Category Archives: Investment Fraud
Florida Investment Firm Censured and Fined $75,000 by FINRA
Have you ever invested your hard earned money with Dawson James Securities, Inc. (CRD#: 130645), a brokerage firm based out of Boca Raton, Florida? If so, you need to be aware of the recent disciplinary action that has been taken against the company. Earlier this year, the FINRA Department of Enforcement announced fines against… Read More »
Florida Investment Broker Suspended for Six Months, Fined $20,000
On April 11th, 2017, FINRA’s Department of Enforcement announced that registered financial adviser John Patrick Wheeler (CRD#: 1068503) has been suspended for six months and fined $20,000 for professional misconduct. Mr. Wheeler was most recently employed at Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., at an office located in Clearwater, Florida. Without admitting or denying any… Read More »
Florida Broker Permanently Barred From the Securities Industry
On March 24th, 2017, Norman Kirby Farra Jr. was expelled from the securities industry for his failure to cooperate with an official investigation. According to industry records, which can be accessed by using FINRA’s free BrokerCheck tool (CRD#: 2131930), Mr. Farra was most recently employed at International Assets Advisory, LLC, at its location in… Read More »
Florida Broker Suspended for One Year for Professional Misconduct
Without admitting or denying any wrongdoing, Matthew Meehan (CRD#: 4320603) has consented to the sanctions that were brought by FINRA’s Department of Enforcement. According to the complaint (Case reference No. 2016050114901), the Winter Garden-based broker has been suspended for one year and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and $21,813 in financial restitution to… Read More »
New NFLPA Registered Financial Advisor Is The Subject of a FINRA Disciplinary Proceeding
On April 1, 2016, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) Department of Enforcement filed a Complaint against James Goetz, a NFLPA Registered Financial Advisor. The Complaint alleged that while employed by Merrill Lynch, Goetz invested in at least five private companies without making required disclosures or receiving authorization from Merrill Lynch. FINRA also alleges… Read More »
Massachusetts Financial Adviser Forged Documents, Sold Unsuitable Investments
On December 1st, 2016, the Enforcement Section of the Massachusetts Securities Division filed an administrative complaint against former LPL Financial broker Roger S. Zullo. The complaint alleges that Mr. Zullo, a Boston-based financial adviser, forged sensitive financial documents and intentionally pushed his clients into unsuitable investments. Authorities allege that he did this simply to… Read More »
Federal Jury Convicts Financial Executive in Cay Clubs Ponzi Scheme Case
On March 6th, 2017, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that David W. Schwartz, the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Cay Clubs Resorts, has been convicted of several serious offenses by a federal jury. Mr. Schwartz now faces up to 93 years in prison. Cay Clubs, which at one point employed… Read More »
Utah Brokerage Firm Permanently Banned for Selling Unregistered Penny Stocks
Recently, FINRA expelled the broker-dealer ACAP Financial Inc. from any future dealing within the securities industry. The Salt Lake City-based brokerage firm was accused of unlawfully selling unregistered securities. More specifically, the firm sold billions of shares of four different penny stocks without properly registering them with the SEC. A complete account of the… Read More »
Morgan Stanley Hit With Multimillion Dollar Penalty for Overbilling Customers
On January 13th, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it had reached a $13 million settlement with the financial giant Morgan Stanley. The settlement came in relation to charges that Morgan Stanley had been systematically overbilling its clients and that the company failed to comply with key securities regulations. Beyond the… Read More »
FINRA Takes Disciplinary Action Against New Jersey Financial Adviser
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently suspended Alex Etter for two years for misconduct he committed while he was a registered financial adviser. According to investigators, Etter put his personal financial interests and the interests of his firm ahead of that of his clients. In doing so, his brokerage company netted more than… Read More »
