Broker Fraud

Ex-Transamerica Financial Advisors Broker Scott Allen Fries Ordered To Pay Over $747K For Allegedly Defrauding Investors

Published on: April 21, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

SEC Obtains Default Judgment Against Former Cincinnati, Ohio Registered Representative

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has obtained a default judgment against Scott Allen Fries. He was a Transamerica Financial Advisors registered representative from 2014 to 2019.

The regulator’s amended complaint accuses the former broker and investment advisor of raising approximately $458K from at least ten investors, including customers from the brokerage firm, and using the funds to pay for his personal expenses. Fries is barred from further fraud violations and must pay disgorgement of $428,334.53, a civil penalty of $208,500, and a prejudgment interest of $110,548.02.

FINRA Suspends Ex-Stifel Nicolaus Broker Andrew Elsoffer for Two Years

Published on: March 10, 2022 | by Kirk G. Smith

Ohio Financial Advisor Andrew Elsoffer Named in Multiple Customer Disputes

Andrew Bruce Elsoffer, who Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. fired in 2018, is suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for two years, beginning March 7, 2022. The suspension comes in the wake of customer allegations that he exercised discretion in their accounts without their written authorization.

He also allegedly lent money to one client, his personal friend, for home renovations without the firm’s approval. The friend later repaid him.

Former UBS Broker German Nino Allegedly Stole $5.8M From Client

Published on: January 31, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-UBS Financial Services Advisor Faces SEC and Criminal Charges

German Nino, a former UBS Financial Services (UBS) broker and investment advisor, is accused of stealing $5.8M from a customer. Nino, who left the broker-dealer in 2020, is now facing related civil charges brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and parallel criminal charges.

Our Florida broker misconduct lawyers are looking into claims of significant investment losses by other ex-customers of the financial advisor, German Nino. Contact us at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas today so that we can help you determine whether you have grounds for a FINRA arbitration claim to file for damages.

Ex-Western International Securities Broker Megurditch Patatian Allegedly Unsuitably Recommended Non-Traded REITs to Investors

Published on: October 26, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Claims Former Financial Advisor Also Cost Investors Over Variable Annuities

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has filed a complaint accusing ex-Western International Securities registered representative Megurditch Mike Patatian of unsuitably recommending to 59 customers that they purchase non-traded real estate investment trusts (non-traded REITs). According to the self-regulatory organization (SRO), Patatian lacked reasonable grounds to make 81 recommendations to these customers. Not only that, but for four of the non-traded REIT sales at issue, the ex-financial advisor recommended that they surrender their variable annuities (VAs), which caused them to have to pay surrender fees and incur taxes.

These purportedly unsuitable recommendations which caused investors to lose money, occurred while Patatian was with Western International Securities in Westlake Village, CA. (After leaving that brokerage firm in 2020, he became a Supreme Alliance broker for less than a year in Charlotte, North Carolina.)

Former Worden Capital Broker Allan Montalbano Faces $543K Unsuitability Case For Broker Negligence

Published on: October 25, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-New York Financial Advisor Has 15 Customer Disputes on BrokerCheck

If you suffered investment losses while working with ex-Worden Capital Management stockbroker Allan Perry Montalbano, contact our New York financial advisor misconduct attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com). Montalbano, who is no longer a registered broker or investment advisor, has 16 disclosures on BrokerCheck. Out of these, 15 are customer disputes.

Call our New York broker misconduct attorneys at (716) 261-3529. Throughout the US call SSEK Law Firm at (800) 259-2010.

Customers of Western International Securities Broker Peter Steege Allege Unsuitability

Published on: October 18, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Denver, Colorado Financial Advisor Has 21 Disclosures on BrokerCheck

If you suffered losses while working with Western International Securities registered investment advisor Peter Benedict Steege, our Denver, Colorado broker misconduct lawyers want to speak with you. Steege, who has been with this firm for 19 years, has 21 disclosures listed on BrokerCheck. Most of them are customer disputes. However, Steege was also named in a former criminal case (now dismissed) that alleged petty theft and a few regulatory disputes.

