Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog

FINRA Suspends Broker Brian Hussey Following Allegations Of Unsuitable Recommendations

August 10, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Brian John Hussey, Jr., (CRD #4640067) is a registered broker and investment advisor who is currently suspended by FINRA. His last (and only employer) is Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (CRD #6363) of Tampa, FL. He has been in the industry since 2008.

Hussey’s suspension stems from a customer complaint on 9/23/2016 that he recommended unsuitable investments to a customer. The customer, who was also an administrative employee of Ameriprise, requested damages of $88,728.00. The firm settled for $67,019.24.

The customer alleges that Hussey unsuitably recommended that she liquidate two IRAs that she held which was the largest part of her liquid net worth, and invest in penny stocks focused on commercial marijuana. This was inconsistent with the client’s investment “growth” goals for both IRAs. The client lost most of her investments in these speculative securities.

Investment Fraud Attorneys for American Finance Trust, Inc. (AFIN) Losses

August 10, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating claims on behalf of investors who purchased American Finance Trust, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFIN) – a real estate investment trust (REIT) sponsored by AR Global with a focus on the management and acquisition of a service-focused tenant portfolio.

AFIN REIT LOSSES?

According to a report from investment bank, Robert A. Stranger & Co. Inc., AFIN American Finance Trust’s listing has been described as a “belly flop,” and has “eroded approximately $1,000,000,000.00 of the company’s equity value.”

Securities Arbitration Lawyers Investigate American Finance REIT After it Drops 40%

August 10, 2018 | Silver Law Group

http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20180730/FREE/180739993/schorsch-reit-listing-a-billion-dollar-disaster-for-investors

Are-or-Were-Unsuitable-Non-Traded-REITs-in-Your-Portfolio-300x224 As many brokers and other investment professionals know, investing in a REIT, or Real Estate Investment Trust, is something that’s best left to experienced, sophisticated investors. There’s a reason for that, and some recent activities have proven, once again, that illiquid REITs are definitely not for amateurs.

There are two types—publicly traded and nontraded. While both file papers with the SEC, file regular reports and must return 90% to shareholders, there are obvious differences. Of course, one is traded publicly, and the other isn’t. The idea is that eventual dividends come from the real estate that it’s invested in.

1st Global Capital Bankruptcy Affects Investors in Knoxville, TN

August 9, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Do you live in Knoxville, Tennessee? Have you invested or lost money with 1^st Global Capital?

iStock-494312894-300x200 1^st Global Capital has recently filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy after investigations alleging sales of unregistered securities, sales of securities by unregistered brokers, and other acts of fraud in connection with the sales of securities. Several state attorney generals are also investigating the solicitation of multiple individuals into investing in MCA deals.

The alleged loan fraud totals $283 million.

Silver Law Group Files a FINRA Arbitration Claim Against Centaurus Financial Concerning Unsuitable Recommendations by a Broker

August 9, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group has filed a FINRA arbitration claim against Centaurus Financial, Inc. for unsuitable investment recommendations.

The securities arbitration claim alleges the Claimants are both U.S. military veterans who entrusted their life savings to the advisor in 2008 when she was employed by J.P. Turner & Company. They transferred their accounts to Centaurus Financial when the advisor left J.P. Turner & Company. The securities arbitration claim alleges the investors were conservative investors who did not want to risk their principal and jeopardize their retirement.

Centaurus Financial disregarded the Claimants’ wishes and invested their money in a variety of riskier investment products such as non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), market-linked CDs, and structured notes.

Silver Law Group Wins $1.5 Million Securities Arbitration Award for Unsuitable Private Placement

August 8, 2018 | Silver Law Group

FINRA-300x202 Our firm has won a $1.5 million award against a Texas-based brokerage firm that sold private placements in an oil and gas business venture to our client. The award included a significant million dollars in punitive damages. Silver Law Group continues to represent other investors in failed private placements or Reg D offerings.

