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
American Association for Jusice
Florida Legal Elite 2011
Legal Leaders
5th Annual Most Effective Lawyers 2009
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Super-Lawyers
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Public Justice

Our south Florida securities and investment fraud attorneys are investigating claims on behalf of investors in PAR Funding and related companies. On July 24, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), brought an emergency action against a number of individuals and entities, including but not limited to Michael C. Furman and his south-Florida based company, United Fidelis Group Corp., for their roles in an alleged half billion dollar fraud scheme. The SEC brought its emergency action to immediately halt the nationwide fraud, which is believed to have harmed over 1,200 investors. The SEC is seeking a temporary restraining order and by freezing assets. A link to the charges can be found here, which was unsealed on Friday, July 31, 2020.Our south Florida securities and investment fraud attorneys are investigating claims on behalf of investors in PAR Funding and related companies. On July 24, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), brought an emergency action against a number of individuals and entities, including but not limited to Michael C. Furman and his south-Florida based company, United Fidelis Group Corp., for their roles in an alleged half billion dollar fraud scheme. Continue reading ›

On July 24, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), brought an emergency action against Par Funding and others, to obtain a temporary restraining order and freeze assets in order to halt a nearly half-billion dollar fraud scheme, harming over 1,200 across the U.S. A link to the charges can be found here, which was unsealed on Friday, July 31, 2020. In the Complaint, the SEC alleged that Joseph W. LaForte (a convicted felon) and his wife, Lisa McElhone orchestrated a scheme to defraud investors, using unregistered securities offerings for Complete Business Solutions Group (CBSG). CBSG was a cash advance company they controlled, that did business under the name “Par Funding.”On July 24, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), brought an emergency action against Par Funding and others, to obtain a temporary restraining order and freeze assets in order to halt a nearly half-billion dollar fraud scheme, harming over 1,200 across the U.S. A link to the charges can be found here, which was unsealed on Friday, July 31, 2020.

In the Complaint, the SEC alleged that Joseph W. LaForte (a convicted felon) and his wife, Lisa McElhone orchestrated a scheme to defraud investors, using unregistered securities offerings for Complete Business Solutions Group (CBSG). CBSG was a cash advance company they controlled, that did business under the name “Par Funding.” Continue reading ›

Steven Rodemer is a barred broker last registered with Stifel, Nicholas & Company, Incorporated in Pueblo, Colorado. Rodemer’s record shows that he was barred in all capacities from associating with a FINRA member firm for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. In January, 2020, Rodemer was discharged from Stifel, Nicholas over an allegation that he made an unauthorized withdrawal from a client’ account.Steven Rodemer is a barred broker last registered with Stifel, Nicholas & Company, Incorporated in Pueblo, Colorado. Rodemer’s record shows that he was barred in all capacities from associating with a FINRA member firm for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. In January, 2020, Rodemer was discharged from Stifel, Nicholas over an allegation that he made an unauthorized withdrawal from a client’ account. Continue reading ›

Gerald Dewes is a barred broker last registered with Cadaret, Grant & Co. in East Amherst, NY. Dewes’ record shows that in March, 2020 he was indefinitely barred from associating with a FINRA member firm in all capacities for failing to cooperate with an investigation related to a selling away allegation. Before Joining Cadaret, Grant (CRD# 10641) in 2014, Dewes was registered with Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation (CRD# 3870), Northeast Securities, Inc. (CRD# 25996), Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (CRD# 39543), Signator Investors, Inc. (CRD# 468), John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company (CRD# ), Securities America, Inc. (CRD# 10205), and Thomas James Associates, Inc. (CRD# 15609). He had been in the industry since 1994.Gerald Dewes is a barred broker last registered with Cadaret, Grant & Co. in East Amherst, NY. Dewes’ record shows that in March, 2020 he was indefinitely barred from associating with a FINRA member firm in all capacities for failing to cooperate with an investigation related to a selling away allegation. Continue reading ›

Imran Razvi is a former broker who was last registered with Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation in Frederick, Maryland. Razvi was suspended by FINRA in 2020 after he consented to an entry of findings that he engaged in outside business activity that his member firm did not approve of. Before starting at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation (CRD# 3870) in 2017, Razvi was registered with The O.N. Equity Sales Company (CRD# 2936), Park Avenue Securities LLC (CRD# 46173), NY Life Securities LLC (CRD# 5167), and Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. (CRD# 611). He had been in the industry since 1998. Razvi owned and did business as Higher Ground Financial Group in Maryland.Imran Razvi is a former broker who was last registered with Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation in Frederick, Maryland. Razvi was suspended by FINRA in 2020 after he consented to an entry of findings that he engaged in outside business activity that his member firm did not approve of.