Our Denver broker negligence lawyers represent investors throughout the state and the rest of the US in their Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims over losses they sustained due to the wrongful or careless actions of their financial advisors. In Colorado, call SSEK Law Firm at (720) 439-2827. You can also reach us nationwide at (800) 259-9010.

Sin Respuestas De La Corte En Cuanto al Reembolso de Activos – Representantes de Cada Clase de Inversionistas Serán Nombrados En Los Procedimientos de Liquidación de Northstar Financial Services (Islas Bermudas)

Published on: September 9, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Determinación Similar Hecha en Procedimientos de Liquidación de Old Mutual (Islas Bermudas)

El juez presidente de Islas Bermudas, Narinder Hargun y los Liquidadores Provisionales Conjuntos (LPCs) están de acuerdo en que sean nombrados representantes para toda clase de acreedores en los procedimientos de liquidación tanto para Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Ltd. como para Omnia, Ltd. La Corte Suprema de Islas Bermudas también proveyó dirección a los LPCs, luego que estos últimos determinaran que asuntos relacionados con la evaluación de la segregación de activos entre diferentes tipos de inversionistas podían impactar cuánto podrían recuperar todos ellos. Los inversionistas han estado esperando por esta notificación de septiembre para obtener respuestas en cuanto a qué, si algo, pudiera recuperarse. Claramente, no hay respuestas, y la próxima vista no puede celebrase hasta después del 21 de octubre, pero con toda probabilidad no se celebrará hasta el año próximo.

Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) y Old Mutual (Bermuda) fueron adquiridas por Global Bankers Insurance Group, la cual es propiedad de Greg Lindberg. Este billonario americano está cumpliendo más de siete años en prisión por conspiración para cometer fraude electrónico en servicios honestos y soborno. Mientras tanto, los inversionistas de ambas entidades de las Islas Bermudas están actualmente luchando para recuperar sus pérdidas.

Barred Mutual of Omaha Broker Edward Matthes Gets Over 5 Years in Prison For Investor Fraud

Published on: June 17, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-Wisconsin Financial Advisor Bilked 27 Victims of $2.6M, Many of Them Older Investors

Edward Earl Matthes, an ex-Mutual of Omaha Investor Services broker, is sentenced to 63 months behind bars for defrauding over two dozen investors, most of them older customers, in a $2.6M investment scam. He had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud.

Matthews was also the subject of a parallel Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit last year that ordered him to pay those he harmed $2.4M in restitution. The regulator permanently barred him from the industry.

FINRA Suspends Ex-MML Investors Services Broker Adam Belardino

Published on: May 31, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

New York Financial Adviser Has Multiple Customer Disputes on Record

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended ex-MML Investors Services LLC broker Adam Gerard Belardino. The suspension runs from February 2021 until Belardino either provides the information that the self-regulatory organization (SRO) has requested or the suspension becomes a permanent bar.

Belardino, who is also a former registered investment advisor, has several disclosures on his BrokerCheck, including six customer disputes. MML Investors Services fired Belardino in 2019. The firm, in its Form U5, said that this was in connection to a customer complaint accusing the then-broker of excessive trading, making misrepresentations, and other negligence and broker misconduct.

Triad Advisors Broker Darrin Cohen Under Scrutiny Over Possible GPB Private Placement Sales

Published on: February 3, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Wealth Enhancement & Preservation CEO Named in Two Pending Investor Claims

Triad Advisors stockbroker, Darrin Stuart Cohen, is currently the subject of two pending Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims from customers collectively seeking $600K in damages. The allegations involve the unsuitability of investments, including alternative investments, that were sold to them.

Cohen is also the CEO of Wealth Enhancement & Preservation in Alpharetta, Georgia and a registered investment advisor for Red Triangle, LLC in Charleston, South Carolina.