A National Securities Arbitration & Investment Fraud Law Firm

$70 MILLION Recovery for Investment Fraud
$44 MILLION Recovery for Ponzi Scheme Victims
$25 MILLION Recovery Against National Brokerage Firm
$9.1 MILLION FINRA Arbitration Award Against Brokerage Firm
$7.9 MILLION Securities Arbitration Award Against Stockbroker
$1 MILLION Securities Arbitration Award for Elder Financial Fraud
American Association for Jusice
Florida Legal Elite 2011
Legal Leaders
5th Annual Most Effective Lawyers 2009
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Super-Lawyers
SFLG
Top 100
Public Justice

Broker Charles Dorraine (CRD# 70411) has been barred by FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) for refusing to give testimony about recommendations to customers about Puerto Rican bonds. It has been alleged that the bonds were unsuitable and customers were overconcentrated in them. Dorraine was last registered with Next Financial Group, Inc. (CRD# 46214) in their Corpus Christi, Texas branch location from 2007-2019.Broker Charles Dorraine (CRD# 70411) has been barred by FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) for refusing to give testimony about recommendations to customers about Puerto Rican bonds. It has been alleged that the bonds were unsuitable and customers were overconcentrated in them. Dorraine was last registered with Next Financial Group, Inc. (CRD# 46214) in their Corpus Christi, Texas branch location from 2007-2019. Continue reading ›

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for April 2020, 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
  Timothy Crowley   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Chase Investment Services Corp
  David Del Rio   LPL Financial LLC
  Suntrust Investment Services, Inc.
  Christian Evans   Morgan Stanley
  Highland Capital Funds Distributor, Inc.
  Mary Frassetto   Thrivent Investment Management Inc.
  Jennifer Holmes   Voya Financial Advisors, Inc.
  ING Financial Partners,Inc.
  Yee Yee Htwe   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC
  Randy Jackson   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  E*Trade Securities LLC
  Scott Levine   Craft Capital Management LLC
  PHX Financial, Inc.
  Megan McAlinden
  Hiep Quoc Nguyen   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  Citizens Securities, Inc.
  Grizelle Perez   USCA Securities LLC
  Sanders Morris Harris LLC
  Michael Spyrka   Hold Brothers Capital LLC
  Koyote Trading LLC
  Jason Wilk   Worden Capital Management LLC
  Craft Capital Management LLC
  John Wyshak   Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
  Wedbush SecuritiesInc.

Continue reading ›

According to FINRA disciplinary actions for April 2020, 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
  Joseph Berghausen   ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc.
  Cetera Advisor Networks LLC
  Stephanie Dannenberg
  Gregory Morgan   Allstate Financial Services, LLC
  ProEquities,Inc.
  Wesley Rayner   Santander Securities LLC
  JP Morgan Securities LLC
  David Rockwell   Cetera Advisor Networks LLC
  Suntrust Investment Services, Inc.
  Paul Ross   Hantz Financial Services, Inc.
  Thrivent Investment Management Inc.
  Mark Schneck   Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC
  MML Investors Services,LLC
  Cynthia Tarner
  Dennis Taylor   Taylor Capital Management Inc.
  Independent Financial Group, LLC

Continue reading ›

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for April 2020, 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
  Neal Carlson   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
  Michael Carter   Morgan Stanley
  Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
  John Church   Waddell & Reed
  Cetera Advisor Networks LLC
  Gregory Clark   Burch & Company, Inc.
  Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
  Avelino Cortina III   AC3 Capital, LLC
  Wells Fargo Advisors,LLC
 William Despard   Morgan Stanley
  Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
  Michael Guilfoyle   Four Points Capital Partners LLC
  IFS Securities
  Kenneth Klaiman   Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
  Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
  Paul Liebman   Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC
  Oppenheimer & Co, Inc.
  Adam Morsi   Four Points Capital Partners LLC
  IFS Securities
  Gary Orcutt   Securities America Inc
  USAdvisors Wealth Management
  Vernon Sears, Jr.   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
  Damion Smith   Morgan Stanley
  UBS Financial Services Inc.
  Walter Sweatt II   Morgan Stanley
  Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

Continue reading ›

In the wake of recent market turbulence, it is important to remember that some investment losses are not “investment” losses at all, but rather losses that are the result of stockbroker theft, fraud, Ponzi schemes, and otherwise.  Silver Law Group continues to investigate cases of stockbroker theft nationwide. Unfortunately, FINRA continues to report multiple cases of brokers improperly taking money from clients, taking improper loans or deceptively selling investments directly controlled by a stockbroker or financial advisor.In the wake of recent market turbulence, it is important to remember that some investment losses are not “investment” losses at all, but rather losses that are the result of stockbroker theft, fraud, Ponzi schemes, and otherwise.

