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Articles Posted in Unsuitable Investment Advice

Jackie Divono Wadsworth (CRD #2342163) is a former registered broker and currently registered investment advisor whose last employer was IMS SECURITIES, INC. (CRD #35567) of Houston, TX. She worked for IMS since 1994, and the firm was expelled by FINRA on 9/04/2018. Previously, she worked for Retirement Investment Group (CRD #7421), also of Houston. She has been in the industry since 1993.

National Securities Corporation: Frequent Customer Disputes with FINRA on silverlaw.comIn 2017, Wadsworth was involved in a customer dispute involving multiple claimants while at IMS Securities. In it, the claimants alleged that “a non-party under the supervision of Respondents induced Claimants to invest in unsuitable, high-risk, illiquid investments, including United Mortgage Trust (“UMT”), United Development Funding II (“UDF II”), and United Development Funding III (“UDF III”).”  These allegations also included “aiding and abetting fraud, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy, civil RICO, civil RICO conspiracy, and negligent supervision.” Filed on 6/7/2017, the arbitration was completed on 11/8/2018, awarding a total of $963,836.00 to the claimants.

Following this award, Wadsworth failed to respond to an information request from FINRA, causing a suspension on 8/3/2018. She did not request her suspension to be terminated, and is now barred from any association in any capacity with any FINRA member.

Cory Bataan (CRD #2755223) has been employed with Emoire Asset Management Company since April 2008. Previous employment includes Empire Asset Management Company from April 2008 to August 2012, Ameritas Investment Corp. from December 2007 to April 2008 and Joseph Stevens & Company, Inc. from October 1996 to July 2001.

According to the FINRA BrokerCheck, there have been complaints against Mr Bataan.

Churning-Other-Allegations-Made-Against-Broker-Michael-Doyle-300x200In 2015, while employed by Aegis Capital Corp., Claimant alleges unsuitable recommendations and excessive fees & commissions.  Complaint was settled for $25,000.00.

Nick Son (CRD #1178523) has been employed with Aegis Capital Corp since August 2014 and was also registered with Aegis from March 2010 to April 2011.  Previous employment includes Alexander Capital, L.P. from March 2012 to August 2014, WTS Proprietary trading Group LLC from December 2011 to June 2012, Gunnallen Financial, Inc. form July 2002 to March 2010, Investprivate, Inc. from June 2001 to July 2002, Josephthal & Co., Inc. from July 1998 to May 2001, JW Charles Securities, Inc. from May 1997 to August 1997, Whale Securities Co., L.P. from September 1996 to May 1997 and State Capital Markets Corporation from December 1995 to September 1996.

According to the FINRA BrokerCheck, there have been complaints against Nick Son.

Margin-Account-Guidelines-300x200In 1996, while employed by State Capital Markets Corporation, Client alleges the stock offering from Cable and Fun Tyme were not registered in Texas; The sale of non-registered stock is a violation of Texas State securities Act 7A and is therefore illegal.  Complaint was settled for $14,500.00.

Anthony Sica (CRD #1332626) has been employed by Joseph Gunnar since November 2003.  Previous employment includes Wachovia Securities, LLC from January 2001 to October 2003, Prudential Securities Incorporated from April 1993 to January 2001, Lehman Brothers Inc. from August 1985 to April 1993 and McLaughlin, Piven, Vogel Inc. from January 1985 to August 1985.

According to the FINRA BrokerCheck, there have been complaints against Anthony Sica.

Leon-Vaccarelli-Fined-and-Sanctioned-by-FINRA-300x199-1-300x199In 2017, while employed by Joseph Gunnar, allegations shown without admitting or denying the findings, Sica consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he made unsuitable recommendations to an elderly customer living on a fixed income.  The findings stated that Sica repeatedly recommended that the customer purchase high-risk, speculative securities that were inconsistent with her investment profile.  Sica’s recommendations often resulted in an undue concentration of the customer’s account, which represented substantially all of her liquid assets, in speculative securities. Further, Sica often engaged in short-term in-and-out trading of the speculative investments in the customer’s accounts causing substantial losses. Sica’s recommendations resulted in losses of more than $150,000. The findings also stated Sica engaged in unauthorized trading by placing trades in the IZRA accounts of a customer who Sica knew was deceased causing aggregated losses on the trades totaling approximately $3,039.

John Maloney (CRD #726108) has been employed by Woodbury Financial Services Inc. since June 2016. Maloney was previously employed by Edward Jones from January 1981 to June 2016.

According to the FINRA BrokerCheck, there have been several complaints against Mr. Maloney.

