Recent Blog Posts
SEC Obtains Emergency Asset in Freeze in Florida Ponzi Scheme Case
On August 13th, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Ponzi scheme charges against Florida resident Johanna M. Garcia and two companies that she owned and controlled (MJ Capital Funding LLC and MJ Taxes and More Inc.). In doing so, the federal agency obtained an emergency asset freeze. The SEC alleges that Ms…. Read More »
Pay Attention to your Brokerage Account Statements
FINRA has issued an informative and important alert regarding the importance of reviewing your monthly account statements upon receipt. Even though the financial markets were up in 2019, it is vital that you continue to review your account statements to confirm that the trading in your account is accurate and conforms with your investment… Read More »
SEC Halts Ponzi scheme Targeting Seniors and Small Business Owners
Washington D.C., Nov. 19, 2019 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has filed an emergency action and obtained a temporary restraining order and asset freeze against two individuals and two companies they control in connection with an alleged $6 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded at least 55 investors, many of whom are… Read More »
Report: Troubled Private Placement GPB Capital Holdings Paid Steep Commissions to Brokers and Broker-Dealers
According to reporting from InvestmentNews, GPB Capital Holdings — the troubled alternative investment company that is currently the subject of Ponzi scheme accusations — paid large commissions to the securities representatives as a substantial inducement to sell the private placement to investors. Specifically, commissions were paid at a rate of 9.3 percent. In total,… Read More »
Wedbush Settles Failure to Supervise Charge
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that Wedbush Securities Inc. will pay a $250,000 penalty and has agreed to be censured to settle its failure to supervise charge in a pending administrative proceeding. According to the SEC’s March 2018 order instituting proceedings, Wedbush ignored numerous red flags indicating that one of its registered… Read More »
With Wild Swings, Stocks Have their Worst December Since the Great Depression
In a volatile market, is your portfolio too risky? As the bell rang to close the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the afternoon of December 31st, a difficult month for stocks finally came to an end. As reported by The Street, this was the worst December for American stocks since 1931 — during… Read More »
Customers Sue LPL Financial Over Unsuitable ETFs And Mutual Funds
Jane Ruth Everingham (CRD: 1727956) is a former registered representative of LPL Financial LLC from Larkspur, California. According to Everingham’s FINRA BrokerCheck disclosures, she is currently, or has been previously, subject of eight customer-initiated, investment-related arbitrations containing allegations of her sales practice violations including unsuitability, excessive fees, and breach of fiduciary duty. The customers’… Read More »
FINRA Bars Invest Financial Corporation Broker Roger Kroeger
Roger Kroeger (CRD: 1526864) is a prior stockbroker of Invest Financial Corporation located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida who Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred in all capacities pursuant to Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent No. 2017056614402 dated September 5, 2018. According to FINRA Department of Enforcement, Kroeger failed to appear for testimony… Read More »
Morgan Stanley Settles Customer Arbitrations Over Unsuitability
Scott J. Donato (CRD: 2336331) is a prior registered representative of Morgan Stanley from the Miami, Florida area who was terminated on March 21, 2017. He disclosed on Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) BrokerCheck that his activities have resulted in a customer-initiated investment-related arbitration dated October 27, 2017. The arbitration alleges that Donato engaged… Read More »
Wells Fargo Broker Suspended For Defaulting On Promissory Note
Darren Thomas Walton (CRD: 2936629) is a former registered representative of Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC located in Los Angeles, California. According to Walton’s Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) BrokerCheck profile, he has been suspended in all registration capacities by FINRA on December 1, 2017 for failing to repay a loan to Wells Fargo Advisors,… Read More »
