Articles Posted in Misappropriation

Back in June, we told you about five former brokers charged by the SEC when the agency shut down their Ponzi scheme worth $102 million. Scott Silver recently spoke with Jennifer Cefalu of WHEC News in Rochester, NY, where two of the suspects lived and the scheme originated. The scheme…

Roger Kroeger (CRD #1526864) is a former registered broker and investment advisor who was employed with Invest Financial Corporation (CRD #12984) of Fort Lauderdale, FL for 27 years. He was previously employed with Glenfed Brokerage Services (CRD #13648) of Glendale CA and Shearson Lehman Hutton Inc. (CRD #7506). Although Kroeger…

Jackie Divono Wadsworth (CRD #2342163) is a former registered broker and currently registered investment advisor whose last employer was IMS SECURITIES, INC. (CRD #35567) of Houston, TX. She worked for IMS since 1994, and the firm was expelled by FINRA on 9/04/2018. Previously, she worked for Retirement Investment Group (CRD…

Steven Pagartanis (CRD #1958879) was employed by Lombard Securities Inc. from September 2017 through March 2018. Previous employment included Cadaretm Grant & Co, Inc. from September 2012 to March 2017 and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. from August 2011 to September 2012. Pagartanis was barred from association with any FINRA member…

Silver Law Group is investigating claims against former Boston, Massachusetts-based Morgan Stanley brokers James Polese (CRD# 2636427) and Cornelius Peterson (CRD# 5769919) after FINRA barred both of them for allegedly stealing $450,000 from an elderly client. Both Boston, Massachusetts brokers were charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)…

Several older investors reportedly fell victim to the scam, including a former police officer From 2013 to 2014, several senior citizens living in South Florida invested over $400,000 in Blue Ocean Farm, a fish farm company. Three purported financial professionals reportedly solicited funds for the farm – Rebecca Gonzalez and…

Former UBS broker John Maccoll (CRD #839441) has been indefinitely barred from affiliation with any FINRA member in any capacity as of 07/02/2018. His most recent employer was UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD #8174) of Birmingham, MI. Previously, he was employed with Morgan Stanley DW Inc. (CRD #7556) of Purchase,…

Here’s what you need to do now Elder financial fraud continues to be a lucrative scheme in America, which is why seniors and their loved ones always need to keep their guard up. We have previously discussed how to spot fraud and what some financial institutions are doing to prevent…

Christopher Lee Hibbard (CRD #3176484) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor who has been barred from association with any FINRA-associated broker. His most recent employer was Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD #7691) of Louisville, KY, from 07/16/2010 through 01/26/2018. His previous employers include Morgan Keegan…

John Greg Schmidt (CRD #708094) is a former registered stockbroker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (CRD #11025) in Dayton, OH. He is also known as “Greg Schmidt” or “John Gregory Schmidt.” His previous employers include Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (CRD…