Securities Fraud

Securities Fraud Law Firm

Published on: December 30, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

What Are High-Yield Bonds?

Our Skilled Securities Fraud Law Firm Can Help If You Have Suffered Junk Bond Losses

High-yield bonds, also known as junk bonds, are non-investment grade bonds. They are usually put out by issuers that have been given a low rating by credit rating agencies and are considered at risk of not paying interest or giving back an investor’s principal upon maturity. Examples of potential issuers are former investment-grade companies that are in financial trouble or are too highly leveraged and emerging companies looking for working capital to help with expansion.

SSEK Law Firm Investigates National Realty Investment Advisors Over Alleged $630M Investor Fraud

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

New Jersey Accuses Real Estate Development Company of Defrauding 1,800 Investors

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) is investigating claims of losses by 1,800 investors. These investors may have been fraudulently sold at least $630M in securities by National Realty Investment Advisors (NRIA) between 2018 and 2022. The New Jersey-based real estate development company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 8, 2022.

An affidavit filed in US bankruptcy court notes about $600M in claims against approximately $300M of assets. On June 21, 2022, the New Jersey Bureau of Securities ordered NRIA to stop operations and accused the company of fraudulent investment sales. Investors were purportedly fraudulently sold units in the NRIA Fund. The minimum investment that investors could make was $100K.

Investors Accuse Ex-Forta Financial Group Broker Gregory Williams of Broker Misconduct

Published on: October 5, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Pending Customer Disputes Seek Nearly $2.6M in Broker Misconduct Damages

If you suffered losses while working with ex-Forta Financial Group stockbroker Gregory Jon Williams, you may want to consider filing a FINRA arbitration claim to pursue damages.

Williams, who is named in several pending customer disputes, is no longer a registered representative. He appears to still be affiliated with Presidential Wealth Management in Colorado Springs.

Barred Securities America Broker Jaime Westenbarger Faces Securities Fraud Allegations

Published on: October 5, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Michigan Stockbroker Was Fired By Securities America

Jaime Michael Westenbarger, a former Securities America registered representative in Michigan, is currently named in three pending customer complaints accusing him of negligence and stockbroker fraud. Westenbarger, who was fired by the broker-dealer last year, has been barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

He worked 16 years in the securities industry. Our securities fraud lawyers at SSEK Law Firm are offering free case consultations to former customers of Jaime Westenbarger who’ve suffered significant investment losses. You may have grounds for a FINRA arbitration claim to recover damages.

Ex-Raymond James Broker Frederick Stow Is Accused of Stealing $1M from Senior Investors

Published on: June 24, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Barred Stockbroker Faces Criminal and SEC Charges for Senior Investor Fraud

Frederick Stow (CRD#: 864436), a former Raymond James broker based out of Tennessee, is now the subject of criminal charges accusing him of securities fraud, identity theft, and wire fraud for allegedly stealing $943,500 from the IRAs and other accounts of two senior investors between 2015 and 2019.

The broker-dealer fired him last year and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) barred him in January. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently filed a parallel civil lawsuit against Stow.

Did You Suffer Investment Losses? How a San Francisco Broker Fraud Lawyer Can Help

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

Throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, investors are finding themselves hit with huge investment losses, especially over the last few months as COVID-19 has shut down the economy, rattled the markets, and caused an oil price war.

While the Coronavirus has negatively impacted many investments, you should know that some of these losses also may be due to broker fraud or negligence. Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) can help you determine whether this is the case and if it means that you have grounds for an investor claim to recover your losses. Contact us today to request your free, no-obligation consultation.

Investment Losses Reasons That May Be Grounds for a San Francisco Broker Fraud Claim

Structured Products Are Not For Everyone In San Francisco. Here’s Why

Published on: May 15, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our San Francisco structured product fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) work with investors throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in helping them to recoup their losses.

Structured products are not for everyone, although investors find them very attractive because they can provide the opportunity to earn the high yield not likely to happen with more traditional types of investments.

Unfortunately, even though these market-linked investments should only be marketed to sophisticated investors that can handle a certain level of risk, brokers lured by the healthy commissions have been recommending them to retail investors, including senior investors and retirees, for years.

Securities Fraud In San Francisco: How You Can Protect Yourself

Published on: May 13, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Becoming the victim of securities fraud in San Francisco can lead to devastating financial losses and there are steps that you can take to prevent that from happening. Even if your broker is registered with a known brokerage firm, there are questions you should ask and due diligence you can do to protect yourself and your investments.

How To Protect Yourself Against Securities Fraud

Below, we discuss the steps you need to put in place to ensure that you are fully protected when dealing with a broker or brokerage firm based in San Francisco.

First Allied Securities Broker William Fox Accused of Making Unsuitable Alternative Investments Recommendations

Published on: April 29, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Texas Stockbroker Purportedly Earned High Commissions From Illiquid Alternative Investments

If you are an investor who was sold alternative investments by First Allied Securities broker William Fox, you may have grounds for an investor claim. Fox, an Austin, TX-based registered representative, has been accused by at least one customer, who already filed a Financial Industry Reguinveslatory Authority (FINRA) claim, of not performing the proper due diligence before recommending that the claimant invest over $2M in retirement funds in illiquid, poor quality alternative investments.

This included nontraded real estate investment trusts (nontraded REITs), annuities, private placements, equipment leasing, and oil and gas investments. The sale of these investments to the claimant resulted in Fox earning $140K in commissions and an investment advisory fee.

The Top Types of Securities Fraud All Investors Must Know

Published on: April 14, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Broker Fraud Along With The Coronavirus May Be Causing Investment Losses

Becoming the victim of securities fraud is a serious matter. With stocks plummeting and the markets fluctuating all over the place in the wake of COVID-19, investors may not realize that it’s not just the economic reverberations of the coronavirus that’s plaguing their portfolio.

They also may be losing money because their stockbrokers or investment advisor were fraudulent or negligent when handling their investments and placed them in an even more precarious financial situation with more losses than they would now be sustaining otherwise.