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$70 MILLION Recovery for Investment Fraud
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$7.9 MILLION Securities Arbitration Award Against Stockbroker
$1 MILLION Securities Arbitration Award for Elder Financial Fraud
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Investment fraud is any behavior related to investments that involves outright lies, omissions, or violations of the state or federal securities law. Fraud encompasses a wide variety of scams and behaviors, but at the core, they all involve making markets less fair. Investors who are unlucky enough to be caught up in the scheme may not realize until it’s too late and they have lost considerable money. And, of course, all investors suffer when the market isn’t fair. Financial advisors, issuers, brokers and others make substantial profits from the sale of investments even if an investment is unprofitable or fails to perform. Our investment fraud lawyers help victims of this kind of fraud hold the wrongdoers responsible—and, whenever possible, recover some or all of the money they lost. The Silver Law Group exclusively represents investors in fraud cases. Our attorneys are career securities lawyers and investor advocates. We understand this complex, specialized area of the law very well—and we use that knowledge to fight for your rights.Investment fraud is any behavior related to investments that involves outright lies, omissions, or violations of the state or federal securities law. Fraud encompasses a wide variety of scams and behaviors, but at the core, they all involve making markets less fair. Investors who are unlucky enough to be caught up in the scheme may not realize until it’s too late and they have lost considerable money. Continue reading ›

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Kevin Schaefer (Kevin Joseph Schaefer CRD:# 1286030) is a registered broke and investment advisor currently employed with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#: 19616) of San Francisco, CA. His previous employers include Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (CRD#:149777) and UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD#:8174), both of San Francisco, and Smith Barney Shearson Inc. (CRD#:7059) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1984. Schaefer is the subject of two currently pending disputes. The first, filed on 6/12/2020, alleges “unsuitable investment recommendations and misrepresentations.” The client requests damages of $1,000,000. The second, filed on 6/4/2020, alleges “unsuitable investment recommendations, failure to follow instructions and misrepresentations from 2012 until 2020.”  The client requests damages of $300,000. Another previous dispute was settled. Filed 5/27/2008, the client alleges that the shares of stock that were purchased were supposed to be auction rate security bonds. The client requested damages of $5,000. Ultimately, the firm agreed to repurchase the ARS securities pursuant to an agreement with “several regulatory bodies.” Schaefer did not participate in the settlement.Kevin Schaefer (Kevin Joseph Schaefer CRD:# 1286030) is a registered broke and investment advisor currently employed with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#: 19616) of San Francisco, CA. His previous employers include Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (CRD#:149777) and UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD#:8174), both of San Francisco, and Smith Barney Shearson Inc. (CRD#:7059) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1984. Continue reading ›

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Bonitas Research recently published a new report on AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc. (UAVS) revealing that the company is not all it claims to be, and actively worked to defraud US investors. In its release, Bonitas stated:   “We believe that AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.’s (“UAVS”, “AgEagle”, or the “Company”) was a pump & dump scheme orchestrated by Alpha Capital Anstalt (“Alpha Capital”), AgEagle founder and former chairman Bret Chilcott and other UAVS insiders to defraud US investors.” Based in Witchita, KS, AgEagle is a company that manufactures drones (unmanned aerial systems) and offers drone solutions for a range of different industries, including agriculture. Their website includes a description of their drone delivery work that the company has worked on since 2019. Although Amazon is not specifically mentioned, the web page includes a picture of a non-branded packing box flying under a drone.Bonitas Research recently published a new report on AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc. (UAVS) revealing that the company is not all it claims to be, and actively worked to defraud US investors.

In its release, Bonitas stated:

“We believe that AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.’s (“UAVS”, “AgEagle”, or the “Company”) was a pump & dump scheme orchestrated by Alpha Capital Anstalt (“Alpha Capital”), AgEagle founder and former chairman Bret Chilcott and other UAVS insiders to defraud US investors.” Continue reading ›

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Edward Dougherty (Edward Howard Dougherty/Ted Dougherty CRD# 2753847) is a registered broker and previously registered investment adviser currently registered with Woodbury Financial Services, In. in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Woodbury Financial has recently been the subject of arbitration claims alleging the unsuitable recommendation to purchase GPB Automotive and related investments. Edward Dougherty Disclosures Edward Dougherty has 4 disclosures on his publicly-available FINRA BrokerCheck report, including 2 financial, 1 employment separation after allegations, and 1 customer dispute:Edward Dougherty (Edward Howard Dougherty/Ted Dougherty CRD# 2753847) is a registered broker and previously registered investment adviser currently registered with Woodbury Financial Services, In. in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Woodbury Financial has recently been the subject of arbitration claims alleging the unsuitable recommendation to purchase GPB Automotive and related investments. Continue reading ›

