Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog

FINRA Suspends Registered Individuals in August 2017 for Failing to Comply with FINRA Rules

November 30, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for August 2017, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA for failing to comply with a FINRA arbitration award or settlement agreement pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS
Clifford Eugene Alexander III	Summit Brokerage Services, Inc.
	Cantella & Co., Inc.
Steven Preston Alexander	Citizens Securities, Inc.
	CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc.
Jason Edward Anderson	Wilbanks Securities, Inc.
	Impact Financial Consulting, LLC


Lawrence Allen Banks	PFS Investments Inc.
	EKN Financial Services Inc.
Chad Ryan Barancyk	SII Investments, Inc.
	First Allied Securities, Inc.
Jimmie Dean Canole	LaSalle St. Securities, LLC
	Brewer Financial Services, LLC
Jeremiah Jens Charlson	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
	Edward Jones


Matthew DiGregorio	Aegis Capital Corp.
	J.D. Nicholas & Associates, Inc.
Philip Orezio Fatta	Spartan Capital Securities, LLC
	Blackook Capital, LLC
Thomas M. Fayad	Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
	UBS Financial Services Inc.
Jeanne Michelle Fisher	Summit Brokerage Services, Inc.
	Cantella & Co., Inc.
Gregory Flemming Jr.	Salomon Whitney Financial
	Rockwell Global Capital LLC
Robert Furciato, Jr.	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
Michael Dennis Hampton	LPL Financial LLC
	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Jeffrey Scott Ickes	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Omar Tyrone Jeanty	Spartan Capital Securities, LLC
	Primary Capital, LLC
Erik Robert Kneip	LPL Financial LLC
	Stratos Wealth Partners
Jerome Scott Krause	First Heartland Capital, Inc.
	Thrivent Investment Management Inc.
Michael Scott Lavolpe	Meyers Associates, L.P.
David William Locy	Brookstone Securities, Inc.
	Archer Alexander Securities Corporation
Elvin J. Lopez	Legend Securities, Inc.
	Worden Capital Management LLC
Mary Helen Caprice Mallett	Independent Financial Group
	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Devon Coulin McLean	Questar Capital Corporation
	USAllianz Securities, Inc.
James William Mewborn	Principal Securities, Inc.
	Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
Clifford Paul Murray, M.D.	Newport Coast Securities, Inc.
	Empire Asset Management Company
Gary Walter Oliphant	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
	Ameriprise Advisor Services, inc.
Clifford Alan Schwartz	Westpark Capital, Inc.
	The GMs Group , LLC
Michael James Terry	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
	Suntrust Investment Services, Inc.
Antony Lee Turbeville	Brookstone Securities, Inc.
	Archer Alexander Securities Corporation
Douglas Stuart Veitch, Sr.	Wilbanks Securities, Inc.
	Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
Everett Scoville Walker, Jr.
Patrick Justin White, Sr.	Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.
	BlackBook Capital LLC
John Frederick Wolle	Sinclair & Company, LLC
	54 Freedom Securities Inc.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

In August 2017, FINRA Barred Registered Individuals for Failure to Comply with FINRA Rules

