Current Investigations

FINRA Broker Fraud Attorney

Published on: July 15, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Did You Suffer Investor Losses While Working With Western International Securities Broker Jeffrey Higgins? Our FINRA Broker Fraud Attorney Are Investigating Misappropriation Allegations

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas FINRA Broker Fraud Attorney Team (investorlawyers.com) is speaking to investors who sustained losses while working with now barred Western International Securities financial advisor Jeffrey Thomas Higgins. The broker-dealer recently fired the Oregon stockbroker after finding that he has been allegedly misappropriating clients’ money since 2007 when he was still registered with Financial West Group. That brokerage firm was expelled from the industry in 2020.

Already, at least one Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim has been brought against Higgins. The claimant, who made allegations of unsuitable investment recommendations and misrepresentations and omissions, settled their claim for over $94K.

Non-Traded REIT Fraud Loss Lawyers

Published on: July 15, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Blackstone REIT Investors Continue To Seek Redemptions. Our Non-Traded REIT Fraud Loss Lawyers Are Here To Evaluate Any Losses

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) is continuing to investigate claims of losses involving Blackstone Real Estate Investment Trust (BREIT). While now, according to a July 1 client letter, it is reportedly able to keep up with investor redemption requests—BREIT received below $806M in buyback demands in June—we remain concerned about possible investment losses. If your broker-dealer marketed/sold you Blackstone REIT, another REIT or a non-traded REIT, contact us today to request your free, no-obligation case assessment.

According to a yearly report by Blackstone Real Estate Investment Trust, in 2023 it paid out more in distributions—$2.8B—than it possessed in cash flow—$2.7B. Investor redemption requests played a huge role in its woes and BREIT wasn’t even able to fully repay every withdrawal request that was made starting in late 2022 until February 2024. Its board of directors even approved going over the 5% of net asset value (NAV) quarterly limit to satisfy all repurchase requests in June 2024.

CB Life Annuity Fraud Attorneys

Published on: July 15, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

For CB Life Annuity Fraud Investors, Suing Their Broker May Be The Best Option For Financial Recovery. Our CB Life Annuity Fraud Attorneys Continue To Investigate Claims of Loss

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) is representing investors who have suffered losses in CB Life annuities issued by Colorado Bankers Life Insurance. These investments were marketed and sold by US-based brokerage firms that earned high commissions and fees. Meanwhile, thousands of investors have lost money in the six-figures.

Colorado Bankers Life Insurance is one of the many insurers owned by Greg Lindberg, who was recently convicted of wire fraud and is accused of defrauding annuity investors of over $2B. Placed in liquidation by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, this entity was found to have assets of about $1.37B and liabilities of $2.5B. Lindberg has long been suspected of funneling money from his insurance companies to his special purpose vehicles. Adding insult to injury, many CB life annuity investors are finding that their investment was never fully protected because they invested more than what could be covered.

Houston Non-Traded REIT Loss Lawyers

Published on: July 1, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

SSEK Houston Non-Traded REIT Loss Lawyers Representing Texas Non-Traded Real Estate Investment Trust Investors Against Negligent Brokers

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) represent investors throughout The Lone Star State who have sustained serious portfolio losses because of non-traded real estate investment trusts (non-traded REITs) that were marketed and sold to them by a financial advisor. Contact us today.

What Is a Non-Traded REIT and How Is It Different From An REIT?

Alternative Investment Loss Attorneys

Published on: July 1, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Alternative Investment Loss Attorneys Investigate Resolute/PetroRock Investments

Sanford & Bernstein Broker Devin Patel And Other Financial Advisors Allegedly Unsuitably Sold Oil and Gas Investments

Our financial advisor fraud lawyers are looking into losses involving Resolute/Petrorock investments. We believe that retail investors, many of whom were at retirement age, may have been unsuitably marketed over $250M of these unregistered equity and debt securities, including oil and gas investments.

Shopoff Securities Loss Attorneys

Published on: July 1, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Lawsuits Against Broker Bill Shopoff Exceed $52M in Damages Requests

Our Shopoff Securities Loss Attorneys Continue To Investigate Claims Against Shopoff Securities

Investors who sustained losses in private placements involving Shopoff Realty Investments, which is accused of running a more than $12.5M Ponzi scam, have filed Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims seeking over $52M in damages. Already, $40M in settlements have been reached.

Margin Abuse Lawyers

Published on: June 28, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Are You an Oppenheimer PEP Investor Who Suffered Serious Losses? Our Margin Abuse Lawyers Are Representing Claimants In Suing This Broker-Dealer

For the last several months, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Margin Abuse Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) has been speaking to accredited investors who were marketed and sold the Oppenheimer Portfolio Enhancement Program (PEP) by their broker. This is a proprietary program that the firm offered to wealthy customers as a supposed chance to earn up to an additional 5% if they participated and borrowed on margin.

A $1.25M minimum was required to become involved in Oppenheimer PEP. This was a high-risk, hedged investment program that, in truth, could only succeed in a low-volatile, low-interest environment.

Elder Financial Abuse Lawyers

Published on: June 27, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Are You A Victim of Elder Financial Abuse? Elder Fraud Cost Victims More Than $3.4B in 2023, Reports FBI

June 15 was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which was established to promote a greater awareness globally about the abuse and neglect that can be suffered by older persons. Here, at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas our Elder Financial Abuse Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) represent seniors who have fallen victim to elder financial abuse by a broker or investment adviser.

In a recent report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), its Internet Crime Complaint Center stated that in 2023, total losses exceeded over $3.4B from scams reported that targeted victims older than 60. That is a nearly 11% rise from the losses reported in 2022. About $1.24B of the losses from last year were a result of investment schemes.

Stockbroker Misconduct Lawyers

Published on: June 27, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Are You An Investor Who Suffered Portfolio Losses While Working With Oppenheimer Broker Gustavo Miramontes?

Our Stockbroker Misconduct Lawyers Want To Talk To You

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) is looking into claims of investor losses involving Oppenheimer financial advisor Gustavo Santos Miramontes. The Los Angeles stockbroker has multiple disclosures on his CRD that primarily consist of customer disputes.

Reg D Private Placement Lawyers

Published on: June 27, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Investment Fraud And Unsuitability Allegations Continue Plaguing HJ Sims Reg D Investments

Our Reg D Private Placement Lawyers Are Zealously Investigating Investor Losses

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Reg D Private Placement Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) is continuing to speak with investors who were sold an HJ Sims Regulation D offering by their financial advisor. These are high-risk investments that the broker-dealer may have allegedly unsuitably, maybe even fraudulently, sold—$2B in these private placements to customers, including retail investors and retirees. One can’t help but wonder if the high commissions and fees that HJ Sims brokers stood to earn from the sales took greater precedence over investors’ best interests.