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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Scott Reed (Scott Wayne Reed CRD# 3007033) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor whose most recent employer was First Financial Equity Corporation (CRD#: 16507). Prior to that, Reed spent four years at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#: 19616) in Scottsdale, Arizona. Reed has been in the securities industry since 1999. FINRA And Arizona Corporation Commission Investigate Scott Reed After learning of allegations concerning Reed following his termination from Wells Fargo, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) began an investigation into Reed’s conduct.  Among other things, FINRA made the following findings of fact: Reed solicited individuals to invest in securities issued by a software and web development company based in Pasadena, California; Reed received selling compensation of $191,340 from the company for his role in soliciting and facilitating the investments; and Reed failed to provide Wells Fargo with prior notice or obtain the firm’s advance approval for his participation in these private securities transactions.Scott Reed (Scott Wayne Reed CRD# 3007033) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor whose most recent employer was First Financial Equity Corporation (CRD#: 16507). Prior to that, Reed spent four years at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#: 19616) in Scottsdale, Arizona. Reed has been in the securities industry since 1999. Continue reading ›

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Megurditch “Mike” Patatian (CRD# 4047060) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose most recent employer was Supreme Alliance LLC (CRD#: 45348). Before that, Patatian spent seven years registered with Western International Securities, Inc. (CRD#: 39262) of Westlake Village, California. Patatian has been working in the industry since 1999. FINRA Department Of Enforcement Filed Disciplinary Proceeding Related To Patatian’s Securities Sales Practices FINRA’s Department of Enforcement filed a Complaint against Patatian on February 26, 2021. In the Complaint, FINRA alleged that from 2013 through 2017, Patatian recommended non-traded real estate investment trusts, or REITs, to dozens of customers. The investments purchased totaled $7.8 million, earning Patation more than $450,000 in commissions. The Complaint also details unsuitable and improper recommendations to surrender and/or switch annuities.Megurditch “Mike” Patatian (CRD# 4047060) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose most recent employer was Supreme Alliance LLC (CRD#: 45348). Before that, Patatian spent seven years registered with Western International Securities, Inc. (CRD#: 39262) of Westlake Village, California. Patatian has been working in the industry since 1999. Continue reading ›

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City National Bank is a named co-defendant in a class-action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Central  District of California by victims of alleged Ponzi schemer Zachary Horwitz, a sometimes-Hollywood actor under the name Zach Avery who raised $690 million through a bogus film licensing company called 1inMM Capital, LLC. Zachary Horwitz Alleged Mastermind Of Ponzi Scheme The complaint alleges that City National, in maintaining at least seven separate accounts to which Horwitz was the sole authorized signatory, “knew of and substantially assisted Horwitz’s fraudulent scheme.” That scheme, for which the complaint says Horwitz now owes defrauded investors more than $230 million, involved the selling of short-term, high-yield promissory notes to investors, in exchange for which Horwitz promised to purchase movie rights and broker licensing deals, using his industry connections at HBO, Netflix, and Sony.City National Bank is a named co-defendant in a class-action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Central  District of California by victims of alleged Ponzi schemer Zachary Horwitz, a sometimes-Hollywood actor under the name Zach Avery who raised $690 million through a bogus film licensing company called 1inMM Capital, LLC. Continue reading ›

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Do you have a family member who is also your stockbroker, investment advisor, or other financial services representative? Many broker-dealer firms encourage newly-minted employees to recruit wealthy relatives to invest with them to begin their business and grow their client list. You may have taken the bait and moved your investments over, or may just be considering changing brokers to help them out. There isn’t anything wrong with doing this, of course, it’s your choice. In many ways, you should treat them as you would anyone you’re considering to invest your money, since it is your money that’s on the line. The goal is to ensure that your money will be in safe hands, and handled professionally, family or not.Do you have a family member who is also your stockbroker, investment advisor, or other financial services representative?

