Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog

FINRA Suspends Registered Individuals in February 2016 for Violations of FINRA Rules

February 29, 2016 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for February 2016, 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
Steven Angelo Aguilar	J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC
Thomas Edward Andrews	LPL Financial, LLC
John H. Berry	Crown Capital Securities, LP
John H. Berry	LPL Financial, LLC
Jeffrey Alan Bond	David Lerner Associates, Inc.
Ricardo Athelstone Broome	Woodstock Financial Group, Inc.
Ricardo Athelstone Broome	Meyers Associates LP
Thomas Buono	Park Avenue Securities, LLC
Henry Kimtong Chang	Cetera Advisor Networks LLC
Henry Kimtong Chang	Financial Network Investment Corp.
Veronica A. Deese	The Vanguard Group, Inc.
Larry Gordon Goldston	Caprock Securities, Inc.
Larry Gordon Goldston	Morgan Stanley DW, Inc.
Rogelio Fernando Guevara	Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC
Li-Lin Hsu	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Li-Lin Hsu	Transglobal Advisory, LLC
Roy Edward Jones	J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC
Roy Edward Jones	Castle Oak Securities
Sean Francis Lanci	J. Streicher Capital, LLC
Sean Francis Lanci	John Thomas Financial
Tiffany Kim Le	Logic Wealth Management
Tiffany Kim Le	J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC
Sergio D. Lopez	MML Investors Services, LLC
Sergio D. Lopez	NYLife Securities, LLC
April Christine Morris-Spicer	Wunderlich Securities, Inc.
April Christine Morris-Spicer	Lincoln Investment
Sean David Portnoy	Nobles & Richards, Inc.
Sean David Portnoy	Sethi Financial Group
Samatha Raeshawn Raines	Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC
Royal Vance Keith Charles Reynolds III	Pruco Securities, LLC
Angelos Stephen Tsigounis	Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc.
Angelos Stephen Tsigounis	VFinance Investments, Inc.
Makiasa Donyell Turner	Allstate Financial Services, 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.

FINRA Bars Registered Individuals in February 2016 for Violations of FINRA Rules

February 29, 2016 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for February 2016, 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
Joe L. Buckner	Brazos Securities, Inc.
Joe L. Buckner	Maplewood Securities, Inc.
Adam Douglas Carrol	The Leaders Group, Inc.
Adam Douglas Carrol	Metlife Securities, Inc.
Dennis Fitzgerald Davis	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Dennis Fitzgerald Davis	Chase Investment Services Corp.
Stevaun I. Davis
Theodore Garrity	Feltl & Company
Theodore Garrity	Morgan Stanley & Co, Inc.
Tony Sand Jung	MML Distributors, LLC
Tony Sand Jung	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Andreas Stavros Kentrotas	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Andreas Stavros Kentrotas	Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
Jay Max Mabry	Park Avenue Securities
Jay Max Mabry	Regal Investment Advisors, LLC
Joseph Anthony Mele
Eugene Theodore Smietana	LPL Financial, LLC
Eugene Theodore Smietana	Prudential Securities, Inc.
John Howard Towers	VSR Financial Services, Inc.
John Howard Towers	Personal Wealth Advisors, LLC
Jacqueline Lee Vadala	Craig Scott Capital, LLC
Jacqueline Lee Vadala	Rockwell Global Capital, LLC
Kenneth Robert Wooden	Edward Jones
Kenneth Robert Wooden	Chase Investment Services Corp.

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.

Did Bernard Parker Use Your Money to Remodel His Home?

February 25, 2016 | Silver Law Group

Did Bernard Parker Use Your Money to Remodel His Home? on silverlaw.com

If you invested funds with Bernard Parker at Edward Jones, you need to keep reading.

Most recently registered with Edward Jones in Indiana, PA, Bernard Parker is now permanently barred from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with firms that sell securities to the public.

According to his FINRA BrokerCheck record, Parker is accused of stealing investor money to remodel his house and pay other bills. In fact, in November 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced fraud charges against Parker. In its complaint, the SEC alleges that Parker conducted an unregistered and fraudulent offering of securities that raised more than $1.2 million from his longstanding brokerage customers and others who were told they were purchasing legitimate tax lien certificates and would earn returns of six to nine percent annually.

FINRA Permanently Bars Barry Hartman From Securities Activity for Alleged “Selling Away” Activities

February 23, 2016 | Silver Law Group

FINRA Permanently Bars Barry Hartman From Securities Activity for Alleged “Selling Away” Activities Silverlaw.com

Montana financial advisor barred from securities activity for multiple FINRA violations

In a ruling that came in August 2015, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) permanently barred Barry G. Hartman, formerly of FSC Securities Corporation in Missoula, MT, for allegedly engaging in a practice known in the industry as selling away.