November 30, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for August 2017, the following individuals were barred from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS
Dimitris Alifragis
Alonza Barnett, Jr.	Ameritas Investment Corp.
Alonza Barnett, Jr.	Dachtler Wealth Management
Amalia Bocanegra
Christopher Canale
Nenita Blas Causing	Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.
Nenita Blas Causing	World Group Securities, Inc.
Wilson Chung	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Kenneth Paul Collins, Jr.	Union Capital Company
Kenneth Paul Collins, Jr.	Money Concepts Capital Corp
Laura Johnson Craven	State Farm VP Management Corp.
Sebastian Joshua Dimond	Vanguard Marketing Corporation
Sebastian Joshua Dimond	Wells Fargo Investments, LLC
Edwin Waite Duguie, Jr.
Megan Eilers	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Megan Eilers	First Clearing, LLC
Felicia Anne Figueroa
Nicholas C. Gallo	Cova Capital Partners LLC
Nicholas C. Gallo	Legend Securities, Inc.
David Monroe Hawkes	Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.
David Monroe Hawkes	World Group Securities, Inc.
Richard Michael Jones	NYLife Securities LLC
Israel Jurkevicz	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Tika Justice
Jeffrey Timothy Kluge	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc
John Bradford Leonard	Wells Fargo Advisors
John Bradford Leonard	Wachovia Securities, LLC
Jonathan Ryan Levano	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Christopher Russell McNamee	Dakota Securities International, Inc,
Christopher Russell McNamee	Sterling Financial Investment Group , Inc.
Rachel Marie Millyard	Infinex Investments, Inc.
Rachel Marie Millyard	Essex National Securities, LLC
Shayne Arlington Nelson	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
David Ng	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc
David Ng	Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Darian Curtis Norris	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Darian Curtis Norris	Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC
Patrick John O’Brien	Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.
Patrick John O’Brien	World Group Securities, Inc.
Vivien Li Ching Ong	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Olateju Samson Oyeniyi
Robert A. Perconte	Summit Brokerage Services, Inc.
Robert A. Perconte	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Edward Daniel Prudencio	BBVA Securities Inc.
Edward Daniel Prudencio	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Raymond Jesus Rodriguez
William Edward Roe	Park Avenue Securities LLC
William Edward Roe	Crowell, Weedon & Co.
Nicholas Adel Somo	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Michael Allen Sparks	J.J.B. Hillard, W.L. Lyons, LLC
Michael Allen Sparks	DMG Securities, Inc.
Alec Michael Tracy	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Alec Michael Tracy	MMC Securities Crop.
Justin Martin West	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

FINRA Suspends Registered Individuals for Violations of FINRA Rules in July 2017

November 29, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for July 2017, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS
Kellye C. Allison	State Farm VP Management Corp.
Timothy David Ballard	Securities America, Inc.
Timothy David Ballard	National Planning Corporation
Damani A. Barham	Morgan Stanley
Damani A. Barham	TD Ameritrade, Inc.
Kelley Macon Barham, Jr.
Charles A. Black	Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation
Jason Harry Buchanan	Morgan Stanley
Jason Harry Buchanan	Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Alexi Nahun Bustamante	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Alexi Nahun Bustamante	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Donald William Chupp	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Donald William Chupp	Chase Investment Services Corp.
Salvatore Joseph Cipriano	Pruco Securities, LLC
Salvatore Joseph Cipriano	Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.
Darnell Anthony Deans	Blackbook Capital, LLC
Darnell Anthony Deans	John Carris Investments LLC
Lee Edward Farmer	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Lee Edward Farmer	A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Joshua Adam Frederico
Kristopher A. Galicia Rodriguez	NYLife Securities LLC
Kevin Grewal	Keystone Capital Corporation
Fawad Hasan	Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
Derrick Franklin Howard	Allstate Financial Services, LLC
James Thomas Jurewicz	T3 Trading Group, LLC
James Thomas Jurewicz	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
Molly M. Jury	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith inc.
Ronald Frances Konchalski	Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC
Ronald Frances Konchalski	Allstate Financial Services, LLC
Douglas Anthony Leone	Salomon Whitney Financial
Douglas Anthony Leone	Newport Coast Securities, Inc.
Robert Kenneth Lindell	Richfield Orion International, Inc.
Robert Kenneth Lindell	Revere Securities Corp.
Christian A. Paul	Worth Financial Group Inc.
Christian A. Paul	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
Craig Allan Price	Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
Craig Allan Price	Edward Jones
Gregory David Pryce	Invest Financial Corporation
Gregory David Pryce	TFS Securities, Inc.
Ernest Julius Romer III	Corecap Investments, Inc.
Ernest Julius Romer III	Windsor Sheffield
Paul Edward Seaward	Foresters Financial Services, Inc.
Paul Edward Seaward	First Investors Corporation
Mark Eliot Silverman	MML Investors Services, LLC
Mark Eliot Silverman	Park Avenue Securities LLC
Jason Soricelli
Brian Eugene Sturges	P.J. Robb Variable Corporation
Brian Eugene Sturges	Financial Telesis Inc.
Jordan Robert Tait	Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC
Bethany Chanel Thompson	Foresters Financial Services, Inc.
Christopher John Tiernan	Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC
Juan Ramon Uriarte Jr.	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Rosa Alicia Vazquez	Integrity Brokerage Services, Inc.
Rosa Alicia Vazquez	White Pacific Securities, Inc.
Hung Quoc Vu	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Hung Quoc Vu	Chase Investment Services Corp.
Julie Ann Wells
Becky Woo	Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Becky Woo	HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Registered Individuals Suspended in July 2017 by FINRA for Failing to Comply with FINRA Rules

