excessive trading

Did Your Joseph Stone Capital Broker Excessively Trade in Your Account?

Published on: September 22, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Customers Who Are The Victims of Churning May Be Able To Recover Damages

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has ordered Joseph Stone Capital and a number of its registered representatives to pay $1M in restitution for allegedly excessively trading in customers’ accounts. This includes $825K in restitution from the broker-dealers and $211K from eight current and ex-Joseph Stone brokers, all of whom have been suspended.

Three Joseph Stone supervisors were also suspended for allegedly not doing enough to identify or address red flags warning of this purported broker misconduct. Two other Joseph Stone representatives were barred for not responding to FINRA’s requests for more information in its investigation.

Ex-Joseph Stone Capital Broker Joseph Ambrosole Faces Excessive and Unsuitable Trading Allegations

Published on: August 17, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Customer of Former New York Financial Advisor Is Requesting Over $850K in Damages

In July 2022, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) permanently barred Joseph Albert Ambrosole after he refused to testify in the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO) probe. FINRA led this investigation concerning an amended Uniform Termination Notice by Joseph Stone Capital, one of the broker-dealers where he used to be registered. According to that member firm, Ambrosole, who resigned, was the subject of a customer complaint accusing him of allegedly engaging in unsuitable trading.

The ex-New York broker, who worked in the industry for eight years, was most recently a Joseph Stone Capital financial advisor between 2017 to 2021. Other firms where Ambrosole used to be a registered representative include Alexander Capital, Meyers Associates, Global Arena Capital, Laidlaw & Co., and Obsidian Financial Group.

Ex-Worden Capital Broker William Athas Accused of Excessive Trading That Cost Customers $1.1M

Published on: March 4, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-NY Worden Capital Broker Barred After Allegedly Charging $1.6M in Commissions

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred ex-Worden Capital Management and former SW Financial registered representative, William Nicholas Athas. This bar comes in the wake of allegations that he engaged in excessive trading in customer accounts.

According to the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO’s) complaint, Athas controlled the trading in these accounts, deciding the frequency and volume of trades. He also allegedly made the calls regarding which securities to purchase and sell, as well as the quantity and timing of each transaction. William Athas’ customers usually would go by his recommendations.

Aegis Capital To Pay $2.75M For Churning in FINRA Case

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

68 Customers To Receive Restitution From NY-Based Broker-Dealer, Aegis Capital

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has sanctioned Aegis Capital, which will pay about $2.8M for the excessive and unsuitable trading that allegedly took place in dozens of customers’ accounts.

Of this amount, $1.7M in restitution will go to 68 customers who were potentially harmed. The remaining $1.1M is a fine the broker-dealer will pay for related supervisory violations involving Aegis brokers Roberto Birardi and Joseph Giordano.

Customers of Former Worden Capital Management Broker Christ Baltas Request Over $614K in Damages

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

FINRA Barred New York Financial Advisor Following Unsuitability & Churning Allegations

If you have suffered investment losses while working with ex-Worden Capital Management broker Christ Elias Baltas, you may be able to pursue damages by filing a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim.

Baltas, who was based out of Melville, New York, is currently named in two pending customer disputes in which the claimants are seeking more than $614K in damage. FINRA barred him in 2020.

Another Ex-Worden Capital Management Broker, Joseph Todaro, is Accused of Excessive Trading

Published on: August 2, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-Worden Capital Management Broker’s Customer is Seeking Over $200K in Damages

Joseph Paul Todaro, currently an SW Financial registered representative, is named in a customer dispute in which the claimant is reporting investment losses from excessive trading, failure to follow instructions, and poor services. The investor is seeking over $200K.

This is not the first customer of the Melville, New York-based broker to accuse Todaro of excessive trading. As a matter of fact, three other claims brought by his customers make similar allegations. Also, from 2018 to 2020, Todaro was a registered representative with Worden Capital Management, which last year was subject of a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) action related to the churning activities of its brokers.

FINRA Orders Worden Capital Management to Pay Over $1.5M For Brokers’ Churning

Published on: January 19, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Worden Capital Management’s Settlement Includes $1.2M in Customer Restitution

In December 2020, Worden Capital Management, a New York-based broker-dealer, arrived at an over $1.5M settlement with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) over excessive trades made by the firm’s registered representatives.

The self-regulatory organization (SRO) contends that from January 2015 to October 2019, the New York brokerage firm did not have the kind of supervisory system in place that would have allowed it to “achieve compliance” with rules having to do with churning and excessive trading.

More Customers File Unsuitability Claims Against ex-HD Vest Investment Services Broker Michael Kamperman

Published on: September 22, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Suspends Waco, Texas Broker For 18 Months

Two investors have filed Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration complaints against Michael Allen Kamperman, who was most recently a former HD Vest Investment Services registered representative. Both customers are accusing him of making unsuitable and excessive trades on their behalf. Kamperman, who is based out of Texas, was suspended by FINRA last year.

Our Texas stockbroker fraud lawyers are currently investigating customer claims involving Michael Kamperman. Contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) today.

SEC Says Joseph Stone Capital Broker Ross Barish Defrauded 16 Investors

Published on: August 27, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Barish Earned Over $400K in Commissions from Excessive Trading Strategy

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed civil charges against Ross Adam Barish, a Joseph Stone Capital registered representative. The regulator contends that Barish engaged in an unsuitable in-and-out trading strategy in customers’ accounts without doing the necessary due diligence to make sure that this approach could at least deliver them minimal profits.

Instead, 16 retail investors collectively lost more than $800K while the Joseph Stone Capital broker earned more than $400K in commissions. Now, the SEC is seeking penalties, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, and injunctive relief.

Two Former Meyers Associates Alleged Excessive Trading Cost Investors $3.6M

Published on: September 25, 2018 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

The US Securities and Exchange Commission is accusing brokers Jovannie Aquino and Emil Botvinnik of fraud that allegedly cost investors about $3.6M. According to the regulator, Botvinnik, who is a Florida resident and is no longer a registered representative, and Aquino who is a New York resident, recommended frequent, short-term trades, earning them about $4.6M in commissions while practically guaranteeing that their customers would lose money. Botvinnik’s alleged excessive trading took place between 6/2012 and 11/2014. Aquino’s alleged excessive trading occurred between 12/2015 to 11/2017.

Many of these customers were retail investors. A number of them were of retirement age or close to that age.

At the time of the alleged broker fraud, Aquino and Botvinnik were with Meyers Associates LP. The firm is now called Windsor Street Capital LP. Aquino then went to work with Spartan Capital Securities while Botvinnik moved on to Newport Coast Securities, SW Financial, and Worden Capital Management.