Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog

Miami-based Broker Fernando de la Lama Merino Under Investigation

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Miami, Florida EFG Capital International (CRD# 40118) broker Fernando de la Lama Merino (CRD# 2257749) after FINRA permanently barred him.

According to Merino’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA initiated a regulatory action against Merino in October 2016. The action states, according to Merino’s BrokerCheck report, that Merino was named a respondent in a FINRA complaint alleging that he failed to provide any response to requests for documents and information related to a FINRA investigation into his potential misconduct involving the sales of illiquid structured notes and bonds referred by a foreign individual while he was associated with a FINRA member firm.

Structured notes have been subject to investor alerts and bulletins by both the SEC and FINRA.

California Kestra Broker Tom Puentes Under Investigation Over Alleged Unauthorized and Unsuitable Transactions in Puerto Rican Bonds

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating California-based Kestra Investment Services, LLC (CRD# 42046) broker Tom A. Puentes (CRD# 1713812) amidst 23 disclosures on his FINRA BrokerCheck report.

According to Puentes’ FINRA BrokerCheck report, Puentes has a total of 23 disclosures, with 15 settling for over $750,000. A large majority of the settled claims allege unauthorized and unsuitable transactions in Puerto Rican municipal bonds.

Puentes’ actions concerning the settlements occurred while he was employed by Morgan Stanley (CRD# 149777). Morgan Stanley discharged Puentes in October 2014 over allegations against Puentes over his use of discretionary trading without written authorization.

Prospera Broker John N. Crook Under Investigation After $4.8 Million Complaint Filed

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating Macon, Georgia-based Prospera Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 10740) broker John N. Crook (CRD# 2715424) after a customer filed a $4.8 million complaint.

According to Crook’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, a customer filed a FINRA arbitration against Crook in August 2016 alleging churning and excessive trading, unauthorized trading, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and intentional misrepresentation and omission, and negligence. The complaint alleges $4.8 million in damages.

The $4.8 million claim follows Crook’s termination by Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (CRD# 705). Raymond James alleged that it had lost confidence in Crook after an internal review into a client complaint during which the Raymond James found that Crook did not respond candidly to a supervisory review of trading activity.

Minnesota TradingBlock Broker Joshua D. Arnold Under Investigation

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former TradingBlock (CRD# 128605) broker Joshua D. Arnold (CRD# 828189) for recent allegations of negligence and unsuitable recommendations among others.

According to Arnold’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, Arnold has thirteen (13) disclosures. His most recent was a FINRA arbitration filed in September 2016, and it alleges negligence, unsuitable recommendations, negligent supervision, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. The FINRA arbitration alleges $250,000 in damages and is currently pending.

Most notably, Arnold’s BrokerCheck report contains seven (7) settled complaints. Many of the settled complaints allege unauthorized trading. Collectively, the seven (7) complaints settled for a total of almost $270,000.

FINRA Suspends Registered Individuals In January 2017 for Violations of FINRA Rules

January 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for January 2017, 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
Kristen Denys Bartley	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Kristen Denys Bartley	Touchstone Securities, Inc.
Jasper Eugene Boykin Jr.	MetLife Securities Inc.
Jasper Eugene Boykin Jr.	Quest Capital Strategies, Inc.
Kathy Campos
Louis Vincent Fontanella Jr.	Allstate Financial Services, LLC
Louis Vincent Fontanella Jr.	David Lerner Associates, Inc.
Yohandy Gonzalez	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Yohandy Gonzalez	AXA Advisors LLC
Michael P. Gopie	AXA Advisors LLC
Michael P. Gopie	Bank of America, NA
Dennis Dewain Hern	Ameriprise Financial Services Inc.
Dennis Dewain Hern	First Command Financial Planning INc.
Bao Tran Dinh Hoang	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Bao Tran Dinh Hoang	Chase Investment Services Corp
Christopher Wayne Hunt II
Kyle Ryan Kurtz	Thrivent Investment Management Inc.
Kyle Ryan Kurtz	Lutheran Brotherhood Securities Corp.
Reginald Lewis McCarthy	Horace Mann Investors, Inc.
Reginald Lewis McCarthy	Allstate Financial Services LLC
Caleb Layton Morris	Country Capital Management Company
Caleb Layton Morris	Country Insurance and Financial Services
Brian Patrick Murphy	Signator Investors, Inc.
Brian Patrick Murphy	MetLife Securities Inc.
Wesley Marion Oler IV	LPL Financial LLC
Wesley Marion Oler IV	Global Retirement Partners
Raymond John Pirrello Jr.	Garden State Securities Inc.
Raymond John Pirrello Jr.	The Concord Equity Group, LLC
Richard Byron Raff	Infinex Investments, Inc.
Richard Byron Raff	M&F Bank/UVest Financial Services
Gary Harland Sisler Jr.	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Gary Harland Sisler Jr.	Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC
Jay Steven Sutherland	Ameriprise Financial Services Inc.
Jay Steven Sutherland	Wells Fargo Advisors LLC
Quyen Trong Tran	UnionBanc Investments Services LLC
Joe Don Treece	Arvest Wealth Management
Joe Don Treece	Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration 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 in January 2017 for Failing to Comply with FINRA Rules

