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
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Public Justice

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James McKinney is a barred broker who was last registered with Cetera Advisors in Tulsa, Oklahoma. McKinney’s record shows that in 2019 he was barred from associating with a FINRA member firm after he failed to comply with FINRA requests for information. Customer disputes on McKinney’s record allege misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence. Before working for Cetera Advisors LLC (CRD# 10299) starting in 2012, McKinney was previously registered with Securian Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 15296). He had been in the industry since 1991.James McKinney is a barred broker who was last registered with Cetera Advisors in Tulsa, Oklahoma. McKinney’s record shows that in 2019 he was barred from associating with a FINRA member firm after he failed to comply with FINRA requests for information. Customer disputes on McKinney’s record allege misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence. Continue reading ›

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James Kennedy is a barred broker who last worked for Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. in Madison, Mississippi. Woodbury permitted Kennedy to resign for allegedly engaging in unapproved outside business activity with clients. He was barred by FINRA for failing to fully cooperate with their investigation. Before working at Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 421) from 2007 to 2020, James Kennedy worked for Hartford Equity Sales Company Inc. (CRD# 6604), Edward D. Jones & Co, L.P. (CRD# 250), Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated (CRD# 6555), and Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Friedrichs Inc (CRD# 414). He was registered with FINRA from 1986-2020.James Kennedy is a barred broker who last worked for Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. in Madison, Mississippi. Woodbury permitted Kennedy to resign for allegedly engaging in unapproved outside business activity with clients. He was barred by FINRA for failing to fully cooperate with their investigation.

Before working at Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 421) from 2007 to 2020, James Kennedy worked for Hartford Equity Sales Company Inc. (CRD# 6604), Edward D. Jones & Co, L.P. (CRD# 250), Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated (CRD# 6555), and Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Friedrichs Inc (CRD# 414). He was registered with FINRA from 1986-2020. Continue reading ›

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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 John Gissas and his central-Florida based company, Retirement Evolution Group, LLC, for their roles in an alleged half billion dollar fraud scheme. The SEC brought its emergency action to immediately halt the nation-wide 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 John Gissas and his central-Florida based company, Retirement Evolution Group, LLC, for their roles in an alleged half billion dollar fraud scheme. Continue reading ›

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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 Dean J. Vagnozzi and his Pennsylvania-based company, A Better Financial Plan, for their roles in an alleged half billion dollar fraud scheme. The SEC brought its emergency action to immediately halt the nation-wide 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 Dean J. Vagnozzi and his Pennsylvania-based company, A Better Financial Plan, for their roles in an alleged half billion dollar fraud scheme. Continue reading ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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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 ›

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