While Hartman was registered with FSC, he also managed his securities business through Rocky Mountain Financial LLC. Multiple prior clients are alleging that Hartman recommended outside investments without the necessary approval from his registered firm.

FINRA Permanently Bars Raymond T. Clark from Securities Industry

February 23, 2016 | Silver Law Group

FINRA Permanently Bars Raymond T. Clark from Securities Industry on silverlaw.com

Former Dynasty Capital Partners broker ends 15-year career with numerous customer disputes.

After 17 years as a financial adviser, Raymond T. Clark has been permanently barred from the securities industry. This permanent bar follows Clark’s failure to pay fines and/or costs associated with a FINRA complaint. The complaint also alleges that Clark failed to appear for, or provide on-the-record testimony that materially impeded the agency’s investigation of his activities as a broker, including numerous acts of broker misconduct. In fact, through the years, allegations made by customers against Clark include:

Excessive and unauthorized trading

FINRA Bars Patrick Garrett Amid Allegations of Overstating Account Values

February 22, 2016 | Silver Law Group

FINRA Bars Patrick Garrett Amid Allegations of Overstating Account Values on silverlaw.com

Financial advisor Patrick Garrett barred from having any activity with FINRA regulated firms

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has taken steps to bar Patrick Garrett of Nashville, TN from any further activities with the securities industry after multiple, serious allegations of intentionally overstating client account values, which masked significant trading losses for that client.

According to his FINRA report, Garrett was dishonest about the amount in the client’s account, indicating that the balance was actually $200,000 higher than its actual value. He allegedly tried to rectify this discrepancy by misusing funds from a joint account held by a married couple.

Broker Richard Drown Disappeared According to Firm

February 22, 2016 | Silver Law Group

Broker Richard Drown Disappeared According to Firm on silverlaw.com

Allegations of unauthorized trading and client abandonment tarnish 34-year career.

In June 2015, investment firm D.A. Davidson & Company formally discharged broker Richard G. Drown, Jr. after the broker allegedly “disappeared,” abandoning both his duties and his clients. According to Drown’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, the firm filed an Employment Separation After Allegations report, saying that his whereabouts remained unknown.

Pending customer disputes remain open on Drown’s FINRA record and involve allegations of unauthorized transactions and misappropriation of funds in two customer accounts owned by a mother and daughter. In particular, Drown is accused of transferring funds from the customer trust brokerage accounts to the trust’s outside bank accounts during two separate time periods.

Silver Law Group is Pursuing Claims Related to Former RBC Broker Paul Blum

February 19, 2016 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating claims related to Paul Vincent Blum (CRD # 735003), a West Palm Beach, Florida, broker who was registered with RBC Capital Markets, LLC, from October 2008 until his termination in October 2015. RBC terminated Blum’s registration with the firm, putting his reason for discharge as due to “loss of confidence.” Silver Law Group recently was retained to file a FINRA arbitration claim on behalf of one of Blum’s former clients, who alleges that he has experienced significant investment losses stemming from Blum’s unsuitable recommendation to make concentrated investments in oil and gas.

We are currently investigating multiple claims against brokerage firms and stockbrokers for improperly recommending the unsuitable sale of energy stocks, bonds and MLPs frequently in large or overconcentrated positions. Some of the companies include:

Linn Energy

Churning, Other Allegations Made Against Broker Michael Doyle

February 18, 2016 | Silver Law Group

Churning, Other Allegations Made Against Broker Michael Doyle on silverlaw.com

After 7 complaints and millions in settlements, Doyle is suspended by FINRA

According to a FINRA BrokerCheck report, Michael Doyle has received complaints from seven clients and was suspended for failing to comply with an arbitration award and to respond to the FINRA’s request to provide information concerning the status of compliance.

The complaints against Doyle date back to March of 1998 when a customer alleged that her account was churned in relation to stock option trades. In addition to this complaint, numerous others would continue to be made against Doyle over the 17 years that followed.

Leon Vaccarelli Fined and Sanctioned by FINRA

February 18, 2016 | Silver Law Group

Leon Vaccarelli Fined and Sanctioned by FINRA on silverlaw.com

Connecticut broker agrees to one-month suspension and $7500 fine.

Leon Vaccarelli, a stockbroker registered with the Investment Center, was recently suspended from participating in the securities industry for one month and paid a $7500 fine to regulatory agency FINRA.

According to the report, registered representatives are prohibited from exercising discretion in a customer’s account unless the customer has given prior written authorization to exercise discretion and the account has been approved as discretionary, in writing, by the representative’s firm.