Our Client Loses a Significant Amount of Money in an Oil and Gas Private Placement

According to the FINRA statement of claim, a broker of the Texas-based brokerage firm first met with our client and convinced him to fly to Texas for the investment pitch. Our client then met with the CEO of the brokerage firm and pitched the investment to our client. The investment proceeds would allegedly by used to drill oil wells for oil production. The CEO of the brokerage firm promised great returns on the investment within six months. Our client was convinced and invested approximately $521,000 – almost all of his life savings.

Oscar Francis

August 8, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Oscar Francis (CRD #5094722) is a former registered broker and investment advisor last employed with MML Investors Services, LLC (CRD #10409) of Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was previously employed by AXA Advisors, LLC (CRD #6627), also of Fort Lauderdale, and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (CRD #705) of Boca Raton, FL. No current employment information is available. He began working in the industry in 2006.

Former-New-York-Life-Broker-Jonathan-Williams-Barred-by-FINRA-as-a-Result-of-Outside-Business-Activities-300x200 Francis is the subject of two investigations stemming from the termination of his employment at MML. The company discharged him on 05/31/2017 “in connection with an investigation into an undisclosed outside business activity, potential selling away and an unauthorized non-securities life insurance transaction.” The first investigation was initiated on 04/21/2017 by the US Department of Justice, for allegations of selling away and outside business activities.

The second investigation was initiated on 10/23/2017 by the Department of Financial Services, State of Florida, regarding Francis’ termination for cause. No additional information is available.

FINRA Bars Broker Sean Brady For Possible Improper Sales Practices

August 8, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Former broker Sean Aaron Brady (CRD #4365173) has been barred by FINRA after multiple customer complaints and he was discharged by his employer. Brady was last employed by First Allied Securities, Inc. (CRD #32444) of St. Louis, MO, discharged on 10/20/2017. He was previously employed by FFP Securities, Inc. (CRD #16337), also of St. Louis, from 03/23/2001 through 05/30/2008. No current employment information is available.

Brady is the subject of six customer disputes, which share similar allegations:

Misrepresentation of net worth

FINRA Bars Former Broker William Brunner After Customer Complaints

August 8, 2018 | Silver Law Group

South-Florida-Broker-Brian-Michael-Berger-Permanently-Barred-by-FINRA-300x200-300x200 William George Brunner (CRD #2610348) is a former registered broker and investment advisor. His last employer was Investment Planners, Inc. (CRD #18557) of Huntington, NY. He was previously employed with First Midwest Securities, Inc. (CRD #21786) and Pointe Capital, Inc. (CRD #112097), also of Huntington. He resigned from Investment Planners on 05/31/2017, and has not been registered with any FINRA-affiliated broker since. No current employment information is available. Brunner joined the industry in 1995.

FINRA recently began an investigation into allegations that Brunner was engaging in excessive trading, and “use of discretion without written authorization in customer accounts” while he was a registered broker. He was requested to give on-the-record testimony in regard to the investigation, and declined to do so. Brunner was indefinitely barred from affiliation with any FINRA broker, effective 04/06/2018.

The investigation stems from a customer complaint to Investment Planners on 05/10/2018 that alleged “suitability, discretion, client unaware of amount of fees paid, client did not receive statements and did not sign active trading letters (client did not allege RR signed letters). Mar 2015 – Feb 2017.” The customer requested damages in the amount of $1,000,000. The firm requested phone records and a written response from Brunner, and he resigned on 05/12/2018. The dispute is still listed as “pending.”

SEC Charges Texas Pastor and Former Louisiana Broker with Money Laundering and Wire Fraud

August 8, 2018 | Silver Law Group

The elder financial fraud allegations reportedly cost elderly investors over $1M of retirement savings

Once a prominent Methodist pastor in Houston, Texas, Kirbyjon Caldwell is now charged by the SEC with numerous counts of money laundering and wire fraud. The charges are directly related to a scheme Caldwell and his partner, Gregory Alan Smith – a self-proclaimed financial advisor who was also charged – allegedly used to defraud elderly investors by selling them an interest in defunct, pre-Revolutionary Chinese bonds.

It is alleged that in 2013 and 2014, Caldwell and Smith singled out vulnerable investors to invest in bonds that had no more value than being collectible memorabilia – promising instead that they were worth millions.