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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Peter Ianace (Peter Vincent Ianace CRD#: 3238078) is a formerly registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Plano, TX. His previous employers include Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691) of Frisco, TX, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (CRD#:149777) and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (CRD#:8209), both of Plano, TX. He has been in the industry since 1999. Ianace is the subject of two current customer disputes, filed on 8/7/2020 and 8/24/2020, with similar allegations of unsuitable recommendations. One client also alleges that Ianace “neglected to reduce the over-concentrated and over-leveraged nature of their accounts.” Both disputes are currently listed as “pending.” FINRA began an investigation into Ianace’s business activities outside of his firm after he failed to report them. Ianace initially cooperated with the investigation, but stopped in August of 2020. After declaring to FINRA staff that he would not provide any further assistance or documentation, FINRA issued an Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (AWC) which Ianace signed.Peter Ianace (Peter Vincent Ianace CRD#: 3238078) is a formerly registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Plano, TX. His previous employers include Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691) of Frisco, TX, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (CRD#:149777) and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (CRD#:8209), both of Plano, TX. He has been in the industry since 1999. Continue reading ›

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Christ Baltas (Christ Elias Baltas CRD: 2570499) is a former registered broker whose last known employer was Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366) of Melville, NY. His previous employers include Wilmington Capital Securities, LLC (CRD#:133839) also of Melville, Kovack Securities Inc. (CRD#:44848) of Fort Lauderdale FL, and Quest Capital Strategies, Inc. (CRD#:16783) of Laguna Hills, CA. He has been in the industry since 1995. In August of 2020, FINRA sent Baltas a notice to appear for on-the-record testimony in relation to its investigation of his supervision of a registered representative. This representative had made trading recommendations that were potentially unsuitable while Baltas was a supervisor. Although Baltas acknowledged receipt of FINRA's notice, he notified staff that he would not be appearing for testimony at any time.Christ Baltas (Christ Elias Baltas CRD: 2570499) is a former registered broker whose last known employer was Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366) of Melville, NY. His previous employers include Wilmington Capital Securities, LLC (CRD#:133839) also of Melville, Kovack Securities Inc. (CRD#:44848) of Fort Lauderdale FL, and Quest Capital Strategies, Inc. (CRD#:16783) of Laguna Hills, CA. He has been in the industry since 1995. Continue reading ›

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In financial industry, two of the principal agencies tasked with ensuring the U.S. financial markets’ stability and integrity are the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC ensures that commodity futures and options exchanges have policies that protect investors in the market and ensure fair trading free from fraud and manipulation. CFTC & SEC Whistleblower Programs In 2010, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which established whistleblower programs for the SEC and the CFTC. Whistleblowers that report securities violations to the SEC or CFTC can receive a percentage of any recovery the government collects over $1 million in enforcement actions. Collections can include fines, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and restitution. The percentage of a whistleblower award can be anywhere from 10% to 30% depending on the information and assistance the whistleblower provides, the significance of the information, and whether the award will deter future fraud or violations.In financial industry, two of the principal agencies tasked with ensuring the U.S. financial markets’ stability and integrity are the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC ensures that commodity futures and options exchanges have policies that protect investors in the market and ensure fair trading free from fraud and manipulation. Continue reading ›

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On behalf of investors, Silver Law Group is investigating junk bonds offered by now-bankrupt Hornbeck Offshore Services. Hornbeck Offshore bonds were sold to clients when they held a D rating by Standard and Poor’s, the lowest rating possible. About Hornbeck Offshore Services Hornbeck Offshore Services calls itself a “leading provider of marine transportation services to exploration and production, oilfield service, offshore construction and military customers.” After struggling with low oil prices and significant debt, including debt sold to investors as bonds, Hornbeck filed for bankruptcy. In September, 2020 Hornbeck announced that it had emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and completed a reorganization as a private company with a new board of directors. Investors in Hornbeck bonds lost their money.  On behalf of investors, Silver Law Group is investigating junk bonds offered by now-bankrupt Hornbeck Offshore Services. Hornbeck Offshore bonds were sold to clients when they held a D rating by Standard and Poor’s, the lowest rating possible.

