Securities Arbitration Lawyers BlogFINRA Bars Broker Taek Chong After Allegations of $2M Commission Overpayment
Taek Man Chong (CRD #1551743) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor who was last registered with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. (CRD #6694) of Mercer Island, WA. His previous employers include Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (CRD #2525) and SG Cowen Securities Corporation (CRD #7616) of New York, NY, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. (CRD #4) of St. Louis, MO. No current employment information is available. He has been in the industry since 1986.
Two customer disputes were filed in May of 2018, both alleging overpayment of commissions, totaling $2,010,939.01. These disputes are currently listed as “pending.” According to FINRA documentation, Chong was under review for these disputes, which were related to large, institutional trades, and his registration with Raymond James was voluntarily terminated on May 22, 2018. He is not currently associated with any FINRA-member firm.
FINRA began an investigation, and sent a letter to Chong on May 25, 2018, requesting information related to the disputes. On June 19, 2018, Chong responded through counsel that he would not provide the requested information to FINRA at any time. FINRA issued an Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (AWC) letter, in which Chong neither admitted nor denied findings, and signed on June 22, 2018. FINRA subsequently barred Chong indefinitely, and in all capacities, effective June 28, 2018.
Downing is also the subject of a customer dispute, filed on 07/05/2018. In it, the client alleges that Downing “between 2013 and 2018. . .excessively traded client’s account.” Requested damages are $1M, but no additional details are available. It is not known if this case is related to the FINRA action that let to Downing ultimately being barred indefinitely.
FINRA suspended Henriquez in all capacities, effective 7/2/2018 through 08/15/2018, and fined him $7,500 for effecting discretionary transactions in multiple customer accounts. These transactions were conducted without written consent from the customers, as well as without written authorization from the firm.
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FINRA barred Knee on 05/18/2018 after he refused to appear for on-the-record testimony. He was the subject of allegations of funds misappropriation during his tenures with both Voya and Ameriprise. After signing an Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (AWC) letter, Knee was indefinitely barred in all capacities.
There are five customer disclosures in Logue’s record, the most recent of which was filed on 2/6/18. Two of these disputes were closed with no action, including the most recent one.
Davis’ most recent customer dispute was filed on 01/08/2018. In it, the customer alleges that Davis engaged in “misrepresentation, unsuitable and excessive trading, negligent supervision and breach of fiduciary duty.” The customer requests damages of $250,000. This case is currently listed as “pending.”
A customer dispute filed on 3/31/2016 alleges that Maddren “Failure to follow instructions, material misrepresentations and omissions, excessive trading and commissions, unauthorized trading, unsuitable recommendations, breach of contract. The customer requested damages of $1,000,000.00, and the case was settled for $295,000. Maddren denies the allegations, and was not named in the arbitration.