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Articles Posted in Stockbroker Misconduct

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for September 2021, 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
  Sam Aziz   David A. Noyes & Company
  Coastal Equities, Inc.
  Gary Helbling   Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
  Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
  Kevin Nevin   Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC
  Sandlapper Securities, LLC
  James Reittinger   U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Jameson Shin   LPL Financial LLC
  Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
  Joseph Stengel   LPL Financial LLC
  Pruco Securities, LLC
  Philip Zaczek   Valic Financial Advisors, Inc.
  Morgan Stanley

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for August 2021, 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
  Omer Ali-Taha   BB&T Investment Services, Inc.
  Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
  Katie Blando   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for August 2021, 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
  Lorenzo Atkins   The Huntington Investment Company
  Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
  Samantha Beasley   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Cyntera Belser   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Annie Bohossian   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Tiffany Burgess
  Jinnie Chean   Allstate Financial Services, LLC
  Lawrence Ehren   Landolt Securities, Inc.
  Oberweis Securities, Inc.
  Michael Goonan   Equitable Advisors, LLC
  Park Avenue Securities LLC
  Courtney Mahdak   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
  John Margain   State Farm VP Management Corp.
  Janie Royal   Key Investment Services LLC
  Joseph Valenti   Newbridge Securities Corporation
  Reid & Rudiger LLC

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for August 2021, 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
  Matthew Berman
  Thomas Bonik   NTB Financial Corporation
  Linsco/Private Ledger Corp.
  James Clements   Allstate Financial Services, LLC
  State Farm VP Management Corp.
  Daniel Della Rosa   Corinthian Partners, LLC
  Paulson Investment Company LLC
  Morgan Engbrecht   Horace Mann Investors, Inc.
  Micah Judy   W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.
  Lionel Scott   Arive Capital Markets
  Cape Securities, Inc.
  Ricardo Uliambre   UBS Financial Services Inc.
  Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
  Paul Vizanko   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for July 2021, 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
  John Barrett   Emerson Equity LLC
  Lincoln Financial Advisors
  Michael Bramlett   County Capital Management Company
  Christopher Fisher   PFS Investments Inc.
  Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
  Berhane Kassahun   AXA Advisors, LLC
  MSI Financial Services, Inc.
  Charles Lopez   Bank of America, N.A.
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  Kajie McMullen   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Christy McWilliams   Jackson National Life Distributors LLC
  Kevin Nevin   Demsey Lord Smith, LLC
  Sandlapper Securities, LLC
  Antoine Rogers   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Alfredo Vazquez   Cuso Financial Services, L.P.
  BBVA Securities Inc.
  David Villarreal III   U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
  Morgan Stanley
  Jonathan Ward   State Farm VP Management Corp.

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for July 2021, 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
  Trent Drake   Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
  Pacer Financial, Inc.
  Adam Feierstein   ProEquities, Inc.
  Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
  Eileen Kenny   LPL Financial LLC
  Private Advisor Group, LLC
  Norma Kuklis
  William Kursim   Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  National Financial Services LLC
  Joseph Switzer Sr.   Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  Tim Viohl   U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
  LPL Financial LLC

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for July 2021, 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
  David Allen   Avenir Financial Group
  GunnAllen Financial, Inc.
  Jameile Cawley   Horace Mann Investors, Inc.
  LPL Financial LLC
  Bradley Gardner   LPL Financial LLC
  Golden State Wealth Management, LLC
  Brian O’Neill   Fisher Investments
  ProFunds Distributors, Inc.