Before starting at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation (CRD# 3870) in 2017, Razvi was registered with The O.N. Equity Sales Company (CRD# 2936), Park Avenue Securities LLC (CRD# 46173), NY Life Securities LLC (CRD# 5167), and Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. (CRD# 611). He had been in the industry since 1998. Razvi owned and did business as Higher Ground Financial Group in Maryland. Continue reading ›

Felix Chu (Felix S Chu CRD# 2427593) is a barred broker last registered with NYLife Securities in Pleasant Hill, California. FINRA indefinitely barred Chu from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for failing to respond to a request for information.  Chu’s publicly-available FINRA BrokerCheck report shows that he has been registered with NYLife Securities his whole career, from 1994 until his barring in 2019.Felix Chu (Felix S Chu CRD# 2427593) is a barred broker last registered with NYLife Securities in Pleasant Hill, California. FINRA indefinitely barred Chu from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for failing to respond to a request for information.

Chu’s publicly-available FINRA BrokerCheck report shows that he has been registered with NYLife Securities his whole career, from 1994 until his barring in 2019. Continue reading ›

Paul Weiss is a currently suspended broker who was last registered with Mora WM Securities in Miami, Florida. Weiss was suspended by FINRA after findings that he allegedly engaged in undisclosed outside business activities. According to Paul Weiss’ record, he was involved with West Hills Real Estate Fund in Miami, Florida. Silver Law Group, winner of the 2020 South Florida Legal Guide top Securities Law Firm, represents investors in claims for securities and investment fraud including allegations of selling away, undisclosed business activity and other claims when stockbrokers fail to follow best practices.Paul Weiss is a currently suspended broker who was last registered with Mora WM Securities in Miami, Florida. Weiss was suspended by FINRA after findings that he allegedly engaged in undisclosed outside business activities. According to Paul Weiss’ record, he was involved with West Hills Real Estate Fund in Miami, Florida.

Silver Law Group, winner of the 2020 South Florida Legal Guide top Securities Law Firm, represents investors in claims for securities and investment fraud including allegations of selling away, undisclosed business activity and other claims when stockbrokers fail to follow best practices. Continue reading ›

David Weisberg is a currently suspended broker who was last registered with Worden Capital Management LLC in New York, New York. Weisberg was suspended by FINRA for findings that he “engaged in excessive and unsuitable trading in the account of an elderly customer.”David Weisberg is a currently suspended broker who was last registered with Worden Capital Management LLC in New York, New York. Weisberg was suspended by FINRA for findings that he “engaged in excessive and unsuitable trading in the account of an elderly customer.”

Before working at Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD# 148366), Weisberg worked at Legend Securities, Inc. (CRD# 44952, expelled), First Midwest Securities, Inc. (CRD# 21786), JHS Capital Advisors, Inc. (CRD# 112097), Fordham Financial Management, Inc. (CRD# 20996), and John Thomas Financial (CRD# 40982, expelled). He had been in the industry since 2009. Continue reading ›

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) provides an arbitration process for investors to resolve disputes with their securities advisors. Among other things, the FINRA arbitration process helps parties avoid the expenses and waiting periods associated with filing a case in state or federal court. FINRA also writes special rules and regulations specially tailored to these investment-related disputes. As commissions on trading stocks has gone to zero, Wall Street has replaced recommending stocks with a large number of high commission alternative investments or “products” which can be complex for the average investor but lucrative for Wall Street. Over the last decade, we have seen a substantial rise in product cases for the sale of investments which were sold without disclosure of the fees or risks or alternative investments which failed to perform the way the investment was designed. Frequently, risks and costs are buried deep in the paperwork and products are falsely sold as alternatives to the stock market with reduced risk. FINRA Provides Special Guidance For Arbitrations Concerning Bad “Products” Unfortunately, many investors suffer losses due to broker-dealer firms failing to conduct sufficient due diligence on investment products before recommending them to customers. These “products” include private placements, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), and busines development companies (“BDCs”). It is often the case that the company managing the product pays the broker a high commission to recommend the investment, incentivizing broker-dealer firms to sell the product in high volumes to a multitude of customers, all without properly investigating the investment. When things fall apart and the value of the investment plummets, the investors are left alone to pick up the pieces, often suffering substantial losses and prolonged illiquidity.The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) provides an arbitration process for investors to resolve disputes with their securities advisors. Among other things, the FINRA arbitration process helps parties avoid the expenses and waiting periods associated with filing a case in state or federal court. FINRA also writes special rules and regulations specially tailored to these investment-related disputes. Continue reading ›

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for June 2020, 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
  Eric Barbour   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  David Cannata   Craig Scott Capital, LLC
  Brookstone Securities, Inc.
  Mark Garfinkel   Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
  Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
  Jeffrey Hill   Wells Fargo Advisors
  Dougherty & Company LLC
  Tracy Kirby   Morgan Stanley
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc
  David Moxom   UBS Financial Services Inc.
  Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
  Brent Porges   Meyers Associates, L.P.
  Newbridge Securities Corporation
  David Schrank   MML Investors Services, LLC
  Bankers Life Securities, Inc.
  Stephen Seglund   Kestra Investment Services, LLC
  LPL Financial LLC
  Kenneth Vaishville   Cantella & Co, Inc.
  Global Capital Strategies

Continue reading ›

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