FINRA Sanctions Financial Advisors Over Allegedly Selling Away $8M in Promissory Notes

FINRA has suspended former Columbia Capital Securities brokers Josiah Jennings and William Pugh for 10 months after they allegedly sold $8 million in unapproved private equity promissory notes involving undisclosed conflicts of interest. The law firm Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is offering free case consultations to help affected investors explore legal claims against the brokerage firm for failed supervision and selling away.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended two former Columbia Capital Securities financial advisors for 10 months for allegedly improperly selling $8 million in promissory notes from a private equity fund in which they purportedly had conflicts of interest. Josiah D. Jennings and William N. Pugh, who were allowed to resign from the broker-dealer, remain registered investment advisers with Vela Consulting.

Our Delaware Statutory Trust Investment Loss Recovery Lawyers Are Here For You

The law firm Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is offering free case evaluations for investors who suffered financial losses in The Nine @Memphis, a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) student housing complex linked to a broader $56M investment fraud scheme involving Versity Investments/Crew Enterprises. Investors can seek to recover their principal, fees, interest, and other damages by pursuing FINRA arbitration claims against the brokerage firms that unsuitably marketed or sold these risky offerings.

If you are a The Nine @Memphis investor who suffered losses in this Delaware Statutory Trust (DST), a Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) wants to talk to you. This 114-unit luxury student housing complex, located close to the University of Memphis in Tennessee, was originally founded by Nelson Brothers Professional Real Estate. It is now part of Versity Investments/Crew Enterprises, whose leadership is accused of running a more than $56M investment scam.

Chicago Regulation Best Interest Lawyers

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas represents Illinois investors seeking to recover losses caused by broker-dealers who violate the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest rule. Their experienced securities attorneys assist clients through FINRA arbitration to identify misconduct, protect investor rights, and secure financial recovery.

Throughout the great US state of Illinois, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) represents investors who have suffered losses because their financial advisor made investment recommendations that were not in their best interests. Contact our Chicago Reg BI recovery law firm now if you want to explore your legal options.

Our Closed-End Fund Recovery Lawyers Represent Investors in FINRA Arbitration

Investors who suffered financial losses from high-risk investments like Priority Income Fund can seek restitution through experienced closed-end fund recovery lawyers. These specialized attorneys hold brokerage firms accountable for unsuitable recommendations via FINRA arbitration to help clients recoup their capital.

Are you an investor who suffered losses in Priority Income Fund? You might want to explore your legal options. Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Closed-end Fund Rrecovery Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) have been investigating the broker-dealers that unsuitably recommended this risky, closed-end fund including the following:

Claimants Are Pursuing Up to $500K in Damage Involving Priority Income Fund, Bluerock Private Real Estate Fund, and TrueLife Companies Elite Fund II

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is representing a Colorado family in a FINRA arbitration claim seeking up to $500,000 against KCD Financial and broker Daniel Rust. The lawsuit alleges that the firm and broker unsuitably recommended speculative and highly illiquid alternative investments, resulting in significant six-figure losses for the investors’ retirement and family savings.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Misconduct Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) are representing a Colorado couple and their elderly father in their FINRA arbitration claim against KCD Financial and Broker Daniel Rust. The Claimants contend that the broker-dealer and its registered representative unsuitably recommended risky alternative investments, including Priority Income Fund and Bluerock Private Real Estate Fund (BPRE) , as well as private placement real estate fund TrueLife Companies Elite Fund II.

Contact Our Closed-End Fund Loss Recovery Attorneys Today 

Priority Income Fund has reportedly lost nearly 80% of its original value due to defaults and distressed exchanges in its high-risk collateralized loan obligation (CLO) holdings. In response to heavy investor losses, the law firm Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is offering free case assessments to help retail investors pursue recovery claims against brokers who unsuitably recommended or misrepresented the fund.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) is offering free assessment to investors who suffered losses in Priority Income Fund. This closed-end fund is a risky private investment that should never have been sold to retail investors. Now, it has reportedly lost 79-80% of its original value. Its initial offering price was $15.00, with its current value as of July 31, 2026 at $3.15. A July 2026 tender led to heavy oversubscription. This offer prorated repurchases to around 15.23% of the shares requested.

We Are Here To Represent You Against The Broker-Dealer Liable For Your Portfolio Losses

Our San Francisco Institutional Investor Recovery Lawyers represent institutional investors across the Bay Area in recovering portfolio losses caused by broker misconduct, fraud, and unsuitable investment strategies. With decades of securities law experience, our legal team navigates complex FINRA arbitrations to help institutional clients hold negligent brokerage firms accountable and recover their damages.

The San Francisco Bay Area is known as a hub for different kinds of institutional investors, including private equity companies, venture capital firms, mutual funds, endowments, foundations, public pensions, multi-family offices, wealth managers, and philanthropic foundations.  While institutional investors are considered sophisticated investors, that doesn’t mean that they won’t ever need to hire a brokerage firm to help them with certain aspects of doing their job: making large trades, obtaining the best share prices, securing certain types of market access, obscuring trades from public knowledge, valuation or clearing support and more.

Claimants Allege Broker Unsuitably Recommended Moody National REIT II and Strategic Student and Senior Housing Trust

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Non-Traded REIT Investor Lawyers are representing a California retiree couple in a FINRA arbitration lawsuit against Independent Financial Group, seeking up to $500,000 for losses in illiquid, high-risk non-traded REITs. The retirees allege that advisor Peter Shen unsuitably recommended and overconcentrated their portfolio in Moody National REIT II and Strategic Student and Senior Housing Trust despite their low-risk preferences.

In FINRA arbitration, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Non-Traded REIT Investor Lawyers (investorlawyers.com)  are representing two California investors who are suing Independent Financial Group for up to $500,000 in damages. The Claimants are a retiree couple who entrusted the broker-dealer and financial advisor Peter Shen to take care of their assets. Instead, they contend, the Respondents went on to  give them bad investment advice and involve them in non-traded real estate investment trusts (non-traded REITs) Moody National REIT II and Strategic Student and Senior Housing Trust.

FINRA Arbitration Panel Awards Syndicated Conservation Easement Investors $509,000 In Damages Against The Strategic Financial Alliance

A FINRA arbitration panel awarded investors $509,000 in damages against The Strategic Financial Alliance over the unsuitable recommendation of syndicated conservation easements. Law firm Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is actively investigating brokerage firms that sold these high-risk tax shelters to retail clients.

A family of investors was awarded $509,000 by a FINRA arbitration panel in their broker fraud case against The Strategic Financial Alliance. The Claimants accused the broker-dealer of unsuitably recommended syndicated conservation land easements (SCEs) that they said led to significant investment losses, along with other portfolio losses involving whole life insurance policies and real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Are Investigating The Brokers That Sold This Alternative Investment 

If you are a Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company (GREC) investor who is needing to explore your legal options, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) wants to talk to you. The alternative asset company is looking at substantial losses following its announced acquisition by MN8 Energy Holdings.

While Greenbacker shares were originally sold for $10 – $9.186/share, —depending on which class an investor purchased—these same shareholders are now expected to receive about $1.71/share (plus possibly another $0.12/share in contingent consideration ) upon the closing of the acquisition. This means that Greenbacker investors are looking at a loss of more than 80% of the original share price.

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