La Scala made were not consistent with the investment objectives and resulted in $90,720 in trading costs and $116,194 in losses for the customer. Additionally, La Scala did not have written authorization from the customer to exercise this discretion in the customer’s account. Aegis’ written policies from January 2015 and April 2016 prohibited representatives from acting on behalf of a customer without their express written authorization. Although he did occasionally discuss trading with the customer, he did not discuss individual trades with the customer on the days he made transactions. Joseph La Scala (Joseph Brian La Scala CRD# 3070261) is a registered broker and a previously registered investment advisor whose current employer is Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD#: 15007) of Melville, NY. His previous employers include Paulson Investment Company, Inc. (CRD#:5670), Gunnallen Financial, Inc. (CRD#:17609) of Hauppauge, NY, and Investec Ernst & Company (CRD#:266) of New York, NY.  He has been in the industry since 1998. Continue reading ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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