Stockbroker Misconduct

Former LPL Broker Thomas Hindes Barred by FINRA

December 14, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Broker Thomas Hindes, formerly of LPL Financial, was permanently barred by FINRA for failing to respond to a request by FINRA for information during the course of an investigation. Hindes also has a pending complaint while at LPL for allegedly misrepresenting a variable annuity.

Hindes was registered at LPL Financial from August 2004 until April 2014. Prior to working at LPL, Hindes was a broker with Edward Jones.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

FINRA Bars Former Newbridge Broker Jerry Mofield

December 13, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Jerry Mofield, a broker formerly with Roanoke, Virginia office of Newbridge Securities was permanently barred by FINRA for failing to respond to a request by FINRA for information.

Mofield was registered Newbridge from June 2007 until July 2014. According to his FINRA BrokerCheck report, he had a customer complaint alleging conversion, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract that was settled while at Newbridge. Mofield was a broker with First Montauk Securities, Multi-Financial Securities Corp, American Express Financial Advisors and IDS Life Insurance Company prior to working at Newbridge.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Fired LPL Broker Alfred Talens Barred by FINRA

December 12, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Former LPL broker Alfred Talens was permanently barred by FINRA for failing to respond to a request by FINRA for information. Talens was terminated by LPL for violating firm policy regarding participation in outside business activities and borrowing money from clients. Talens has a pending FINRA arbitration based on a customer complaint alleging unsuitability in connection with the investment in a variable annuity and alleging Talens was engaged in the sale of unregistered and unapproved securities while at LPL.

A broker at LPL Financial from September 2009 until February 2015, Talens previously was registered with New England Securities, Banc One Securities Corporation and IFMG Securities, Inc. in addition to several other firms during his 12 years in the securities industry. LPL has been plagued in recent years by customer complaints that LPL financial advisors were selling unauthorized investments or otherwise engaged in improper outside business activities.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Registered Individuals Barred by FINRA for Violations of FINRA Rules

December 11, 2015 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for October 2015, 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
Bennett Scott Broad	Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Bennett Scott Broad	UBS PaineWebber Inc.
Antonio Costanzo	Titus Rockefeller, LLC
Antonio Costanzo	IFS Securities
Steven Craig Duprey
Niaz Elmazi aka Nick Morrisey	Global Arena Capital Corp
Niaz Elmazi aka Nick Morrisey	HFP Capital Markets LLC
John A. Gervasi	Brookville Capital Partners
Paige Strother Hays	J.P. Morgan Securities
Michael Ross Highfill	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
Michael Ross Highfill	Morgan Stanley & Co Inc
Jose Manuel Irizarry	UBS Financial Services Inc.
Jose Manuel Irizarry	Santander Securities
Keith Joseph Kobziewicz	MidAmerica Financial Services, Inc.
Keith Joseph Kobziewicz	Kovack Securities Inc.
Robert Mas Laborete	TD Ameritrade, Inc.
Robert Mas Laborete	Jack White & Company, Inc.
Scott Lyndon Martin	Securities America, Inc.
Scott Lyndon Martin	Brecek & Young Advisors, Inc.
Silvia Navarro Vallesillo
Marcus Antonio Ortega	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Rachael N. Register
Matthew J. Semetulskis	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Christopher Anthony Sumner	SCF Securities, Inc.
Christopher Anthony Sumner	Puplava Securities, Inc.
Melonie P. Thomas

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

FINRA Suspends Registered Individuals for Failure to Comply with Award or Settlement Agreement

December 11, 2015 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for October 2015, 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
James Curtis Ackerman	Sloan Securities Corp
	Aplan Securities, Inc.
Robert Joseph Altemus	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc
	Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
John Francis Clancy	UBS Financial Services Inc.
	BB&T Investment Services, Inc.
Scott Alan Dascani	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
	GunnAllen Financial, Inc.
Matthew DiGregorio	Aegis Capital Corp.
	J.D. Nicholas & Associates, Inc.
Hugh Monroe Dyson Jr.	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
	Ameriprise Advisor Services, Inc.
Peter Alex Gouzos	Hunter Scott Financial LLC
	Dawson James Securities
William Albert Hansen	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
	Chase Investment Services Corp.
Donna Marie Jenkins	International Assets Advisory, LLC
	Anderson & Strudwick, Inc.
Jason Eric Mininger	Kovack Securities Inc.
	Wedbush Securities Inc.
Scott Cameron Nicol	L.M. Kohn & Company
	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
John Morgan Pickens Jr.	United Brokerage Services, Inc
	Edward Jones
Francisco Xavier Savigne	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Michael Edward Wallace	PreferredTrade, Inc.
	Montrose Capital Management Ltd.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