Timothy-DiBlasi-Under-FINRA-Scrutiny-for-Lack-of-Compliance-Supervision-300x200 In 2016 Claimants allege Mr. Maloney’s recommendations to purchase individual equities were unsuitable. The complaint settled for $132,500.

Douglas Leone (CRD #2453784) has been employed with Salomon Whitney Financial since March 2013.  Previous employment includes Newport Coast Securities, Inc. from October 2008 to March 2013 and Basic Investors Inc. from August 2005 to October 2008.

Leon-Vaccarelli-Fined-and-Sanctioned-by-FINRA-300x199-1-300x199Leone was barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities. The sanctions were based on findings that Leone failed to attend an on-the-record interview during an investigation by FINRA.  The findings stated that FINRA opened an investigation into Leone’s potential unsuitable recommendations and excessive trading in customer accounts.  FINRA twice requested that Leone appear at an on-the-record interview to provide testimony.

The decision became final May 21, 2018.

Marc Korsch (CRD #5525226) has been employed by Centaurus Financial, Inc. since February 2014. Korsch was registered with the following firms: Trustmont Financial Group, Inc. from March 2011 to March 2014, Capital Financial Services, Inc. from July 2010 to March 2011, Variable Investment Advisors, Inc. from April 2010 to July 2010 and Gradient Securities, LLC from July 2009 to April 2010.

Christopher Robert Hickman is Sanctioned by FINRA on elderfinancialfraudattorneys.comAccording to the FINRA BrokerCheck, there have been complaints against Marc Korsch.

In 2018, while employed by Centaurus Financial, Inc., Claimant alleges that recommendation of annuity switches are unsuitable and that the fees, surrender penalties/charges and annuity terms were not adequately discussed.

John Michael Cione (CRD #1742561) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Independent Financial Group (CRD #7717) of San Diego, CA. His previous employers include Sentra Securities Corporation (CRD #10249) and Spelman & Co., Inc. (CRD #10232) both of Phoenix, AZ and Foresters Equity Services, Inc. (CRD #18464), also of San Diego. He has been in the industry since 1987.

FINRA Reports Brokers Nas Adel Allan and Gregory Anastos Made Unsuitable Recommendations on elderfinancialfraudattorneys.comOne of Cione’s customers recently filed a dispute, alleging that from September 2007 and August 2016, he made unsuitable recommendations for investments that incurred financial losses and “lost opportunity.” For this claim, the client is asking for damages of $671,490.00. Cione denies the claim and intends to defend it.

Cione has one previous regulatory disclosure from 1990, issued by the National Association Of Securities Dealers, Inc. (predecessor to FINRA.) He was censured and fined $2,000. No additional information is available.

Atul Makharia (CRD #5070762) is a registered broker currently employed with Centaurus Financial, Inc. (CRD #30833) of Lexington, SC. Makharia’s previous employers are J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C. (CRD #43177), Gunnallen Financial, Inc. (CRD #17609), and First Allied Securities, Inc. (CRD #32444), also of Lexington, SC. Makharia has been in the industry since 2006.

Broker-Ricardo-Broome-Permanently-Barred-From-FINRA-300x200-300x200There are three disclosures in Makharia’s FINRA record. Two nearly identical customer disputes were filed on 11/8/018 and 10/15/2018. Both allege “unsuitability,” and one describes but doesn’t include “several other allegations associated therewith.”  Makharia denies allegations in both disputes. Both disputes are currently pending.

A third customer dispute, filed on 1/31/2017 with the state of South Carolina, alleges that Makharia sold the customer a CD but failed to provide a prospectus. The client requested damages of $20,000. After an investigation provided the required information to the state, the claim was closed with no further actions.

Ricky Allen Mantei (CRD #1098981, aka “Ricky Allen Mantel”) is a registered broker currently employed with Centaurus Financial, Inc. (CRD #30833) of Lexington, SC. His previous employers include J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C. (CRD #43177), Gunnallen Financial, Inc. (CRD #17609), First Allied Securities, Inc. (CRD #32444), also of Lexington, SC.

FINRA-Orders-Interactive-Brokers-LLC-to-Pay-Hedge-Fund-667000-1024x1024-300x300Mantei is the subject of eight disclosures, three of which are currently pending customer disputes, all with the allegations of “unsuitability.” The most recent were filed on 10/25/2018 and 9/28/2018, with requested damages totaling $268,238.

The third customer dispute, filed on 5/21/2018, is from by the daughter of a deceased client. In this case, a registered representative under Mantei recommended “unsuitable investments” which resulted in a loss upon liquidation. The damages requested total $100,000. Mantei states in his rebuttal that he was acting in his capacity as Branch Manager for the Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction where the RR was assigned, there was a survivorship option involved, and denies the allegations.

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