Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog

San Francisco, California Broker Stephen D. Grant Under Investigation After FINRA Bar

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former San Francisco, California-based broker Stephen D. Grant (CRD# 2447319) after FINRA permanently barred him.

According to Grant’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA permanently barred Grant from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with firms that sell securities to the public after Grant failed to respond to a FINRA inquiry in July 2016.

Grant, who was most recently employed by Security Research and Associates, Inc. (CRD# 8200), was suspended by FINRA in 2013 after he failed to comply with an arbitration award or settlement or to satisfactorily respond to a FINRA request to provide information concerning the status of compliance.

Former LPL Financial Broker Paul E. Dorion Under Investigation After FINRA Bars Him

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Vermont-based LPL Financial LLC (CRD# 6413) broker Paul E. Dorion (CRD# 1103701) after FINRA permanently barred him

According to Dorion’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA permanently barred Dorion from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with firms that sell securities to the public after he failed to respond to a FINRA request for information.

The permanent bar follows a discharge by LPL Financial in October 2015 after Dorion allegedly placed unauthorized trades in an LPL Financial customer account. Further, LPL Financial, according to the BrokerCheck report, had concerns over concentrated equity positions in client accounts and alleged Dorion failed to respond to LPL Financial’s compliance representatives.

Former New York Ridgeway & Conger Broker Philip Brisard Under Investigation

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Jericho, New York Ridgeway & Conger, Inc. (CRD# 113055) Philip Brisard (CRD# 2646923) after FINRA permanently barred the broker.

According to Brisard’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA permanently barred Brisard.

According to Brisard’s BrokerCheck report, in January 2016 Brisard was named a respondent in a FINRA complaint alleging that he sold an unregistered security. FINRA found that Brisard sold unsuitable investments at undisclosed markups of 14-33 percent using general solicitation emails that fraudulently misrepresented the product and the respondent’s role in its development.

Former Las Vegas Ameriprise Broker Cheryl L. Wallace Discharged for Alleged Unauthorized Trading

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Las Vegas, Nevada-based Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 6363) broker Cheryl L. Wallace (CRD# 4839255) after she was discharged by Ameriprise for unauthorized trading among other allegations.

According to Wallace’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, Wallace was discharged from Ameriprise in February 2016 after she allegedly failed to follow clients’ instructions, communicated incorrect information to the client and used discretion on trades in the accounts.

Four months later, in June 2016, FINRA permanently barred Wallace from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with firms that sells securities to the public after she failed to respond to a FINRA request for information.

Miami-based Broker Fernando de la Lama Merino Under Investigation

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Miami, Florida EFG Capital International (CRD# 40118) broker Fernando de la Lama Merino (CRD# 2257749) after FINRA permanently barred him.

According to Merino’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA initiated a regulatory action against Merino in October 2016. The action states, according to Merino’s BrokerCheck report, that Merino was named a respondent in a FINRA complaint alleging that he failed to provide any response to requests for documents and information related to a FINRA investigation into his potential misconduct involving the sales of illiquid structured notes and bonds referred by a foreign individual while he was associated with a FINRA member firm.

Structured notes have been subject to investor alerts and bulletins by both the SEC and FINRA.

California Kestra Broker Tom Puentes Under Investigation Over Alleged Unauthorized and Unsuitable Transactions in Puerto Rican Bonds

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating California-based Kestra Investment Services, LLC (CRD# 42046) broker Tom A. Puentes (CRD# 1713812) amidst 23 disclosures on his FINRA BrokerCheck report.

According to Puentes’ FINRA BrokerCheck report, Puentes has a total of 23 disclosures, with 15 settling for over $750,000. A large majority of the settled claims allege unauthorized and unsuitable transactions in Puerto Rican municipal bonds.

Puentes’ actions concerning the settlements occurred while he was employed by Morgan Stanley (CRD# 149777). Morgan Stanley discharged Puentes in October 2014 over allegations against Puentes over his use of discretionary trading without written authorization.

Prospera Broker John N. Crook Under Investigation After $4.8 Million Complaint Filed

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating Macon, Georgia-based Prospera Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 10740) broker John N. Crook (CRD# 2715424) after a customer filed a $4.8 million complaint.

According to Crook’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, a customer filed a FINRA arbitration against Crook in August 2016 alleging churning and excessive trading, unauthorized trading, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and intentional misrepresentation and omission, and negligence. The complaint alleges $4.8 million in damages.