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The US Justice Department today announced the conviction and sentencing of two former employees of SunTrust Bank who pled guilty to financial exploitation of an elderly person. Former SunTrust bankers Rashad Liverpool, 28, and Robert Tillery, 45, were each sentenced on March 5 after conviction of financial exploitation of an elderly person, in violation of Title 22, D.C. Code, Section 933.01(a)(3). The victim, a 72-year old military widow and bank client, had diminished capacities. During the summer of 2018, both Liverpool and Tillery paid frequent visits to the victim after normal business hours. This was a clear violation of SunBank’s policies. Elder financial abuse is on the rise. Florida is home to many seniors and others on a fixed income. Stockbrokers, financial advisors and other professionals frequently have insight into their clients financials and earn their trust. However, a fiduciary should never borrow, take or steal money from their clients. Our attorneys represent investors whose funds are improperly taken by their advisors or are the victim of financial elder abuse.The US Justice Department today announced the conviction and sentencing of two former employees of SunTrust Bank who pled guilty to financial exploitation of an elderly person.

Former SunTrust bankers Rashad Liverpool, 28, and Robert Tillery, 45, were each sentenced on March 5 after conviction of financial exploitation of an elderly person, in violation of Title 22, D.C. Code, Section 933.01(a)(3). Continue reading ›

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Jason Poff (Jason Howell Poff CRD:# 18272) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Allstate Financial Services, LLC of Houston, TX. Previous employers include LPL Financial LLC (CRD#:6413), Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691), and Chase Investment Services Corp. (CRD#:25574), all of Houston. He has been in the industry since 2000. Although Poff is still currently employed with Allstate Financial Services, he is the subject of a currently pending FINRA investigation into his outside business activities (OBA) while employed with LPL Financial. In a FINRA disciplinary complaint filed and signed on 12/23/2020, FINRA details Poff’s OBAs with a company he founded called Ursus Consulting LLC. Poff notified LPL and sought approval for involvement in an OBA that included vending machine consultation through Ursus in February of 2016.Jason Poff (Jason Howell Poff CRD:# 18272) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Allstate Financial Services, LLC of Houston, TX. Previous employers include LPL Financial LLC (CRD#:6413), Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691), and Chase Investment Services Corp. (CRD#:25574), all of Houston. He has been in the industry since 2000. Continue reading ›

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Gary Hammond (Gary Wayne Hammond CRD# 2660432) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor who last worked for Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc. and MML Investors Services, LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina for brief periods in 2017, but spent the bulk of his career registered with MSI Financial Services, Inc., also located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hammond worked in the industry since 1995. Gary Hammond Discharged By Employer For Selling Away And Violation Of Company Policies According to Hammond’s FINRA BrokerCheck Report, published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), in April 2017, MML Investors Services terminated Hammond “in connection with an internal review relating to company policy as to the handling of a customer complaint and selling away.”  “Selling away” is the industry term that refers to the practice of selling products not endorsed or sold by the firm.Gary Hammond (Gary Wayne Hammond CRD# 2660432) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor who last worked for Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc. and MML Investors Services, LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina for brief periods in 2017, but spent the bulk of his career registered with MSI Financial Services, Inc., also located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hammond worked in the industry since 1995. Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for February 2021, 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
  Lawrence Fawcett, Jr.   Westpark Capital, Inc.
  Salomon Whitney Financial
  Lawrence Freedman   Newbridge Securities Corporation
  Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Ganesh Iyer   Morgan Stanley
  LPL Financial LLC
  Carolyn Neale   AXA Advisors, LLC
  UVest Financial Services Group, Inc.
  Paul Stanford   Santander Securities LLC
  Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
  Nelson Torrens   LPL Financial LLC
  UBS Financial Services Inc
  Wesley Wallace   Worden Capital Management LLC
  JD Nicholas & Associates, Inc.
  Maurice Wilde   Newbridge Securities Corporation
  IFS Securities

Continue reading ›

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