November 29, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for July 2017, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA for failing to comply with a FINRA arbitration award or settlement agreement pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS


Thomas Michael DiLello, Jr.	LPL Financial LLC
	Atlantic Capital Advisors
Niaz Elmazi	Global Arena Capital Corp
	HFP Capital Markets LLC
James Benjamin Fellus	Spencer-Winston Securities Corporation
	Nexlend Capital Partners
Nancy Putnam Griffith	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
	Edward Jones
Brian Joseph Hagerman	Global Arena Capital Corp
	Equities Trading Corp
Justin Linwood Hendrick	Suntrust Investment Services, Inc.
	First Citizens Investor Services, Inc.
Robert Joseph Kerrigan, Sr.	First Financial Equity Corporation
	Personal Wealth Mgmt Group, Inc.
Brent Morgan Porges	Meyers Associates, LP
	Newbridge Securities Corporation
Scott Paul Strochak	Morgan Stanley
	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

FINRA Bars Registered Individuals in July 2017 for Failure to Comply with FINRA Rules

November 29, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for July 2017, the following individuals were barred from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME	FORMER EMPLOYERS
Ricardo Alonzo, Jr.
Jared Cody Artho	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Michael W. Benjamin	State Farm VP Management Corp
David William Beutler	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
David William Beutler	Prudential Securities Inc
Amanda Yvetter Burnett	Invest Financial Corporation
Joni Carrera
Charles Maxwell Cox	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Charles Maxwell Cox	Chase Investment Services Corp
Aryton Pierce Haddad	TD Ameritrade, Inc.
Aryton Pierce Haddad	E*Trade Securities LLC
Scott William Hartman	Morgan Stanley
Scott William Hartman	Encore Financial Advisors, LLC
Chad Daniel Hornaday	AXA Advisors, LLC
Chad Daniel Hornaday	National Planning Corporation
John James Joseph Labrie	JP Morgan Securities LLC
John James Joseph Labrie	Chase Investment Services Corp
Derek James Longmuir	Advisors Asset Management, Inc.
Derek James Longmuir	First Trust Portfolios LP
Elijah Robert Maldonado	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Elijah Robert Maldonado	Chase Investment Services Corp.
David K. Mallet	Wunderlich Securities, Inc.
David K. Mallet	Stephens Inc.
Raymond Edward Martin
Richard Muzquiz Jr.	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Richard Muzquiz Jr.	Chase Investment Services Corp
Andrew Michael Pritchard	Pruco Securities, LLC
Michael Jason Ripper	International Assets Advisory, LLC
Michael Jason Ripper	LPL Financial LLC
Teresita Santos Santos	Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc.
Teresita Santos Santos	World Group Securities, Inc.
Bimal Kishore Shah	Independent Financial Group, LLC
Bimal Kishore Shah	WRP Investments Inc.
Cory Ward Taylor	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Cory Ward Taylor	IDS Life Insurance Company
Nathan Robert Trodahl	State Farm VP Management Corp.
Xin Wang	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Daniel L. Waters	Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
Sherman Marcel White	Wayne Hummer Investments LLC
Sherman Marcel White	US Bancorp Investments, Inc.
Brian Scot Winchester	Securities America, Inc.
Brian Scot Winchester	Sunset Financial Services, Inc.
Matthew Edward Witkowski	Vanguard Marketing Corporation
Matthew Edward Witkowski	Edward Jones
William Brian Wyman	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
William Brian Wyman	Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.
James Seokhoon Yoon	JP Morgan Securities LLC

Silver Law Group represents investors in securities and investment fraud cases through FINRA arbitration or court. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in New York and Florida and represent investors nationwide in securities arbitration to help recover investment losses due to stockbroker misconduct. If you have any questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney. Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

The Woodbridge Group of Companies is Under Investigation by the SEC

November 28, 2017 | Silver Law Group

The organization may have violated the anti-fraud provisions of federal securities laws after raising $1 billion from investors

Since November of 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been looking into the Woodbridge Group of Companies, based in Sherman Oaks, California. The real estate investment company – which owns or controls 235 limited liability companies (LLCs) around the U.S. – could be involved in the improper sale of securities, says the government agency.

