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Articles Posted in Stockbroker Misconduct

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Arthur Stewart Hoffman (a/k/a Art S. Hoffman) (CRD# 3193754) has been barred from the securities industry following his failure to provide documents and information in a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) investigation into his suspension from employment for violation of company policies. Hoffman began his securities career in 1999 and has been based in Glendale, Arizona for the past decade. Most recently, Hoffman was registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC from 2016-2020 and prior to that, Hoffman worked for Wedbush Securities Inc. According to Hoffman’s CRD Report, published by FINRA, he was discharged from Ameriprise Financial Services LLC for “company policy violations related to outside business activities and private securities transactions.”

Arthur Hoffman (a/k/a Arthur Stewart Hoffman, “Art S. Hoffman”, CRD# 3193754) has been barred from the securities industry following his failure to provide documents and information in a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) investigation into his suspension from employment for violation of company policies. Hoffman allegedly sold to his clients investments in a cryptocurrency fund or similar investment without disclosing material facts. Silver Law Group has seen a rise in claims against financial advisors for improperly investing client’s money in various cryptocurrency or bitcoin related funds. Continue reading ›

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The SEC’s Division of Enforcement’s Retail Strategy Task Force and Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) have released an investor alert encouraging investors to be careful when investing in offerings that are “broadly advertised”. Did you invest with an unregistered stockbroker? Investments take many forms; many securities are investments other than stocks listed on a national exchange. Over the last decade, some of the largest Ponzi schemes in America were assisted by unregistered financial advisors selling unregistered securities. While investments which are not directly tied to the stock market may seem attractive at first, many of these investments are still high risk and are being sold under false pretenses. Ponzi schemes targeting unsophisticated investors seeking conservative investments still dominate our headlines and are frequently perpetrated by those who seek to hide behind exemptions from registration or compliance with the federal securities laws.The SEC’s Division of Enforcement’s Retail Strategy Task Force and Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) have released an investor alert encouraging investors to be careful when investing in offerings that are “broadly advertised”.

Did you invest with an unregistered stockbroker? Investments take many forms; many securities are investments other than stocks listed on a national exchange. Over the last decade, some of the largest Ponzi schemes in America were assisted by unregistered financial advisors selling unregistered securities. Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for August 2020, 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
  Ignacio Del Campo   Epic Capital Securities
  Insigneo Securities, LLC
  Marvin Egorin   Wedbush Securities Inc.
  Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Frank Grant IV
  Stefano Listella   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Great Point Capital LLC
  Jonathan Malone   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Brill Securities, Inc.
  Evan Nadelman   Aegis Capital Corp.
  Forefront Capital Markets LLC
  Jon Scheier   Edward Jones
  Andrew Slocum   Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  Elizabeth Sollars   Allstate Financial Services, LLC
  Junior Tonkam   PFS Investments Inc.
  Ricardo Turlan   UBS Financial Services Inc.
  BBVA Securities Inc.

Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for August 2020, 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
  Cynthia Barrera   Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
  Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
  David Braunlich   PTR, Inc.
  Benjamin & Jerold Brokerage I, LLC
  Richard Coleman   SW Financial
  Richard James & Associates, Inc.
  Cindy Fuzie   Morgan Stanley
  MML Investors Services, LLC
  Michael Garris   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
  Rajesh Gupta   Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
  JP Morgan Securities LLC
  James McEnerney, Jr.   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  Scott McVicker   Market Wise Securities, inc.
  Transamerica financial Resources, Inc.
  Daniel Motherway   National Securities Corporation
  UBS Financial Services, Inc.
  Jaime Rivera   First Southern, LLC
  Herbert J. Sims & Co. Inc.

Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for July 2020, 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
  Joanna Abdelhadi   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
  Kenneth Butschek   ProEquities, Inc.
  Securities Management & Research, Inc.
  Nathaniel Clay   Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.
  National Securities Corporation
  Paula Collins   TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC
  Oppenheimerfunds Distributor, Inc.
  Alan Lau   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Wells Fargo Investments, LLC
  Stanley Martin   Allstate Financial Services, LLC
  H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc.
  Scott Mason   Voya Financial Advisors, Inc.
  Western Wealth Management, LLC
  John Santariello   Arive Capital markets
  Cape Securities Inc.
  Marc Winters   Wedbush Securities Inc.
  UBS Financial Services Inc.