Many broker-dealer firms encourage newly-minted employees to recruit wealthy relatives to invest with them to begin their business and grow their client list. You may have taken the bait and moved your investments over, or may just be considering changing brokers to help them out. There isn’t anything wrong with doing this, of course, it’s your choice. Continue reading ›

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Broker-dealers under the Advisor Group (which includes SagePoint Financial, Royal Alliance Associates Inc., Triad, Woodbury Financial Services, and FSC Securities) have increased legal reserves by about $4.4 million compared to the prior year, according to SEC filings. According to an InvestmentNews article, Royal Alliance, SagePoint, and FSC increased their reserves by as much as three times the amount of the prior year. GPB Sales Cost Broker-Dealers The Advisor Group firms say they increased their reserves for “legal and regulatory matters”, but don’t say exactly what those matters are. One issue that may be costing the firms is the sale of GPB Capital Holdings private placements, which recently was charged with running a Ponzi-like scheme and had three of its senior executives arrested.Broker-dealers under the Advisor Group (which includes SagePoint Financial, Royal Alliance Associates Inc., Triad, Woodbury Financial Services, and FSC Securities) have increased legal reserves by about $4.4 million compared to the prior year, according to SEC filings. Continue reading ›

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Christopher Black (CRD#5049080, aka Chris Bryan Black) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was LPL Financial LLC (CRD#:6413) of Statesboro, GA. His previous employers are Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of St. Simons Island, GA, State Farm V Management Corp. (CRD#:43036) of Bloomington, IL, and Linsco/Private Ledger Corp. (CRD#:6413) of Rome, GA. He has been in the industry since 2006. Christopher Black Disclosures Christopher Black is the subject of five disclosures, beginning with his discharge from LPL Financial on 3/30/2020. In the Form U5 submitted to FINRA on 4/30/2020, LPL stated that the firm terminated Black for entering into a loan agreement with a customer that he failed to disclose to the firm. Following his discharge from LPL, a customer filed a dispute on 4/17/2020 alleging that Black made an “unsuitable recommendation and purchase of bond investments with regard to risk tolerance and investment objective.”  The client requested damages of $72,044.00, and the firm settled the claim for $128,936.70.Christopher Black (CRD#5049080, aka Chris Bryan Black) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was LPL Financial LLC (CRD#:6413) of Statesboro, GA. His previous employers are Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of St. Simons Island, GA, State Farm V Management Corp. (CRD#:43036) of Bloomington, IL, and Linsco/Private Ledger Corp. (CRD#:6413) of Rome, GA. He has been in the industry since 2006. Continue reading ›

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The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged an actor in low-budget movies with running a Ponzi scheme tied to film distribution and licensing agreements that defrauded investors out of over $690 million. Zachary Horwitz, whose screen name is Zach Avery, ran the Ponzi scheme from 2014 to at least December 2019 through his distribution company 1inMM Capital LLC. Silver Law Group is a national securities and investment fraud law firm which represents Ponzi scheme victims in claims against the Ponzi schemer and any third parties who materially participated in the fraud or are otherwise liable under the law. 1inMM Alleged Ponzi Scheme According to the complaint, filed April 5, 2021 in California U.S. District Court, Horwitz and 1inMM issued promissory notes to investors on individual film titles, promising to use the money to purchase distribution rights to a movie, mostly for Latin America, which Horwitz and 1inMM would then sell to outlets like HBO and Netflix at a high profit.  Horwitz sold each note at a per-film principal investment of between $35,000 and $1.5 million, often promising investors a six-to-twelve-month maturity and a 35% to 45% return. One investor, out nearly $9 million, invested in 108 movies with corresponding promissory notes, the SEC complaint says. As a sometimes-film actor, Horwitz sold investors on his film industry experience and connections. The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged an actor in low-budget movies with running a Ponzi scheme tied to film distribution and licensing agreements that defrauded investors out of over $690 million. Zachary Horwitz, whose screen name is Zach Avery, ran the Ponzi scheme from 2014 to at least December 2019 through his distribution company 1inMM Capital LLC. Continue reading ›

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