Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog

Broker Lee Robert Donais Subject Of $200K Dispute

June 21, 2018 | Silver Law Group

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. Donais has been in the industry since 1993.

On 4/17/2018 a client filed a complaint against Donais alleging “unsuitable investment recommendations,” and has requested damages of $200,000. This dispute is currently pending.

Donais has two employment separations. The first, from brokersXpress on 5/10/12, was due to Donais signing a customer’s name to a form for an IRA withdrawal. The customer, he claimed, requested Donais’ signature on the form because he was on travel and didn’t have access to a fax machine or other equipment to submit his own signature. Since the customer was enroute to a property closing in North Carolina, the transaction was necessary for the anticipated closing on May 10, 2012. When contacted by a company representative inquiring about the signature, he admitted signing the form at the customer’s request.

Keith D’Agostino

June 21, 2018 | Silver Law Group

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 damages of $170,000 and Aegis settled this dispute for $92,000.

His only prior dispute was filed on August 12, 2013, while working for Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (CRD #793). The client alleged that D’Agostino engaged in “breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, common law fraud, violation of Florida law, and unjust enrichment.” The time frame for these allegations was June 2010 through January 2013. The client requested damages of $725,000, the company settled for $220,000.

FINRA Examines Claim Against Aegis Broker James Mariani For Negligence

June 21, 2018 | Silver Law Group

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 Washington, NY

Broker David Schmerber Subject of Customer Dispute

June 21, 2018 | Silver Law Group

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)

Former Broker James Pettit Barred By FINRA

June 21, 2018 | Silver Law Group

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 is paid.

Pettit is the subject of two FINRA regulatory actions and one by the state of Connecticut.

Pettit’s former employers include:

FINRA Investigates Broker Matthew Eckstein For Fraud

June 20, 2018 | Silver Law Group

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 investors in claims against Eckstein’s former employers.

Eckstein is currently the subject of a FINRA disciplinary complaint, filed on 04/27/2018. Multiple fraud allegations against Eckstein were filed by four of his customers. The facts of the case, based on FINRA records, include:

Eckstein recommended and sold these securities to four of his clients, all of whom were over 50, and had conservative portfolios. One of them was unemployed, two were still employed, one of whom was retiring, and the other sold her home and invested some of the proceeds. The fourth was retired on disability after a car accident, and invested her case settlement with him.

Silver Law Group is Representing Investors in the $102 Million First Nationle Solution, LLC Ponzi Scheme

June 20, 2018 | Silver Law Group

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 to the SEC complaint. The following individuals were named in the SEC’s complaint:

First Nationle Solution LLC, United RL Capital Services, and Percipience Global Corp. $102 Million Ponzi Scheme Attorneys

June 20, 2018 | Silver Law Group

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 Antonio, Texas, and Thomas Brenner from Orville, Ohio. These brokers are said to have defrauded over 600 investors through sales of securities in issuers that they controlled including the following: First Nationle Solution LLC, United RL Capital Services, and Percipience Global Corp. If you or someone you know lost their investment by investing with one of these brokers and/or companies, then it is highly recommended to speak to an attorney in order to assess your potential legal options to recover your investment capital.

The SEC Allegations of Fraud

Why are the Elderly More Susceptible to Financial Fraud?

June 20, 2018 | Silver Law Group

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 the main culprits in this equation, new research shows another contributor.

As we age, we lose some of our “gut instincts”

Century Securities Associates Broker Bernard McLaughlin Jr. Under Investigation After Declaring Bankruptcy

June 14, 2018 | Silver Law Group

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 may have financially struggled leading up to the bankruptcy. This financial distress can sometimes lead brokers to recommend unsuitable, risky products with high commissions and fees or engage in other securities misconduct such as excessively trading (churning) customers’ accounts in order to generate higher commissions.