A National Securities Arbitration & Investment Fraud Law Firm

$70 MILLION Recovery for Investment Fraud
$44 MILLION Recovery for Ponzi Scheme Victims
$25 MILLION Recovery Against National Brokerage Firm
$9.1 MILLION FINRA Arbitration Award Against Brokerage Firm
$7.9 MILLION Securities Arbitration Award Against Stockbroker
$1 MILLION Securities Arbitration Award for Elder Financial Fraud
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Public Justice

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Jeffrey Higgins (Jeffrey Thomas Higgins CRD# 2871443) is a former broker and investment advisor last registered with Western International Securities, Inc. (CRD# 39262) of Baker City, OR. He was previously registered with Financial West Group (CRD# 16668, expelled by FINRA on 2/13/2020), also of Baker City. He has been in the industry since 1997. Western International Securities discharged Higgins on 6/21/2024 following his disclosure to his firm that he had been misappropriating client funds for personal use. He began this practice in 2007 during his tenure with is former employer, Financial West Group. Once terminated, Western International filed a Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration (Form U5) with FINRA to notify them of his discharge. FINRA’s National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Programs were also notified and began its investigation. FINRA sent letters to Higgins on 6/24/2024 requesting both related documents and information and a request to appear for on-the-record testimony, which he failed to do.Jeffrey Higgins (Jeffrey Thomas Higgins CRD# 2871443) is a former broker and investment advisor last registered with Western International Securities, Inc. (CRD# 39262) of Baker City, OR. He was previously registered with Financial West Group (CRD# 16668, expelled by FINRA on 2/13/2020), also of Baker City. He has been in the industry since 1997. Continue reading ›

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James Roy Paige (CRD# 1726609) is a broker and investment advisor currently registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD# 19616) of Vero Beach, FL. Previously, he was registered with Morgan Stanley, (CRD# 8209 and CRD# 7556) also of Vero Beach, and Blinder, Robinson & Co., Inc. (CRD# 5096, no location given.) He has been in the industry since 1987. In a dispute filed on 2/6/2024, a customer alleged that Paige made recommendations to them that were “unsuitable and too risky for Claimants' investment knowledge and needs.”  No requested damages are listed.James Roy Paige (CRD# 1726609) is a broker and investment advisor currently registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD# 19616) of Vero Beach, FL. Previously, he was registered with Morgan Stanley, (CRD# 8209 and CRD# 7556) also of Vero Beach, and Blinder, Robinson & Co., Inc. (CRD# 5096, no location given.) He has been in the industry since 1987. Continue reading ›

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Aaron A. Wagner, a former college football player, social media financial influencer, and entrepreneur, has been arrested in Utah for misappropriating investor funds. The Department of Justice's complaint described wire fraud in which Wagner diverted investor funds intended for a restaurant investment and used them to purchase a private plane. He was arrested on October 24th, 2024, for wire fraud and is being held in a jail in Salt Lake City. Aaron Wagner promised investors opportunities to invest in restaurants under his companies but used investor funds for himself and other projects. In one case, Wagner solicited $2m for a gourmet donut shop called Hello Sugar but instead used the money towards the plane, along with $6 million in loans. The aircraft was sold to WCFS Travel, and Wagner was the sole owner of that company. The indictment states that $2.39 million of the purchase price came from investor funds entirely supplied by money intended for investment in Hello Sugar, Dirty Bird Hot Chxx, and Las Botellas.Aaron A. Wagner, a former college football player, social media financial influencer, and entrepreneur, has been arrested in Utah for misappropriating investor funds. The Department of Justice’s complaint described wire fraud in which Wagner diverted investor funds intended for a restaurant investment and used them to purchase a private plane. He was arrested on October 24th, 2024, for wire fraud and is being held in a jail in Salt Lake City. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group is investigating B Riley’s recommendation that investors purchase shares of Franchise Group as late as 2023. Following reports of Franchise Group Inc.’s (FRG) bankruptcy filing in Delaware, B. Riley chairman Bryant Riley sent an email to the firm’s employees stating that he felt “personally sick” in the aftermath. The bankruptcy came just over one year after Riley assisted with the formation of FRG, and the $2.8 billion he helped to arrange for the buyout. The newly formed FRG became a key holding of B. Riley. Shares of B. Riley fell 12% in New York trading following the announcement on Sunday.Silver Law Group is investigating B Riley’s recommendation that investors purchase shares of Franchise Group as late as 2023.