About Hornbeck Offshore Services

Hornbeck Offshore Services calls itself a “leading provider of marine transportation services to exploration and production, oilfield service, offshore construction and military customers.” Continue reading ›

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Law.com and Daily Business Review interviewed Scott Silver, Silver Law Group’s managing partner, regarding a $1.8M SEC whistleblower award he helped secure for a client. The client provided crucial information that led the SEC to recover millions of dollars for investors. Scott represented the whistleblower with Boca Raton attorney James Sallah, who was also interviewed for the article. Whistleblower Complaint The whistleblower was a broker at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney when he and other brokers and financial advisors were told about the CitiFX Alpha trading program. Based on his belief that it was a sound investment, because of the false and misleading statements made to him, our client recommended the program to his clients in 2010 and 2011. His clients ended up losing a significant amount of their money, and the whistleblower later found out that the program had not been reviewed or approved by Morgan Stanley and that Citigroup had made false and misleading statements about the program’s risk. Scott Silver told the Daily Business Review (DBR) that “He was very disturbed about what he knew versus what the investors, his clients, the people who had entrusted him with their money, were seeing.”Law.com and Daily Business Review interviewed Scott Silver, Silver Law Group’s managing partner, regarding a $1.8M SEC whistleblower award he helped secure for a client. The client provided crucial information that led the SEC to recover millions of dollars for investors.

Scott represented the whistleblower with Boca Raton attorney James Sallah, who was also interviewed for the article. Continue reading ›

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Michael Martino (Michael Christopher Martino CRD#: 2579146) is a currently registered broker with Four Points Capital Partners LLC (CRD#: 43149) of New York, NY. His previous employers include Wedbush Securities Inc. (CRD#:877) of Tarrytown, NY, Brookstreet Securities Corporation (CRD#:14667) of White Plains, NY, and Emerson Bennett & Associates (CRD#:36171, expelled by FINRA in 2002) of Fort Lauderdale, FL. He has been in the industry since 1995. Michael Martino is the subject of eight disclosures, three of which are current customer disputes. The most recent dispute was filed on 6/26/2020, with allegations that indicate “between 2014-2017, reps provided unsuitable recommendations with unsuitable concentrations, with unreasonable commissions and failure to know their customer.”  The client requests damages of $543,163.00. Martino denies the allegations, calling them “baseless.”Michael Martino (Michael Christopher Martino CRD#: 2579146) is a currently registered broker with Four Points Capital Partners LLC (CRD#: 43149) of New York, NY. His previous employers include Wedbush Securities Inc. (CRD#:877) of Tarrytown, NY, Brookstreet Securities Corporation (CRD#:14667) of White Plains, NY, and Emerson Bennett & Associates (CRD#:36171, expelled by FINRA in 2002) of Fort Lauderdale, FL. He has been in the industry since 1995. Continue reading ›

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Broker Matthew Platnico (Matthew Eric Platnico CRD:#2102086) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Allied Millennial Partners, LLC (CRD#: 16569) of New York, NY. As an investment advisor he is registered with Millennial Advisers, LLC. (CRD#:170847), also of New York City. His previous employers include Arete Wealth Management, LLC (CRD#:44856), Oppenheimer & Co. INC. (CRD#:249), also of New York City, and Advest, Inc. (CRD#:10), of Hartford, CT. He has been in the industry since 1991. A client filed a dispute on 7/15/2020, alleging that Platnico representative engaged in unsuitable and unauthorized options trading in Claimant's account. The client requests damages of $1,460,000.00. The case is currently “pending.”Broker Matthew Platnico (Matthew Eric Platnico CRD:#2102086) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Allied Millennial Partners, LLC (CRD#: 16569) of New York, NY. As an investment advisor he is registered with Millennial Advisers, LLC. (CRD#:170847), also of New York City. Continue reading ›

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Whistleblower1-300x200Silver Law Group represents a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) whistleblower who was awarded $1.8 million by the SEC for providing information that led to the collection of millions of dollars from two brokerage firms.

The Commission said in a press release that our client, an insider, “provided information that would have been difficult to detect in the absence of the tip and provided extraordinary assistance to SEC staff resulting in the return of money to investors.” Continue reading ›

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Investors in Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) are beginning to realize that their investments in the companies’ products are unlikely to deliver as promised by their financial advisers. Northstar is now in bankruptcy and investors are expected to lose a substantial percentage of their principal. Unfortunately, Northstar—which invested in insurance and investment products—has suspended monthly income payments, is unable to honor liquidation and surrender requests, and may never be in a financial position to return investors’ principal funds. Northstar utlitzed brokerage firms throughout the US to market and sell its products.  Among others, brokers at SunTrust Investment Services, Ocean Financial Services, LLC, and Bankoh Investment Services, Inc. were recommending Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) investments. Investors have alleged that brokers were pitching Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) investments as conservative investments that were similar to bank CDs.  Allegations include promises of guaranteed monthly income and no risk of loss of principal.Investors in Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) are beginning to realize that their investments in the companies’ products are unlikely to deliver as promised by their financial advisers. Northstar is now in bankruptcy and investors are expected to lose a substantial percentage of their principal. Continue reading ›

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