Silver Law Group continues to investigate cases of stockbroker theft nationwide. Unfortunately, FINRA continues to report multiple cases of brokers improperly taking money from clients, taking improper loans or deceptively selling investments directly controlled by a stockbroker or financial advisor. Continue reading ›

On April 21, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a Complaint for Injunctive and Other Relief (Complaint) against Steven L. Brickner. According to the SEC, Brickner “falsely represented to prospective investors that he would use their money to purchase the assets of a Colorado-licensed marijuana dispensary network . . .” and ultimately net investors substantial gains through a reverse merger IPO. In reality, Brickner did not own the assets he represented to investors and never filed any necessary documents to complete his promised merger or IPO. Instead, the SEC alleges that from 2015 to 2019, “Brickner misappropriated approximately $3 million of investor money to fund his lavish lifestyle.” According to the SEC’s press release regarding this matter, Brickner had more than 60 victims, most of whom were retail investors. The SEC alleges that Brickner violated various provisions of the federal securities laws. As part of the fraud, the SEC explained that Brickner, a 48-year-old Central Florida resident, operated FirstCanna Pharmaceuticals LLC, FirstCanna Financial LLC, FirstCanna Insurance LLC, and High Country Healing Co. LLC. The SEC Complaint highlights that Brickner’s LinkedIn profile and other background information create a façade of past success running a series of venture capital, finance, and other commercial companies in the Tampa, Florida area. However, Hillsborough County court records indicate that Brickner and one of Brickner’s prior ventures, VC Financial Management, LLC, were accused of defrauding a Tampa-based tech startup startup in or around 2014.  The SEC Complaint also indicates that Brickner filed for bankruptcy in 2016 and did not file a tax return in 2014 “because he had no taxable income.” This was far from the successful venture capitalist turned entrepreneur Brickner held himself out to be.On April 21, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a Complaint for Injunctive and Other Relief (Complaint) against Steven L. Brickner. According to the SEC, Brickner “falsely represented to prospective investors that he would use their money to purchase the assets of a Colorado-licensed marijuana dispensary network . . .” and ultimately net investors substantial gains through a reverse merger IPO. In reality, Brickner did not own the assets he represented to investors and never filed any necessary documents to complete his promised merger or IPO. Continue reading ›

Cetera Financial Group, comprised of Cetera Advisors, Cetera Advisor Networks, First Allied Securities, and Summit Brokerage Services, recently announced that it is halting sales of non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and interval funds, citing the likely inaccuracy of real estate valuations leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cetera Financial Group has approximately 8,000 registered representatives operating across the country who are subject to this policy.Cetera Financial Group, comprised of Cetera Advisors, Cetera Advisor Networks, First Allied Securities, and Summit Brokerage Services, recently announced that it is halting sales of non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and interval funds, citing the likely inaccuracy of real estate valuations leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cetera Financial Group has approximately 8,000 registered representatives operating across the country who are subject to this policy. Continue reading ›

Investors in YayYo (YAYO), a ride-hailing vehicle supply company, were disappointed to find out that their shares, which originally sold for $4.00 per share, are now worth pennies. A lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York, FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC v. Aegis Capital Corp., et al., alleges that this decimation of stock value was the result of fraud. Specifically, the suit accuses the IPO underwriters, including Aegis Capital Corp., of concealing that its founder/CEO/director, Ramy El-Batrawi, controlled the company despite El-Batrawi’s “checkered past with allegations of securities violations by the federal securities authorities,” according to the Complaint.Investors in YayYo (YAYO), a ride-hailing vehicle supply company, were disappointed to find out that their shares, which originally sold for $4.00 per share, are now worth pennies. A lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York, FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC v. Aegis Capital Corp., et al., alleges that this decimation of stock value was the result of fraud. Specifically, the suit accuses the IPO underwriters, including Aegis Capital Corp., of concealing that its founder/CEO/director, Ramy El-Batrawi, controlled the company despite El-Batrawi’s “checkered past with allegations of securities violations by the federal securities authorities,” according to the Complaint. Continue reading ›

Silver Law Group is investigating Cetera Advisors, LLC and its registered representative David Rockwell. According to Rockwell’s CRD Report, published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Rockwell was permanently barred from the securities industry and has been the subject of several customer disputes arising out of his misconduct over the past several years, involving allegations of fraud and misappropriation of customer’s funds. Rockwell (CRD# 4236377) has also been the subject of several criminal proceedings, involving charges of stalking, driving while intoxicated, obstruction, and even assault.Silver Law Group is investigating Cetera Advisors, LLC and its registered representative David Rockwell. According to Rockwell’s CRD Report, published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Rockwell was permanently barred from the securities industry and has been the subject of several customer disputes arising out of his misconduct over the past several years, involving allegations of fraud and misappropriation of customer’s funds. Continue reading ›

Silver Law Group recently filed a FINRA arbitration claim on behalf of a customer of David Krumrey of Oppenheimer & Co.  Among other things, the suit alleges breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, breach of contract, and failure to supervise resulting in substantial investment losses in the customer’s account. Silver Law Group has been investigating Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. and its registered representative David Krumrey. According to Krumrey’s CRD Report, published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), Krumrey was permanently barred from the securities industry and is the subject of several customer disputes arising out of his conduct over the past several years. It is likely that Krumrey was engaged in widespread misconduct across many customer accounts. Silver Law Group believes Krumrey’s employing broker-dealer firm, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., may be liable for this misconduct.Silver Law Group recently filed a FINRA arbitration claim on behalf of a customer of David Krumrey of Oppenheimer & Co.  Among other things, the suit alleges breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, breach of contract, and failure to supervise resulting in substantial investment losses in the customer’s account.

Silver Law Group has been investigating Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. and its registered representative David Krumrey. According to Krumrey’s CRD Report, published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), Krumrey was permanently barred from the securities industry and is the subject of several customer disputes arising out of his conduct over the past several years. It is likely that Krumrey was engaged in widespread misconduct across many customer accounts. Silver Law Group believes Krumrey’s employing broker-dealer firm, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., may be liable for this misconduct. Continue reading ›

Contact Information