A National Securities Arbitration & Investment Fraud Law Firm

Articles Posted in SEC Actions

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On February 4, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it charged three people and their affiliated entities with running a “Ponzi-like scheme” that raised more than $1.7 billion by selling private placements issued by alternative asset management firm GPB Capital Holdings. Silver Law Group represents investors in claims against the broker-dealers who sold GPB to investors. Claims to recover investment losses allege that the broker-dealers failed to conduct adequate due diligence on the investment, among other causes. Our securities fraud attorneys have already filed multiple FINRA arbitration claims. Silver Law Group reportedly filed the first GPB-related stockbroker arbitration claim in 2019.  Since that time, our attorneys have recovered substantial damages for investors around the country. The SEC action further demonstrates the gross misconduct allegedly at GPB and although most brokerage firms refused to sell GPB, investors have alleged that the selling brokerage firms failed to do adequate due diligence or turned a blind eye to red flags because GPB paid substantial commissions to the selling stockbrokers.On February 4, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it charged three people and their affiliated entities with running a “Ponzi-like scheme” that raised more than $1.7 billion by selling private placements issued by alternative asset management firm GPB Capital Holdings. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group is investigating potential claims on behalf of victims of an alleged fraud perpetrated by Detroit, Michigan-based Viktor Gjonaj. According to a press release from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gjonaj “allegedly defraud[ed] members of the Albanian-American community out of approximately $26.4 million, some of which he spent playing the Michigan State Lottery.” Securities And Exchange Commission Filed Civil Enforcement Complaint Against Viktor Gjonaj On January 28, 2021, the SEC filed a Complaint against Viktor Gjonaj in United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The Complaint states that “[t]he SEC brings this civil law enforcement action to address Defendant Viktor Gjonaj’s fraudulent offer and sale of securities to at least 24 investors . . .”  The SEC alleges that Gjonaj’s conduct violates Section 17(a) of the Securities Act as well as Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. The SEC is seeking an order permanently restraining and enjoining Gjonaj from further violation of federal securities laws, an order requiring Gjonaj to pay disgorgement—his ill-gotten gains from the scheme, and civil penalties.Silver Law Group is investigating potential claims on behalf of victims of an alleged fraud perpetrated by Detroit, Michigan-based Viktor Gjonaj. According to a press release from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gjonaj “allegedly defraud[ed] members of the Albanian-American community out of approximately $26.4 million, some of which he spent playing the Michigan State Lottery.” Continue reading ›

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Dain Stokes (CRD: #2960801) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was LPL Financial LLC (CRD#:6413) of Bedford, NH. His previous employers include Edward Jones (CRD#:250) of Manchester, NH, American Express Financial Advisors Inc. (CRD#:6363) and IDS Life Insurance Company (CRD#:6321), both of Minneapolis, MN. He has been in the industry since 1998. On 3/18/2020, a client filed a dispute alleging “misappropriation of funds,” and requesting damages of $375,000. This claim was settled, but no additional information is available.Dain Stokes (CRD: #2960801) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was LPL Financial LLC (CRD#:6413) of Bedford, NH. His previous employers include Edward Jones (CRD#:250) of Manchester, NH, American Express Financial Advisors Inc. (CRD#:6363) and IDS Life Insurance Company (CRD#:6321), both of Minneapolis, MN. He has been in the industry since 1998. Continue reading ›

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On September 10, 2020, the Unites States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil Complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against defendants RRBB Asset Management, LLC and Carl S. Schwartz. According to the “Summary” contained in the SEC’s Complaint, Schwartz engaged in “cherry picking,” the act of disproportionately allocating profitable trades to accounts held by certain clients while allocating less profitable trades to other clients. The SEC alleges that by engaging in “cherry picking,” RRBB and Schwartz earned substantial management fees and convinced their clients that RRBB and Schwartz were better money managers than they really were. This conduct, according to the SEC’s Complaint, violates the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.On September 10, 2020, the Unites States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil Complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against defendants RRBB Asset Management, LLC and Carl S. Schwartz. According to the “Summary” contained in the SEC’s Complaint, Schwartz engaged in “cherry picking,” the act of disproportionately allocating profitable trades to accounts held by certain clients while allocating less profitable trades to other clients. Continue reading ›

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On September 3, 2020, the Unites States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) commenced a civil action against Illinois resident Geoffrey Thompson. According to the SEC’s Complaint, from July 2014 through June 2019, an entity founded and controlled by Thompson, Covalent Collective, Inc., offered several different types of investments to approximately 500 investors, raising more than $19 million. According to the SEC’s Complaint, Geoffrey Thompson and Covalent used a variety of methods to solicit investors, including the use of unregistered broker-dealers, press releases, an investor relations firm, a public website, and a call center operated by Thompson’s company, Fortress Legacy. The SEC lists the following fraudulent offerings as part of its new lawsuit: Advantameds Convertible Promissory Notes Covalent Warrants Covalent Common Stock Covalent Promissory NotesOn September 3, 2020, the Unites States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) commenced a civil action against Illinois resident Geoffrey Thompson. According to the SEC’s Complaint, from July 2014 through June 2019, an entity founded and controlled by Thompson, Covalent Collective, Inc., offered several different types of investments to approximately 500 investors, raising more than $19 million. Continue reading ›

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On July 17, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), brought fraud charges against David Hu, the co-founder and chief investment officer of International Investment Group (IIG), in Manhattan federal district court. A link to the charges can be found here. The SEC is charging Hu with running multiple fraudulent schemes to misrepresent the performance and conceal losses in IIG’s Trade Opportunities Fund (TOF). In addition, Hu is alleged to have sold over $60 million in phony trade finance loans to investors, using the proceeds to pay back other customers who made redemption requests for earlier investments.On July 17, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), brought fraud charges against David Hu, the co-founder and chief investment officer of International Investment Group (IIG), in Manhattan federal district court. A link to the charges can be found here.

The SEC is charging Hu with running multiple fraudulent schemes to misrepresent the performance and conceal losses in IIG’s Trade Opportunities Fund (TOF). In addition, Hu is alleged to have sold over $60 million in phony trade finance loans to investors, using the proceeds to pay back other customers who made redemption requests for earlier investments. Continue reading ›

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged former Morgan Stanley broker Michael Barry Carter with fraud for stealing from his customers, including an elderly client. The complaint filed by the SEC alleges that Carter, a currently-barred broker who was last registered with Morgan Stanley in their McLean, Virginia office, made dozens of unauthorized wire transfers from his client’s accounts to his personal bank account, which amounted to millions of dollars. It is alleged that Carter falsified documents to make the transfers and made unauthorized sales of client’s securities.The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged former Morgan Stanley broker Michael Barry Carter with fraud for stealing from his customers, including an elderly client.

The complaint filed by the SEC alleges that Carter, a currently-barred broker who was last registered with Morgan Stanley in their McLean, Virginia office, made dozens of unauthorized wire transfers from his client’s accounts to his personal bank account, which amounted to millions of dollars. It is alleged that Carter falsified documents to make the transfers and made unauthorized sales of client’s securities. 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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