The $4.8 million claim follows Crook’s termination by Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (CRD# 705). Raymond James alleged that it had lost confidence in Crook after an internal review into a client complaint during which the Raymond James found that Crook did not respond candidly to a supervisory review of trading activity.

Minnesota TradingBlock Broker Joshua D. Arnold Under Investigation

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former TradingBlock (CRD# 128605) broker Joshua D. Arnold (CRD# 828189) for recent allegations of negligence and unsuitable recommendations among others.

According to Arnold’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, Arnold has thirteen (13) disclosures. His most recent was a FINRA arbitration filed in September 2016, and it alleges negligence, unsuitable recommendations, negligent supervision, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. The FINRA arbitration alleges $250,000 in damages and is currently pending.

Most notably, Arnold’s BrokerCheck report contains seven (7) settled complaints. Many of the settled complaints allege unauthorized trading. Collectively, the seven (7) complaints settled for a total of almost $270,000.

FINRA Suspends Registered Individuals In January 2017 for Violations of FINRA Rules

January 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for January 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
Kristen Denys Bartley	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Kristen Denys Bartley	Touchstone Securities, Inc.
Jasper Eugene Boykin Jr.	MetLife Securities Inc.
Jasper Eugene Boykin Jr.	Quest Capital Strategies, Inc.
Kathy Campos
Louis Vincent Fontanella Jr.	Allstate Financial Services, LLC
Louis Vincent Fontanella Jr.	David Lerner Associates, Inc.
Yohandy Gonzalez	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Yohandy Gonzalez	AXA Advisors LLC
Michael P. Gopie	AXA Advisors LLC
Michael P. Gopie	Bank of America, NA
Dennis Dewain Hern	Ameriprise Financial Services Inc.
Dennis Dewain Hern	First Command Financial Planning INc.
Bao Tran Dinh Hoang	JP Morgan Securities LLC
Bao Tran Dinh Hoang	Chase Investment Services Corp
Christopher Wayne Hunt II
Kyle Ryan Kurtz	Thrivent Investment Management Inc.
Kyle Ryan Kurtz	Lutheran Brotherhood Securities Corp.
Reginald Lewis McCarthy	Horace Mann Investors, Inc.
Reginald Lewis McCarthy	Allstate Financial Services LLC
Caleb Layton Morris	Country Capital Management Company
Caleb Layton Morris	Country Insurance and Financial Services
Brian Patrick Murphy	Signator Investors, Inc.
Brian Patrick Murphy	MetLife Securities Inc.
Wesley Marion Oler IV	LPL Financial LLC
Wesley Marion Oler IV	Global Retirement Partners
Raymond John Pirrello Jr.	Garden State Securities Inc.
Raymond John Pirrello Jr.	The Concord Equity Group, LLC
Richard Byron Raff	Infinex Investments, Inc.
Richard Byron Raff	M&F Bank/UVest Financial Services
Gary Harland Sisler Jr.	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Gary Harland Sisler Jr.	Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC
Jay Steven Sutherland	Ameriprise Financial Services Inc.
Jay Steven Sutherland	Wells Fargo Advisors LLC
Quyen Trong Tran	UnionBanc Investments Services LLC
Joe Don Treece	Arvest Wealth Management
Joe Don Treece	Raymond James & Associates, 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 Suspends Registered Individuals in January 2017 for Failing to Comply with FINRA Rules

January 23, 2017 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for January 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
James Patrick Acosta	Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Terrence Daniels	MSI Financial Services, Inc.
	Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Darnell Anthony Deans	Blackbook Capital, LLC
	John Carris Investments LLC
Barbara Lucille Desiderio	Global Arena Capital Corp
	Herbert J. Sims & Co. Inc.
Joseph Ellison	Mutual Securities, Inc.
	Beverly Hills Wealth Management LLC
Niaz Elmazi	Global Arena Capital Corp
	HFP Capital Markets LLC
Brian Joseph Hagerman	Global Arena Capital Corp
	Equities Trading Corp
Candice Joy Hutton	Hutton Wealth Management Servcies, LLC
	Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
Gregory Marcel Martino	Blackbook Capital LLC
	Coastal Equities, Inc.
Jeffrey Allen Rehling	Lincoln Financial Advisors
	Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Keith Patrick Sequeira	Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.
	Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Penne Wilson Stafford	Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
	LPL Financial LLC
Vincent Evan Wilson	Wilbanks Securities, Inc.
	Wells Fargo Advisors, 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.