Continue reading ›

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged former Morgan Stanley broker Michael Barry Carter with fraud for stealing from his customers, including an elderly client. The complaint filed by the SEC alleges that Carter, a currently-barred broker who was last registered with Morgan Stanley in their McLean, Virginia office, made dozens of unauthorized wire transfers from his client’s accounts to his personal bank account, which amounted to millions of dollars. It is alleged that Carter falsified documents to make the transfers and made unauthorized sales of client’s securities.The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged former Morgan Stanley broker Michael Barry Carter with fraud for stealing from his customers, including an elderly client.

The complaint filed by the SEC alleges that Carter, a currently-barred broker who was last registered with Morgan Stanley in their McLean, Virginia office, made dozens of unauthorized wire transfers from his client’s accounts to his personal bank account, which amounted to millions of dollars. It is alleged that Carter falsified documents to make the transfers and made unauthorized sales of client’s securities. Continue reading ›

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James McKinney is a barred broker who was last registered with Cetera Advisors in Tulsa, Oklahoma. McKinney’s record shows that in 2019 he was barred from associating with a FINRA member firm after he failed to comply with FINRA requests for information. Customer disputes on McKinney’s record allege misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence. Before working for Cetera Advisors LLC (CRD# 10299) starting in 2012, McKinney was previously registered with Securian Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 15296). He had been in the industry since 1991.James McKinney is a barred broker who was last registered with Cetera Advisors in Tulsa, Oklahoma. McKinney’s record shows that in 2019 he was barred from associating with a FINRA member firm after he failed to comply with FINRA requests for information. Customer disputes on McKinney’s record allege misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence. Continue reading ›

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James Kennedy is a barred broker who last worked for Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. in Madison, Mississippi. Woodbury permitted Kennedy to resign for allegedly engaging in unapproved outside business activity with clients. He was barred by FINRA for failing to fully cooperate with their investigation. Before working at Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 421) from 2007 to 2020, James Kennedy worked for Hartford Equity Sales Company Inc. (CRD# 6604), Edward D. Jones & Co, L.P. (CRD# 250), Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated (CRD# 6555), and Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Friedrichs Inc (CRD# 414). He was registered with FINRA from 1986-2020.James Kennedy is a barred broker who last worked for Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. in Madison, Mississippi. Woodbury permitted Kennedy to resign for allegedly engaging in unapproved outside business activity with clients. He was barred by FINRA for failing to fully cooperate with their investigation.

Before working at Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 421) from 2007 to 2020, James Kennedy worked for Hartford Equity Sales Company Inc. (CRD# 6604), Edward D. Jones & Co, L.P. (CRD# 250), Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated (CRD# 6555), and Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Friedrichs Inc (CRD# 414). He was registered with FINRA from 1986-2020. Continue reading ›

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Steven Rodemer is a barred broker last registered with Stifel, Nicholas & Company, Incorporated in Pueblo, Colorado. Rodemer’s record shows that he was barred in all capacities from associating with a FINRA member firm for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. In January, 2020, Rodemer was discharged from Stifel, Nicholas over an allegation that he made an unauthorized withdrawal from a client’ account.Steven Rodemer is a barred broker last registered with Stifel, Nicholas & Company, Incorporated in Pueblo, Colorado. Rodemer’s record shows that he was barred in all capacities from associating with a FINRA member firm for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. In January, 2020, Rodemer was discharged from Stifel, Nicholas over an allegation that he made an unauthorized withdrawal from a client’ account. Continue reading ›

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Gerald Dewes is a barred broker last registered with Cadaret, Grant & Co. in East Amherst, NY. Dewes’ record shows that in March, 2020 he was indefinitely barred from associating with a FINRA member firm in all capacities for failing to cooperate with an investigation related to a selling away allegation. Before Joining Cadaret, Grant (CRD# 10641) in 2014, Dewes was registered with Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation (CRD# 3870), Northeast Securities, Inc. (CRD# 25996), Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (CRD# 39543), Signator Investors, Inc. (CRD# 468), John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company (CRD# ), Securities America, Inc. (CRD# 10205), and Thomas James Associates, Inc. (CRD# 15609). He had been in the industry since 1994.Gerald Dewes is a barred broker last registered with Cadaret, Grant & Co. in East Amherst, NY. Dewes’ record shows that in March, 2020 he was indefinitely barred from associating with a FINRA member firm in all capacities for failing to cooperate with an investigation related to a selling away allegation. Continue reading ›

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