Janney Montgomery Scott

Former Janney Montgomery Scott Broker Apostolos Pitsironis Arrested For Defrauding Investors

Published on: February 23, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-New York Stockbroker Named In Multiple Customer Disputes

Apostolos Nicolas Pitsironis, a former-Janney Montgomery Scott registered representative who was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in 2019 for allegedly defrauding investors, was arrested on February 10 in Dix Hills, New York in a parallel criminal fraud case. Prosecutors contend that he used ex-customers’ funds to pay his expenses, including gambling debts and credit card charges.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Pitsironis stole $411K out of one couple’s account. If convicted of wire fraud, Pitsironis could spend up to 20 years behind bars.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Ex-Morgan Stanley Broker John Cahill

Published on: January 10, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Bars Former Morgan Stanley Representative

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred former Morgan Stanley broker, John Joseph Cahill. The ex-registered representative, who was fired from Janney Montgomery Scott early last year, is accused of potentially converting and/or misappropriating an elderly client’s funds while he was at Morgan Stanley.

John Cahill Is Accused of Elder Investor Fraud

Former Janney Montgomery Scott Broker Faces Charges

Published on: May 17, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin has filed charges against broker-dealer Janney Montgomery Scott accusing the firm of not properly supervising broker Stephen Querzoli during his trading of Class A mutual fund shares from 2012 to 2017. According to the state regulator, these alleged mutual fund sales violations caused investors, mostly older customers, to pay nearly $200K in unwarranted commissions that were shared between Janney and Querzoli.

Class A mutual fund shares usually charge higher fees of up to 5.7% at the front-end. They also lead to higher commissions for the investment advisers and brokers selling them compared to what other mutual fund class shares would render.

Although Class A shares are meant to be held for at least five years, according to the Massachusetts regulator, Querzoli would sell clients’ Class A shares within months of their acquiring them, thereby engaging in short-term trading. This resulted in higher and additional commissions charged to customers.