Ameriprise - Securities America Category Archives — Page 3 of 3 — Investor Lawyers Blog Published By Investment Fraud Attorneys

Ameriprise Must Pay $17 Million for REIT Fraud

Published on: July 12, 2009 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

The US Securities and Exchange Commission says Ameriprise Financial Services has consented to pay $17.3 million to settle allegations that it received millions of dollars in undisclosed compensation in exchange for selling certain REITs (real estate investment trusts) to its brokerage customers.

The SEC says Ameriprise demanded and got “revenue sharing” payments to sell the REITs but neglected to disclose it was receiving the payments. The SEC is also accusing Ameriprise of violating a number of federal securities laws when it sold over $100 million in unregistered shares involving one specific REIT.

SEC Enforcement Director Robert Khumazi says the broker-dealer’s clients were not told that brokers had incentives to sell the REITs. He stressed the importance of investors being able to rely on unbiased advice from financial advisers.

The SEC charges come from REITs sales that took place between 2000 and May 2004. CNL Holdings Group, Inc. and W.P. Carey & Co. LLC created, advised, and managed the REITs named in the proceedings.

By agreeing to settle, Ameriprise is not admitting to or denying wrongdoing.

Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LTD LLP represents Ameriprise investors with securities fraud cases against the broker-dealer. Stockbroker fraud attorney and firm founder William Shepherd says “Our law firm handles claims of all types for investors nationwide who lost in accounts at Ameriprise and other financial firms. Over 90% of our clients recover all or part of their losses. It is sad that many investors choose not to seek recovery from investment firms that commit fraud or and other wrongdoing. We offer a free consultation and most of our clients advance no fees or costs but instead pay these out of their recovery.”

Related Web Resources:
Ameriprise Pays $17.3M To Settle SEC Charges, Wall Street Journal, July 10, 2009
REITs, Investopedia Continue Reading ›

Do Broker-Dealers Hire Brokers Already Suspected of Securities Fraud?

Published on: December 11, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Even though regulators are calling on broker-dealers to employ stricter hiring standards when it comes to screening brokers who have already gotten in trouble for alleged broker misconduct, many firms continue to hire these suspect workers. It doesn’t help that broker-dealers have a tendency to not reveal key details when a registered representative leaves the company under suspect circumstances in order limit the firm’s liability from potential investor lawsuits and arbitration claims.

For example, in 2003, Jeffrey Southard was working for American Express Financial Advisers (now Ameriprise Financial Inc.) when he was accused of selling unregistered securities and combining client funds with his own money. At the time, Southard accused American Express Financial Advisors of falsely accusing him of misdeeds and acting unprofessionally by violating his personal confidentiality. He left the firm to join Gunn-Allen Financial Inc. In July 2008, GunnAllen fired him.

Last month, the New Jersey Bureau of Securities accused the former GunnAllen broker of stealing $1.3 million from 16 senior investors. The state regulators also barred Southard from the securities business and ordered him to pay $50,000 in restitution.

The New Jersey regulators say American Express Financial Advisors failed to properly disclose to clients the problems that could have arisen from working with Southard. The regulators’ order also accuses Southard of misleading his clients. Many of them switched to GunAllen when he left American Express Financial Advisors after he told them that he was leaving was to pursue better opportunities. The New Jersey regulators say that while working with GunnAllen, Southard continued to engage in broker misconduct by selling fake bonds as tax-free investments.

Opinions among industry members are mixed about whether broker-dealers are doing enough to weed out broker candidates with already questionable performance records.

Related Web Resources:

Busted brokers continue bilking clients at new firms, Investment News, December 7, 2008
Ex-GunnAllen broker bilked $1.3M from seniors, Investment News,
Continue Reading ›

Former LPL Financial and Ameriprise Representative Charged with Theft and Fraud of Persons He Met through Church and Little League

Published on: September 24, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

A former LPL Financial and Ameriprise representative has been charged with 14 counts of theft and one count of fraud-all charged as felony crimes-after he allegedly stole $5 million from over 20 people he was acquainted with through Little League and church. James J. Buchanan was indicted last May at Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona.

Buchanan was affiliated with Ameriprise Financial before joining LPL in 2006. The alleged theft and fraud incidents occurred between 2001 and April 2006 when LPL fired him.

Investigators say that there have been a number of victims and unknown damages as a result of the theft and fraud crimes. Buchanan allegedly convinced a number of elderly investors to let him handle their life savings for them, while presenting himself as a certified financial planner.