January 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for January 2017, 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 Patrick Acosta	Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Terrence Daniels	MSI Financial Services, Inc.
	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Darnell Anthony Deans	Blackbook Capital, LLC
	John Carris Investments LLC
Barbara Lucille Desiderio	Global Arena Capital Corp
	Herbert J. Sims & Co. Inc.
Joseph Ellison	Mutual Securities, Inc.
	Beverly Hills Wealth Management LLC
Niaz Elmazi	Global Arena Capital Corp
	HFP Capital Markets LLC
Brian Joseph Hagerman	Global Arena Capital Corp
	Equities Trading Corp
Candice Joy Hutton	Hutton Wealth Management Servcies, LLC
	Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
Gregory Marcel Martino	Blackbook Capital LLC
	Coastal Equities, Inc.
Jeffrey Allen Rehling	Lincoln Financial Advisors
	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Keith Patrick Sequeira	Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.
	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Penne Wilson Stafford	Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
	LPL Financial LLC
Vincent Evan Wilson	Wilbanks Securities, Inc.
	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration 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 in January 2017 for Failing to Comply with FINRA Rules

January 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for January 2017, 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
Debbie Sue Arnold	Farmers Financial Solutions LLC
Bridgett Elizabeth Beard
Anthony Joseph Calascione	Astor Wealth Management
Anthony Joseph Calascione	Legend Financial Management
Samuel David Campos	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Samuel David Campos	Chase Investment Services Corp
Ladonna Carlisle
Nichele Alexis Cavins
Shannon Kathleen Daniels	US Bancorp Investments Inc.
Shannon Kathleen Daniels	Commerce Brokerage Services Inc.
Jonathan Roth Ellis	Pruco Securities LLC
Michael Joseph Farinella	Allstate Financial Services LLC
Ricky Reid Harris Jr.	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Oded Joseph Jacobowitz	Securities America Inc.
Oded Joseph Jacobowitz	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Erik Scott Jacobsen	Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
Erik Scott Jacobsen	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Andrew Scott Jensen	Horner Townsend & Kent Inc.
Andrew Scott Jensen	AXA Advisors LLC
Tedla Ebou Khan	Goldman Sachs & Co.
Bilal Samouri McClendon	Equinox Securities Inc.
Bilal Samouri McClendon	JP Turner & Company LLC
Kevin Michael Murphy	BMO Harris Financial Advisors Inc.
Kevin Michael Murphy	LPL Financial LLC
Christopher Vincent Paul	Joseph Stone Capital LLC
Christopher Vincent Paul	Aegis Capital Corp
Jennifer Rainwater
Theodore Gerald Rothman	First Allied Securities, Inc.
Theodore Gerald Rothman	Rothman Securities, Inc.
Craig Clifford Ruschmeyer	Feltl & Company
Craig Clifford Ruschmeyer	Wells Fargo Advisors LLC
David Aaron Seigerman	Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
David Aaron Seigerman	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
David Garrett Shaw	LPL Financial LLC
David Garrett Shaw	Private Advisor Group LLC
Ladd W. Tanner	Trustmont Financial Group Inc.
Ladd W. Tanner	Tanner Financial Services LLC
Dang Hung To	Wells Fargo Advisors LLC
William Upchurch Jr.	PFS Investments Inc.
Michael Vetere	Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc.
Michael Vetere	Penn Mutual Life Ins Co
Kuana Nicole Vick	First Citizens Investor Services, Inc.
Larry Phillip Vogel	IFS Securities
Larry Phillip Vogel	Ausdal Financial Partners Inc.
William Christopher Wade	Prudential Investment Management Services LLC
William Christopher Wade	USAA Financial Advisors Inc.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration 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.

Former Missouri LPL Financial Broker Joseph Likens Under Investigation for Pending Selling Away Complaint

January 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Missouri-based LPL Financial LLC (CRD# 6413) broker Joseph A. Likens (CRD# 3084903) after a customer filed a FINRA arbitration alleging selling away, unsuitable recommendations and misrepresentation.

According to Likens’ FINRA BrokerCheck report, Likens has five (5) disclosures. Most recently, a customer filed a complaint against Likens in November 2016 alleging he sold outside investments away from his firm, unsuitable recommendations and misrepresentation. The complaint alleges $120,000 in damages and is currently pending.

Prior to the FINRA arbitration filing, FINRA permanently barred Likens from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with firms that sell securities to the public in October 2016 after Likens failed to respond to a FINRA inquiry for information.

Former New York Woodstock Financial Group Broker Glenn McDowell Under Investigation

January 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former New York, New York-based Woodstock Financial Group, Inc. (CRD# 38095) broker Glenn McDowell (CRD# 2748337) after the broker was named in a FINRA complaint alleging unauthorized activity in a customer account.

According to McDowell’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA named McDowell in a complaint in October 2016 alleging that McDowell executed unauthorized transactions in the account of a customer without first obtaining authorization. Further, the complaint alleges the customer’s individual brokerage account was not a discretionary account, the customer never executed a discretionary account agreement, and McDowell’s member firm prohibited any discretionary trading. McDowell earned approximately $5,300 in commissions for these transactions, according to the BrokerCheck report.

This complaint follows a discharge by McDowell’s former brokerage firm, National Securities Corporation (CRD# 7569) in Brooklyn, New York. According to McDowell’s BrokerCheck, McDowell was terminated upon review of allegations in a customer complaint alleging unauthorized trades and poor performance.

Did You Entrust Georgia Broker Perry De Leeuw With Your Investments or Invest in WaterBos

January 20, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Did You Entrust Georgia Broker Perry De Leeuw With Your Investments or Invest in WaterBos? on silverlaw.com

If you engaged in financial dealings with PFS Investments, Inc. broker Perry De Leeuw, you may have the right to try to recover your losses

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Duluth, Georgia-based broker Perry De Leeuw has been permanently barred from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with firms that sell securities to the public.

Since 2004, De Leeuw has been employed as a broker with PFS Investments, Inc. in Duluth, Georgia, and had no complaints or disputes on his record until 2016 (other than a reported misdemeanor and probation for issuing bad checks from 1984).