Investment Fraud

Federal Securities Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Fusion Connect, Inc. (FSNN)

May 7, 2019 | Silver Law Group

A federal securities class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors against cloud computing company Fusion Connect, Inc. (FSNN).

If you are an investor and have suffered a loss with this company, you may be able to recover some of your losses.

Investors who purchased shares of Fusion Connect between August 14, 2018 and April 2, 2019 may be eligible to participate in the lawsuit. Continue reading ›

AAC Holdings, Inc. (AAC) Being Investigated By Silver Law Group

May 7, 2019 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating AAC Holdings, Inc. (AAC), a publicly-traded company that provides substance abuse treatment services, regarding potential violations of federal securities laws.

On April 16, 2019, AAC said that it would be correcting errors in its financial statements concerning revenue, estimates of accounts receivable, and provision for doubtful accounts. After the announcement, the price of AAC’s stock fell more than 18%. Continue reading ›

Were You Overcharged Mutual Fund Fees By Fidelity?

April 12, 2019 | Silver Law Group

The Wall Street Journal reported that Fidelity Investments is the subject of a Labor Department probe and a lawsuit by an investor in a T-Mobile 401(k) plan, regarding the disclosure of an “infrastructure fee” it charges mutual funds for using their FundsNetwork asset management platform.

The lawsuit claims that Fidelity conceals the fee, while Fidelity says it fully discloses all fees it charges. Continue reading ›

Did You Purchase GPB From William Crafa Of Royal Financial Associates?

March 25, 2019 | Silver Law Group

Broker William Crafa and Royal Alliance Associates are the subject of a FINRA claim on behalf of investors regarding the solicitation and recommendation to purchase GPB Capital Holdings private placement securities. Broker William Matthew Crafa and wealth management firm Royal Alliance Associates, Inc are the subject of a FINRA claim on behalf of investors regarding the solicitation and recommendation to purchase GPB Capital Holdings private placement securities.

GPB Capital Holdings, a New York-based “alternative asset investment firm” that invests in car dealerships and trash hauling companies, has been the subject of a tremendous amount of bad news lately. After raising $1.8 billion for its private placement funds over 10 years, in 2018 GPB announced it would stop raising new money to focus on fixing accounting and financial statements for its two largest funds, GPB Automotive Portfolio and GPB Holdings II. Continue reading ›

Financial Advisor’s Due Diligence On GPB Capital Holdings

March 13, 2019 | Silver Law Group

Questions have been raised about financial advisor's due diligence related to GPB Capital Holdings' private pacements and Five Star Carting. GPB Capital Holdings is being investigated by the state of Massachusetts, FINRA, the SEC, the New Jersey Bureau of Securities, and the FBI. If that weren’t enough, the New York City Business Integrity Commission, which oversees the city’s private trash industry, is also investigating the company.

The company says it buys “income-producing private companies” with the money it raises by having financial advisers sell private placements to investors. A private placement is a way to raise funding by selling securities to investors in a private, rather than a public, offering. Private placements involve significant risk, are illiquid, and are not suitable for many investors’ goals. Continue reading ›

FBI Now Investigating GPB Capital Holdings

March 8, 2019 | Silver Law Group

The FBI is now investigating GBP Capital Holdings. The state of Massachussetts, the SEC, and FINRA are also investigating. In February, we told you about three investigations focused on GPB Capital Holdings. The first is by the state of Massachusetts, with two additional separate investigations by FINRA and the SEC. On Thursday, February 28^th, the FBI, accompanied by officials from the New York City Business Integrity Commission, paid an impromptu visit to GPB’s corporate headquarters.

The announcement was made in a letter sent to investors, explaining that “authorities” made an unannounced visit to their offices, and “collected materials.” While the company did not disclose the identity of the “authorities,” an anonymous industry insider disclosed to the press that the visit was from the FBI and the Commission. Continue reading ›

Massachusetts Questions Fidelity’s Fees

March 8, 2019 | Silver Law Group

The state of Massachusetts is looking into the "infrastructure fees" Fidelity charges for using its platform for 401(k) plans. This follows a lawsuit by an investor in T-Mobile's 401(k) plan that claims Fidelity's fees are concealed. The US Labor Department is also investigating. If you use Fidelity’s platform for your 401(k) investments, you may have some additional, unfamiliar fees to pay. You wouldn’t be the only one—others have noticed, and now the State of Massachusetts has launched an inquiry into Fidelity’s fees. The fees are being charged to some mutual funds for using their platform for access to its retirement plan customers.

The securities division of the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth sent a letter on February 27^th to Fidelity to ask about what’s called “infrastructure fees.” The letter follows a lawsuit by an investor in T-Mobile USA’s 401(k) plan that claims Fidelity conceals these fees. The US Labor Department is also investigating the fees. Continue reading ›

Salt Lake City Precious Metals Dealer Engaged in $170M Ponzi Scheme

February 21, 2019 | Silver Law Group

Boca-Raton-Oppenheimer-Employees-Settle-SEC-Investigation-300x208 The CFTC, along with the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Securities, through its Attorney General, jointly filed a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division. They filed against Gaylen Dean Rust and his business Rust Rare Coin (RRC). The complaint charges Rust and his company with committing fraud against approximately 200 individuals from Utah, and also from 16 other states. Rust allegedly obtained more than $170 million from investors since May 2013 in a precious metals ponzi scheme.

The complaint states that Rust’s fraudulent actions are ongoing. From January to August of 2018, Rust received $42 million from investors, which he claimed he used to buy and sell silver. He also allegedly attempted to solicit new investors recently.

On November 15, 2018, the U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Utah, Honorable Tena Campbell, entered a restraining order to freeze Rust’s assets and to permit the CFTC and State of Utah to inspect his records. Jonathan O. Hafen was appointed as a temporary receiver to take control of RRC and Rust’s assets.

Miami CEO Arrested on Commodities Fraud Charges

February 20, 2019 | Silver Law Group

Fabio Bretas de Freitas of Miami, Florida, was arrested on fraud and identity theft charges for allegedly misappropriating more than $5.5 million. He also allegedly attempted to deceive federal regulators and he impersonated a victim-investor.

The 53-year-old was taken into custody on December 6 and was then scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge.

“The defendant obtained more than $5.5 million from people who invested their money in good faith. But as alleged, instead of investing those funds as he had promised, the defendant used it to cover his own personal expenses, even going so far as to impersonate one of his own victims to deceive investigators,” said William F. Sweeney Jr., the assistant director in charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI. “Bretas’ arrest should serve as a stark reminder that those who seek to manipulate our financial systems for their personal gain will be identified and disrupted.”

Tampa, Florida: Silver Law Group Stockbroker Misconduct Lawyers Seeks to Aid Aggrieved Investors

February 20, 2019 | Silver Law Group

Florida-Broker-Peter-Gouzos-Banned-by-FINRA-300x206 Silver Law Group is investigating claims against brokers and financial advisors who committed securities misconduct in Tampa, Florida and the surrounding area.

Tampa is located in Hillsborough County, Florida. It is located on the west coast of Florida on the Tampa Bay near the Gulf of Mexico. As of July 2015, Tampa’s population is estimated to be 369,075. Tampa is part of the Tampa Bay Metropolitan area, which consists of St. Petersburg and Clearwater.

Tampa features numerous attractions such as the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the theme park Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium, and crystal blue gulf beaches.