Court documents portray the former adviser as committing affinity fraud, which involves fraud inflicted upon members belonging to a specific group or community. He was considered an honest Christian and was a church board member.

In March, one victim told police that she had been defrauded $200,000 and that Buchanan had asked her not to report him. The former adviser also is accused of stealing $1 million from the Christ Life Church of Tempe, Ariz. Another alleged victim, a retired cop, says Buchanan promised him returns on his investment and convinced him to retire early.

Elderly investors are often the target of investment scams. There are remedies available that could allow you to recover your losses.

Related Web Resources:

Ex-LPL adviser charged with fraud, theft, Investment News, May 30, 2008
Affinity Fraud: How To Avoid Investment Scams That Target Groups, SEC Continue Reading ›

Ameriprise Settles Lawsuit Alleging That Six of Its Financial Advisers Forged Customer Signatures

Published on: April 14, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ameriprise Financial says it will pay $3.8 million to settle a lawsuit with New Hampshire regulators accusing six of the company’s financial advisers of forging the signatures of at least 96 customers.

The signatures were allegedly forged to make it seem that certain financial plans had been delivered when in fact they had not been sent. The New Hampshire regulators say that the advisers did this to make it appear is if their sales numbers were higher than their actual figures.

Out of the settlement, $333,948 will reimburse investors and $250,000 will cover legal and investigation expenses.

Deutsche Bank Trust Company, Goldman Sachs Group, and Bank of America Corporation are Among the 21 Lenders Named in Cleveland, Ohio Lawsuit

Published on: January 24, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

The city of Cleveland, Ohio is suing 21 financial institutions for hundreds of millions of dollars in damages caused by subprime lending and securitization. The defendants named in the lawsuit are:

• Deutsche Bank Trust Company • Ameriquest Mortgage Company • Bank of America Corporation • The Bear Stearns Companies • Citigroup, Inc.

• Countrywide Financial Corp.

Ameriprise Financial Again Charged With Fraud

Published on: October 25, 2007 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. has been charged by The New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation of forging and tampering with documents. The complaint also alleges that the firm failed to deliver nearly 500 financial plans, conducted unapproved sales contests and intentionally limited compliance oversight.

Furthermore, Minneapolis-based Ameriprise was accused of failing to adequately release fraudulent activities to the New Hampshire Bureau while it was under supervision of an independent consultant, which was mandated under an earlier action against the firm.

The New Hampshire securities regulator said that the latest action against the company, which maintains about 30 offices in the state, could result in penalties and client restitution of up to $10 million.

Ameriprise Broker Arrested for Defrauding Investors – Clients Say He Cashed Checks Made Out to Ameriprise.

Published on: July 10, 2007 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Authorities in Knoxville have arrested an Ameriprise Financial Services broker who is accused of defrauding Tennessee residents. The charges include theft and forgery. At least five alleged victims have come forward claiming losses of almost $1 million. A client in another state claims damages of more than a million dollars and detectives are seeking to learn of more victims.

Delbert Forster Blount III worked out of an Ameriprise office in Knoxville and another in Morristown, Tennessee. It is reported that Blount received checks from clients made out to his firm but deposited these into his personal account rather than his clients’ investment accounts.

According to the latest disclosures made by Ameriprise, fifteen complaints have been lodged against Blount by his clients alleging damages totaling more than $2.5 million. Many of those complaining are reported to have provided Ameriprise with copies of cancelled checks made out to the investment firm which were instead deposited into an account opened by Blount.

NASD Arbitration Panel Says Ameriprise’s Securities America Must Pay Retired American Airline Pilots Up To $9.3 Million

Published on: January 3, 2007 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

An arbitration panel for the NASD says that Ameriprise’s Securities America must pay up to $9.3 million to three retired American Airlines pilots who are accusing a broker of spending their retirement savings on mutual funds that had high fees and trading costs. A spin off from American Express Co., Amerprise Financial offers clients financial planning and advice. Securities America is an Ameriprise Financial Inc. subsidiary.

In an NASD ruling, broker Robert P. Gormly, Jr. and Securities America are both being held liable for $2.4 million in lawyer’s fees and $3.9 million in damages. In addition, Securities America must also pay $3 million in punitive damages.

According to the American Airlines pilots, Gormly (who had been affiliated with Securities America in Texas) had initially purchased products from the American mutual funds group, liquidated the funds between 1998 and 2003, and then directed the pilots’ money into more aggressive Rydex funds that he traded on a nearly daily basis.