In August, all 235 LLCs received subpoenas in an attempt by the SEC to get information about a variety of things, including managers and members, as well as payments that have been made to Woodbridge. The deadline to produce relevant documents was the end of August, but the SEC filing states that they did not get a sufficient response. Now the SEC is seeking a federal order to get the LLCs to comply. The emails accounts of executives and salespeople are also being sought.

Woodbridge Wealth is Not Registered with the SEC or FINRA

November 28, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Woodbridge Wealth promotes itself as a division of Woodbridge Group of Companies and advertises as a company with a focus on “wealth creation” claiming “Woodbridge Wealth is among the most innovative financial companies in the U.S. From its base in Sherman Oaks, California, it helps countless clients realize strong returns with lower-risk products without the burden of long-term commitments.”

The promise of lower-risk investments with strong returns has helped Woodbridge Wealth and its related companies raise over $1 billion from investors nationwide. However, recent SEC filings and other state action have raised concerns that Woodbridge Wealth may have violated the federal securities laws by selling unregistered securities or violating the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

SEC Filings Concerning Woodbridge Wealth

Woodbridge Group of Companies Principal Robert Shapiro Takes the 5th Amendment

November 28, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Robert Shapiro, president and CEO of Woodbridge Group of Companies (“Woodbridge”), has reportedly refused to answer questions from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) relating to its investigation of Woodbridge’s business practices.

In a letter to the SEC, filed in federal court papers, Mr. Shapiro’s lawyer writes, “Upon consideration of the SEC’s investigative subpoenas and a review with counsel of the individual rights afforded by the United States Constitution, Mr. Shapiro will rely on his constitutional privilege to refuse to be a witness against himself.”

This disclosure occurs on the heels of a related SEC action against Woodbridge for the production of documents including e-mails and corporate documents relating to dozens of companies. According to the SEC, Woodbridge has raised over $1 billion from thousands of investors nationwide and is now under investigation for possible violations of the securities laws including anti-fraud violations.

Woodbridge Group of Companies Under SEC Investigation

November 28, 2017 | Silver Law Group

The SEC is investigating Woodbridge Group of Companies’ (“Woodbridge”) business practices.

According to a recent SEC application and supporting papers filed in federal court in Miami, Florida, the SEC is investigating whether Woodbridge and others have violated or are violating the antifraud, broker-dealer, or securities registration provisions of the federal securities laws in connection with Woodbridge’s receipt of more than $1 billion of investor funds from thousands of investors nationwide.

As part of the SEC’s ongoing investigation, on January 31, 2017, agency staff in the SEC’s Miami Regional Office served Woodbridge with a subpoena seeking, among other documents, the production of electronic communications that the company maintained relating to Woodbridge’s business operations. The SEC’s application alleges that although Woodbridge was required to produce these documents to the SEC, Woodbridge has failed to produce relevant communications in response to the subpoena, including those of three high-level Woodbridge officials.

FINRA Reports Brokers Nas Adel Allan and Gregory Anastos Made Unsuitable Recommendations

November 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

The two brokers are reported to have engaged in short-term trading that resulted in significant losses for their clients

Two brokers who worked for Windsor Street Capital, LP (also doing business as Meyers Associates, L.P.) are facing serious allegations. According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Nas Adel Allan and Gregory Anastos are alleged to have made unsuitable investment recommendations to an elderly husband and wife, which resulted in the loss of substantial funds.

The complaint alleges that Allan and Anastos repeatedly recommended that their clients engage in short-term trading of a single security that their clients held for more than 35 years. Not only did this reportedly lead to a loss of money, but it generated almost $100,000 in commissions for the two brokers. FINRA states that “Allan’s recommendations were unsuitable in light of customers’ investment profile, lacked an economic rationale, and resulted in unwarranted losses and tax liabilities for them.”