FINRA Suspends Registered Individuals for Violations of FINRA Rules

December 11, 2015 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for October 2015, 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:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS
Modesto Biney	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Michael Joseph Cassano	Metlife Securities Inc.
Eduardo Jhonattan Chacon Melgarejo	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Alisha Chahal
Johnnie L. Christopher Jr.	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Johnnie L. Christopher Jr.	Chase Investment Services Corp.
Ina E. Collazo	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Ina E. Collazo	Chase Investment Services Corp.
Stephen Anthony Dalla Torre	PNC Investments
Stephen Anthony Dalla Torre	Wachovia Securities, LLC
Andrea Lynn Fayette
Alain J. Florestan	Caldwell International Securities
Alain J. Florestan	Brookstone Securities, Inc.
Ricardo Francois	Caldwell International Securities
Ricardo Francois	PHD Capital
Honetta C. Kao	Meyers Associates, L.P.
Honetta C. Kao	Caldwell International Securities
Sean Thomas Lopez	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Albert Manzo	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Andrew Marzec	Newbridge Securities Corporation
Andrew Marzec	Global Arena Capital Corp
Richard Allen McGuire	Newport Coast Securities, Inc.
Richard Allen McGuire	Financial West Group
Frederick Eugene Monroe Jr.	Voya Financial Advisors, Inc.
Frederick Eugene Monroe Jr.	Northwestern Mutual Investment Services
Mary Pearl Reed	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Mary Pearl Reed	Morgan Stanley DW Inc.
Jessica Claire Sampel
Matthew J. Semetulskis	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Grace W. Smith	TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC
Grace W. Smith	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Michael Terrence Snedeker	Investors Capital Corp.
Michael Terrence Snedeker	Banc of America Investment Services, Inc.
James Coleman Starks	Caldwell International Securities
James Coleman Starks	PHD Capital
Marat Zeltser aka Matt Zeltser	Meyers Associates, L.P.
Marat Zeltser aka Matt Zeltser	Caldwell International Securities

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Broker Paul G. Shea Permanently Barred by FINRA

October 10, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Broker Paul G. Shea (“Shea”)(CRD# 2868966) was permanently barred by FINRA commencing on July 16, 2015, for failing to respond to a FINRA request for information, pursuant to FINRA Rule 9552(d). Shea is barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. Shea failed to request termination of his suspension within 3 months of the date of his Notice of Suspension, and therefore, was automatically barred by FINRA (FINRA Rule 9552(h)).

Shea first became a registered securities broker in 1997 and was registered with Morgan Stanley DW Inc., from April 1997 – January 2006 (employed in Purchase, NY); and Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC from January 2006 – August 2014 (employed in Baltimore, MD).

According to FINRA, in 2014 a customer accused Shea of “investments that were an extreme departure from their investment directives” and “lack of contact from financial advisor, and financial losses.” Shea settled the claim with the customer in the amount of $25,000.

Stifel Nicolaus & Co.’s Michigan Broker Kenneth Hornyak Permanently Barred By FINRA

October 9, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Michigan broker Kenneth Hornyak (“Hornyak”)(CRD# 2990144), was permanently barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and is no longer licensed to act as a broker, or otherwise associate with firms that sell securities to the public. Hornyak is barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity.

According to FINRA, while employed as a broker at member firm Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc. (“Stifel Nicolaus”), Hornyak exercised discretion in a client’s account without written authorization from the client. In January 2014, Stifel Nicolaus discharged Hornyak based on those allegations for violating firm policy. FINRA further alleged that Hornyak engaged in unauthorized trading and unsuitable short-term trading in Unit Investment Trusts (“UIT”). FINRA requested on-the-record testimony from Hornyak, however, Hornyak refused to comply and failed to appear for that questioning. As a result of his failing to cooperate with an investigation, FINRA permanently barred Hornyak from the financial industry. Hornyak consented to FINRA’s findings while neither admitting nor denying the allegations against him.

Hornyak was employed as a registered representative by Stifel Nicolaus from March 2006 through January 2014. Prior to that, Hornyak was employed in Purchase, New York by Morgan Stanley, Inc., from January 1998 through March 2006. According to FINRA, Hornyak’s CRD shows several customer complaints against him accusing Hornyak of securities violations including excessive trading (“churning”), unsuitable investments and unauthorized trading. He was also the subject of two employment terminations for cause (one as noted above). Furthermore, customers have settled disputes against Hornyak in the amounts of $90,000, $50,000 and $10,000.

New York Broker Paul Padovani Suspended by FINRA

October 9, 2015 | Silver Law Group

New York broker and financial advisor Paul Padovani (CRD# 2688559) was suspended by FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) for four months from associating with any FINRA firm in any capacity, for borrowing $75,000 from a customer. Padovani’s actions violated FINRA Rules 3240 and 2010. According to his Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent, Padovani repaid the loan but did not obtain approval prior to his taking the funds from his employer, Metlife Securities Inc. Padovani consented, without admitting or denying the allegations made against him by FINRA, to a four-month suspension in resolution of his disciplinary proceeding. The suspension is in effect from May18, 2015, through September 17, 2015.

Padovani began his employment with MetLife Securities in 2012. He was previously employed by Morgan Stanley & Co. from 2009-2012, and Wachovia Securities LLC from 2003-2009.

If you invested money with Paul Padovani, Metlife Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley, or Wachovia Securities and suffered losses, you may be entitled to recover some or all of those investment losses. Please call our securities law firm toll free at (800) 975-4345 to speak with an experienced attorney, and to find out how we may be able to help you to regain some or all of your losses. Most cases are handled on a contingent fee basis, meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful in your lawsuit.

Silver Law Group Investigates Arthur Jacob, CPA and Innovative Business Solutions, LLC

October 8, 2015 | Silver Law Group

According to recent SEC allegations, from approximately mid-2009 through at least July 2014, Jacob and Innovative Business Solutions, LLC (“IBS”), which Jacob owns and controls, engaged in a fraudulent scheme involving material misrepresentations and omissions and other deceptive devices and practices. Jacob engaged in this scheme in order to obtain and retain investment advisory clients and thereby collect advisory fees.

For at least five years, Jacob (alone and acting through IBS) routinely made false statements and omissions to current clients, prospective clients, and others, where he:

concealed his 2003 disbarment by the State of Maryland for misappropriating client funds, making false statements under oath, making numerous false statements to Bar Counsel, filing false tax returns on behalf of a client, willfully violating a court order, and