Recent Blog Posts
SEC Cites Brokerage Firm for Violating Whistleblower Protection Rule
On September 29th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that a brokerage-firm has been cited for violating federal whistleblower protection regulations. D.E. Shaw & Co., L.P.— a brokerage firm headquartered in New York City—reportedly required its employees to sign contracts that prohibited them from making protected disclosures to the SEC. Here, our… Read More »
SEC Charges Florida Investment Fraud With Securities Law Violations
On October 2nd, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced securities fraud charges against several Florida-based investment entities, including Pisces Income Fund, LLC and Pisces Income Fund Parallel, LLC. Two individuals—Shannon Westhead and Alec Vagnozzi—were named as the principal operators of the funds. Notably, the securities fraud charges are related to the Par… Read More »
Florida Broker-Dealer Fined, Censured for Inadequate Supervisory System
OCP Capital, LLC (CRD #143381) is a brokerage firm based in Wellington, Florida. The broker-dealer is licensed to operate in both Florida and New York. In 2023, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced that OCP Capital, LLC is facing a censure and a $75,000 fine for its failure to develop and implement an… Read More »
SEC Charges Florida Executive With Defrauding Senior Citizen Investors
On September 29th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced securities fraud charges against Stephone N. Patton. A convicted felon, Mr. Patton stands accused of using three investment entities that he owned and controlled to defraud senior citizen investors. Here, our Miami elder financial fraud attorney highlights the key factors to know about… Read More »
SEC Charges Man With Running Miami-Based Real Estate Ponzi Scheme Targeted at Chinese-American Investors
On September 29th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced securities fraud charges against Bin Hao. Mr. Hao owned and controlled Qidian LLC. The SEC alleges that he fraudulently raised more than $10 million from at least 60 different investors. Mr. Hao reportedly targeted Chinese-American investors to carry out a Miami-based real estate… Read More »
Florida Investors Among those Affected By Ponzi Scheme
On September 25th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced securities fraud charges against Matthew Motil—a podcaster who self-labeled as “The Cash Flow King.” Mr. Motil stands accused of fraudulently raising $11 million from more than 50 different investors, including several investors in Florida. The SEC alleges that Mr. Motil was operating a… Read More »
SEC Files Complaint Against Alleged Unregistered Brokers in South Florida
On September 18th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Rondini, et al). The SEC names Wilson Rondini III and two investment entities that he controlled—Falcon Capital LLP and Falcon Capital Partners Limited—as defendants in the case. The federal… Read More »
Florida Broker Terminated for Selling Away, Barred By FINRA for Failure to Cooperate With Investigation
Randall George Skrabonja (CRD #1858245) is a previously registered securities broker. From October of 2019 to May of 2023, Mr. Skrabonja was an associate of Green Vista Capital, LLC in Winter Park, Florida. Prior to that, he was a registered representative of Sagepoint Financial in Fort Lauderdale and Metlife Securities in West Palm Beach…. Read More »
FINRA Bars Securities Broker in Florida For Declining to Cooperate With Investigation into Alleged Outside Business Activities
Jeffrey Max Cohen (CRD #2528929) is a formerly registered securities broker and investment adviser. FINRA lists Mr. Cohen as a resident of Panama City Beach, Florida. Most recently, this broker was associated with Moloney Securities Co., Inc. (2015 to 2021). In June of 2023, FINRA barred Jeffrey Max Cohen from the securities industry for… Read More »
SEC Grants $18 Million to Whistleblower Award
On August 26th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that a whistleblower has been awarded approximately $18 million. The whistleblower—whose identity will not be released to the public—voluntarily came forward and provided the federal agency with information that aided in enforcement action that put a stop to securities fraud. Here, our Florida… Read More »
