Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog

Lee Robert Donais (CRD #2347440) was a registered broker with SCF Securities, Inc. (CRD #47275) of Lighthouse Point, FL, since 2012 through May 2018. His previous employers include Brookstone Securities, Inc. (CRD #13366), brokersXpress LLC (CRD #127081, now defunct), and LPL Financial Corporation (CRD #6413), also of Lighthouse Point, Florida.…

Broker Keith Michael D’Agostino (CRD #2837860, also spelled “Dagostino”) is currently registered with Aegis Capital Corporation (CRD #15007) in Melville, NY since 2014.  He has been in financial services since 2002. D’Agostino’s most recent complaint was filed on May 11, 2017, with the client alleging “poor performance.” The client requested…

James J. Mariani (CRD #2932631) is a currently registered broker with Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD #15007) of Bayside, New York. He has been with Aegis for less than one year. His previous employers include: National Securities Corporation (CRD #7569) of Mineola, NY First Montauk Securities Corp. (CRD #13755) of Port…

David Schmerber (CRD #2093918) is a currently registered broker and investment advisor with Cetera Advisors of Centerville, OH. He has been in the industry since 1990. His previous employers include: LPL Financial LLC (CRD #6413) Smith Barney Inc. (CRD #7059) Lehman Brothers Inc. (CRD #7506) Schmerber’s brokerage firm, LPL Financial,…

Former broker James Albert Pettit (CRD #733916), formerly of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (CRD #6363), was barred by FINRA on 3/26/2018. This is the result of failing to comply with an arbitration award, and providing proof of the compliance. The bar is indefinite, and in all capacities until the award…

Matthew Evan Eckstein (CRD #2997245) was a registered broker with Sisk Investment Services, Inc. (CRD #19406) of Syossett, NY. He has been with Sisk since 2015. Eckstein was previously employed by Gould, Ambroson & Associates Ltd. (CRD #17412) of Garden City, NY.  Our New York securities arbitration lawyers are representing…

On June 19, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) shut down a $102 million Ponzi scheme and charged five (5) individuals and three (3) businesses with various securities laws violations. The massive Ponzi scheme’s alleged orchestrators were all formerly registered with FINRA and employed by FINRA-registered firms, according…

The SEC has shut down a $102 Million Ponzi Scheme that was defrauding investors in several states. The complaint that was filed in federal district court in Manhattan charges Perry Santillo from Rochester, New York, Christopher Parris from Rochester, New York, Paul LaRocco from Ocala, Florida, John Piccarreto from San…

New research suggests a new reason for the trust seniors place in others Researchers have long been interested in finding out why the elderly tend to fall for scams more easily than the rest of the population. While cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia have been considered…

Silver Law Group is investigating Minnesota-based Century Securities Associates, Inc. broker Bernard McLaughlin Jr. (CRD# 601178) after he declared bankruptcy. According to McLaughlin’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, McLaughlin declared bankruptcy in August 2017. McLaughlin’s debts incurred in the bankruptcy were discharged in November 2017. A bankruptcy disclosure indicates that the broker…