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In 2020 alone, Todd Petersen was the subject of eight investor arbitration claims which relate to the sale of diamonds. Many of these claims have been settled, and Petersen’s employer, SCF Securities, Inc., discharged him, alleging Petersen “misstated and/or omitted material facts and circumstances regarding an outside business activity.” Todd Petersen is a former broker and investment adviser who spent 2015-2019 at SCF Securities, Inc. in Roseville, California, and began working in the securities industry in 1984. Customer Disputes Allege Improper Sales Of Diamonds According to Petersen’s BrokerCheck Report, published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, eight investors have filed FINRA arbitration claims involving allegations of “fraud and breach of duty related to the purchase of diamonds Petersen sold . . .” These investors requested damages ranging from $20,000 to $960,000, and several of these claims were settled for amounts ranging from $9,800 to $351,205. One investor’s claim is still pending. The allegations all arise out of the purchase and sale of diamonds and each investor alleges that the diamond sales were part of an “outside business activity.” Brokers are required to disclose the nature of their outside business activities to their employing brokerage firms so that the firms can ensure that they are upholding their legal and regulatory obligations to their clients, including protecting clients from outside frauds and other misconduct committed by the brokers, especially when outside business activities are investment-related. Failure to do so could result in liability for brokerage firms.In 2020 alone, Todd Petersen was the subject of eight investor arbitration claims which relate to the sale of diamonds. Many of these claims have been settled, and Petersen’s employer, SCF Securities, Inc., discharged him, alleging Petersen “misstated and/or omitted material facts and circumstances regarding an outside business activity.” Continue reading ›

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Peter Ianace (Peter Vincent Ianace CRD# 3238078) was a registered broker and investment adviser who most recently was registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, but spent 2011-2019 as a registered representative of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated in Frisco, Texas. Ianace has been in the securities industry since 1999. Two Pending Investment Arbitration Claims Allege “Unsuitable” Investment Recommendations According to Ianace’s BrokerCheck Report, published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), two of Ianace’s customers recently initiated securities arbitrations—one against Wells Fargo and one against Merrill Lynch—relating to the alleged mishandling of their accounts: One customer alleges Ianace “made unsuitable recommendations and neglected to reduce the over-concentrated and over-leveraged nature of their accounts” resulting in alleged damages of $13,000,000. Another customer alleges “unsuitable investment recommendations and misrepresentations” resulting in requested damages of $18,000,000. According to FINRA, the types of investments allegedly at issue include commodities. Regardless of the type of investment, FINRA Rules require brokers to have “a reasonable basis to believe a recommended transaction or investment strategy involving a security or securities is suitable” based on a variety of factors, including the investor’s age, financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance etc. FINRA also requires brokers to “Know Your Customer” so that brokers learn and evaluate these factors before making investment recommendations.Peter Ianace (Peter Vincent Ianace CRD# 3238078) was a registered broker and investment adviser who most recently was registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, but spent 2011-2019 as a registered representative of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated in Frisco, Texas. Ianace has been in the securities industry since 1999. Continue reading ›

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David Volpe (David John Volpe CRD# 2543478) is a former registered broker who has previously worked for First Financial Equity Corporation, LPL Financial LLC, and National Planning Corporation, all in Scottsdale, Arizona. Volpe began his career in the securities industry in 1996. David Volpe Discharged From Firms For Improper Private Transactions & Borrowing From Customers According to Volpe’s BrokerCheck Report, published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Volpe has been discharged from two different brokerage firms: In December 2018, Volpe was discharged from LPL for an alleged “violation of the Firm’s private securities transactions policy for involvement in capital-raising efforts without prior disclosure.” Similarly, in April 2019, Volpe was discharged from First Financial for an alleged “failure to notify firm of private securities transaction involvement and violation of firm policy regarding borrowing funds from a client.” Following these discharges, Volpe was investigated FINRA. According to FINRA’s Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, Volpe failed to respond to FINRA’s request for information and documents, resulting in “a bar from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity.”David Volpe (David John Volpe CRD# 2543478) is a former registered broker who has previously worked for First Financial Equity Corporation, LPL Financial LLC, and National Planning Corporation, all in Scottsdale, Arizona. Volpe began his career in the securities industry in 1996. Continue reading ›

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