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Christopher David Sinkula (CRD #2001512) is a currently registered broker and investment advisor who is currently employed with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (CRD #463) of Stuart, FL. His previous employers include Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CRD #7059), also of Stuart, A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. (CRD #4) of St. Louis, MO and Blinder, Robinson & Co., Inc. (CRD #5096.) He has been in the industry since 1989.

Lawrence-LaBine-Under-Fire-for-Alleged-Unsuitable-Recommendations-and-More-300x200Sinkula is the subject of eleven disclosures, all customer disputes dating back to 1997. Three of these disputes were filed in 2018, and all three include “unsuitable investments” in their accounts. The disputes were filed on 8/1/2018, 4/23/2018 and 4/18/2018. The damages requested for these three claims totals $3,700,000, and all three are currently pending.

Two nearly identical customer disputes were filed on 10/13/2017 and 7/14/2017, alleging that Sinkula “made unsuitable investments in his account by creating a high concentration in energy stocks.” Both requested damages of $100,000, but were settled for $$24,750 and $22,900, respectively, and settled “in the interest of client relations and to avoid potentially lengthy and costly litigation.” Previous customer disputes are listed as “denied.”

Zachary-Bader-Suspended-After-Multiple-Allegations-of-Churning-300x232Back in June, we told you about Yousuf Saljooki (CRD #5045123), who was suspended by the state of Arkansas after failing to disclose an outstanding federal tax lien. This failure led to his discharge of employment by Worden Capital. He was previously discharged by SW Financial in 2017 for opening a branch office in another name and attempting to transfer his client list to the new brokerage. In the process, Saljooki also used an unauthorized email address for private client information.

In October, FINRA suspended Saljooki indefinitely after he failed to respond to a request for information. He is now suspended in all capacities from associating with any FINRA member. He has not yet requested termination of the suspension, and will eventually be permanently barred.

Did You Invest With Yousuf Saljooki at Worden Capital?

Would you listen if a company selling its stock asked you to reject a buyer’s offer?

That’s the conundrum facing stockholders of American Finance Trust, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFIN.) This REIT was formerly not traded, and sponsored by AR Global. The company has 75% of its Class A and former Class B-1 shares, 400,000, on the NASDAQ. The remaining Class B-2 shares are expected to be listed in January 2019.

Are-or-Were-Unsuitable-Non-Traded-REITs-in-Your-Portfolio-300x224McKenzie Realty Capital Inc. made, for the second time, an unsolicited tender offer to purchase up to 400,000 shares of each class of the company’s common stock. AFIN’s board is urging stockholders to reject McKenzie’s offer.  However, both sides offer reasons for their recommendation.

The SEC recently published some guidance on variable annuities, an investment contract between an investor and an insurance company.

Winston-Turner-Facing-Allegations-of-Variable-Annuity-Fraud-300x200What It Is

A variable annuity is an investment account purchased from an insurance company that includes different types of insurance features. It can grow on a tax-deferred basis, and you can purchase one with a single payment or with regular “installment-plan” payments.

Ronald Harris Rothchild (CRD #4491932) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with National Securities Corporation (CRD #7569 of Melville, NY.) His previous employers include Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. (CRD #6694) of Garden City, NY, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC (CRD #19616) of Melville, NY, and David Lerner Associates, Inc. (CRD #5397) of Syosett, NY. He has been in the industry since 2002.

David-Sullivan-Accused-of-Excessive-Trading-on-More-Than-One-Occasion-300x200Rothchild is the subject of eight disclosures, the most recent of which was a customer dispute filed on 7/30/2018. In it, the client alleges “breach of contract, negligence, unsuitability, breach of fiduciary duty.”  Damages requested are $100,000. This case is listed as “pending.”

Two previous customer disputes have been settled. The first, filed on 3/28/2018, alleges that from 7/26/2011 through 4/11/2016, Rothchild misrepresented certain investments that were unsuitable for her objectives. The client also alleges that her risk tolerance and investment objectives were incorrectly documented on her updated account paperwork.  This customer requested damages of $149,236.86, and the case was settled for $75,000.

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.

Daniel John Flores (CRD #2908027) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor whose last employer was Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. (CRD #421) of Appleton, WI. His previous employers include Princor Financial Services Corporation (CRD #1137) of Neenah, WI, Gunnallen Financial, Inc (CRD #17609) and Sii Investments, Inc. (CRD #2225), both of Appleton. No current employment information is available. He has been in the industry since 1997.

Flores has three disclosures in his record, all from 2018. On 4/16/2018, he was discharged from Woodbury for engaging in an unapproved financial transaction with a client.”  No additional information is available for this case.

https://www.silverlaw.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/FINRA-Permanently-Bars-Honetta-C.-Kao-After-Allegations-of-Unauthorized-Trading-and-Mishandled-Accounts-300x200.jpgOn 7/27/2018, FINRA reported that Flores failed to respond for a request for information. Two letters were sent to Flores on 7/27/2018, and 8/20/2018, respectively, with no response. On October 30, 2018, FINRA barred Flores indefinitely and in all capacities from any association with a FINRA member.

Alex Gerardo Herrera (CRD #3204779) is a former registered broker and investment representative whose last employer was UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD #8174) of Coral Gables, FL. His previous employers include HSBC Securities (USA) INC. (CRD #19585), also of Coral Gables, Atlas One Financial Group, LLC (CRD #124057) of Miami, FL, and Citicorp Investment Services (CRD #23988) of Long Island City, NY. No current employment information is available. He has been in the industry since 1999.

Herrera is the subject of three disclosures, with the most recent filed on 8/08/2018, a FINRA disciplinary action and Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (AWC) form in relation to his employment with UBS Financial Services. The investigation was focused on his voluntary termination “while under review after advising management he had engaged in financial and real estate relationships with longstanding clients without prior approval.” FINRA requested information from Herrera in letters dated May 17, 2018 and June 6, 2018 in relation to the allegations.

Stephen-Grivas-Permanently-Barred-by-FINRA-300x210Through his legal counsel, Herrera indicated to FINRA that he declined to provide the requested information to them. On 7/23/2018, without admitting or denying the findings, Herrera signed the AWC letter, accepting sanctions. In the letter, FINRA indefinitely barred Herrera in all capacities.

Shakela Yashika Carter (CRD #4321231) is a former registered broker and investment advisor who was last employed with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD #7691) of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Before becoming licensed, she was employed with Bank of America and Capital Strategies, also of Fort Lauderdale. She started in the industry in 2000, becoming a licensed broker in 2009. No current employment information is available, and she is not currently affiliated with any FINRA member firm.

Older Americans Face Exploitation and Financial Abuse in Record Numbers on elderfinancialfraudattorneys.comCarter voluntarily resigned from Merrill Lynch on 2/8/2016, after she was under internal review by the firm for “fraud, wrongful taking of property, or violating investment-related statutes, regulations, rules or industry standards of conduct.” An amended Form U5 added that Carter had participated in outside business activities with a client or clients. Subsequent amended forms indicated that Carter assisted a client with an outside credit agreement and an outside investment arrangement with due diligence.

FINRA’s Enforcement division began an investigation on June of 2016 into the allegations against Carter. FINRA requested on-the-record testimony from Carter in regards to the investigation, and sent multiple notifications to her last known address of record. On 11/29/2017, Carter emailed FINRA staff and notified them that she was no longer interested in working in the industry, and would not testify at any time. She then failed to appear on December 20, 2017 or on January 8, 2018 as requested to provide testimony.

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.

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