Following reports of Franchise Group Inc.’s (FRG) bankruptcy filing in Delaware, B. Riley chairman Bryant Riley sent an email to the firm’s employees stating that he felt “personally sick” in the aftermath. The bankruptcy came just over one year after Riley assisted with the formation of FRG, and the $2.8 billion he helped to arrange for the buyout. The newly formed FRG became a key holding of B. Riley. Shares of B. Riley fell 12% in New York trading following the announcement on Sunday. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group is representing investors in Franchise Group, Inc (FRG) through B Riley Wealth Management based on investor allegations that B Riley failed to disclose known negative information about FRG and conflicts of interest between FRG principal Brian Kahn and B Riley’s CEO. Franchise Group, Inc., (FRG) the parent company of Vitamin Shoppe and other retailers, has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The filing comes after months of issues with its backing company, B. Riley, Financial, Inc. Filed in Delaware, the company has nearly $2 billion in debts. In a statement, the company said that it had reached a deal with the lenders that hold most of its older debts. These supporting lenders agreed to exchange the first lien debt for 100% of equity in the new and reorganized company. The deal, and the entire proposal, must be approved by the bankruptcy judge.Silver Law Group is representing investors in Franchise Group, Inc (FRG) through B Riley Wealth Management based on investor allegations that B Riley failed to disclose known negative information about FRG and conflicts of interest between FRG principal Brian Kahn and B Riley’s CEO. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group founder Scott Silver was recently interviewed about a report on the amount of financial loss from investment fraud that originates in the Sunshine State. The report indicates that Floridians lost a total of $311 million to various types of investment frauds in 2023. Only California and Texas have higher losses. "It's a huge problem, especially here in Florida, which seems to attract a lot of people who are running scams and trying to take advantage of people,"  Mr. Silver told Fox13 News. "Social media, the internet, the ability to basically promote these kinds of frauds and Ponzi schemes has made it much easier to target specific people and communities."Silver Law Group founder Scott Silver was recently interviewed about a report on the amount of financial loss from investment fraud that originates in the Sunshine State. The report indicates that Floridians lost a total of $311 million to various types of investment frauds in 2023. Only California and Texas have higher losses. Continue reading ›

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FINRA’s Arbitration Panel recently awarded “emotional distress damages” to two investors involved in a claim against Ages Financial Services involving the sale of GWG Holding’s ill-fated L-Bonds. Silver Law Group has represented many GWG investors. The two investors received $75,000 each. It is one of FINRA’s largest awards for emotional distress damages in its history. Ages Financial Services is a Boston-based broker-dealer that sold the investors the L-Bonds for $246,000. In the claim, the six investors claimed breach of fiduciary duty, suitability, and additional allegations, along with compensatory damages of $648,000. FINRA’s total award came to $1.08 million, including attorneys' fees and interest. What Are Emotional Distress Damages In FINRA Arbitration? Many personal injury claims include requests and damages for “pain and suffering.” This is non-economic damages for the grief caused by an accident that caused a plaintiff to experience financial losses. Similarly, emotional distress damages for an investment claim are awarded to a claimant in arbitration for the grief caused by the loss of their investment.FINRA’s Arbitration Panel recently awarded “emotional distress damages” to two investors involved in a claim against Ages Financial Services involving the sale of GWG Holding’s ill-fated L-Bonds. Silver Law Group has represented many GWG investors. The two investors received $75,000 each. It is one of FINRA’s largest awards for emotional distress damages in its history. Continue reading ›

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Timothy Jefferson (CRD# 5004750, aka Tim Jefferson, Timothy Fleming Jefferson) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor last employed with Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD# 15007) of Brentwood, TN. His previous employers include Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (CRD# 6363) and Metlife Securities Inc. (CRD# 14251), of Franklin, TN, and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (CRD# 4095) of Fayetteville, TN. He has been in the industry since 2005. Ameriprise discharged Jefferson on 10/16/2023 for “impermissible use of account login credentials for one client, his spouse.” On 5/16/2024, his spouse filed a customer dispute alleging that her husband, also her advisor, had accessed her account and misappropriated funds from her accounts. This claim is currently pending.Timothy Jefferson (CRD# 5004750, aka Tim Jefferson, Timothy Fleming Jefferson) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor last employed with Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD# 15007) of Brentwood, TN. His previous employers include Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (CRD# 6363) and Metlife Securities Inc. (CRD# 14251), of Franklin, TN, and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (CRD# 4095) of Fayetteville, TN. He has been in the industry since 2005. Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for October, 2024, 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
Jason Bostian Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
Morgan Stanley
Helen Caldwell Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Henry Chang Laidlaw &Company
Morgan Stanley
Brian Chicas NYLife Securities LLC
Larry Law Great Point Capital, LLC
JRL Capital Corporation
Gaetano Magarelli Center Street Advisors, Inc.
Newbridge Securities Corporation
Ryan Stoner Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
Joseph Todaro Network 1 Financial Securities Inc.
SW Financial

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for October 2024, 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
Iam Aguilar Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
Luke Brooks U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
Glenn Colangelo American Independent Securities Group, LLC
The O.N. Equity Sales Company
Luis Jean-Bart PFS Investments Inc.
Matthew Kagan Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC
Joseph Seidler RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC

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