Broker Fraud

FINRA Suspends Ex-MML Investors Services Broker Adam Belardino

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

New York Financial Adviser Has Multiple Customer Disputes on Record

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended ex-MML Investors Services LLC broker Adam Gerard Belardino. The suspension runs from February 2021 until Belardino either provides the information that the self-regulatory organization (SRO) has requested or the suspension becomes a permanent bar.

Belardino, who is also a former registered investment advisor, has several disclosures on his BrokerCheck, including six customer disputes. MML Investors Services fired Belardino in 2019. The firm, in its Form U5, said that this was in connection to a customer complaint accusing the then-broker of excessive trading, making misrepresentations, and other negligence and broker misconduct.

Triad Advisors Broker Darrin Cohen Under Scrutiny Over Possible GPB Private Placement Sales

Published on: February 3, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Wealth Enhancement & Preservation CEO Named in Two Pending Investor Claims

Triad Advisors stockbroker, Darrin Stuart Cohen, is currently the subject of two pending Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims from customers collectively seeking $600K in damages. The allegations involve the unsuitability of investments, including alternative investments, that were sold to them.

Cohen is also the CEO of Wealth Enhancement & Preservation in Alpharetta, Georgia and a registered investment advisor for Red Triangle, LLC in Charleston, South Carolina.

Ex-MML Investors Services Broker Gary Hammond Accused of Making $1.6M In Unauthorized Transactions

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

FINRA Bars Former Charlotte, North Carolina Financial Advisor

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration has permanently barred Gary Wayne Hammond, an ex-North Carolina broker, following allegations that he took part in more than $1.6M in private securities transactions without having given written notice to his then-firm. The transactions appear to involve limited liability companies run by Hammond’s half-brother, who is accused of operating Ponzi scams.

Hammond worked in the industry for 21 years, most recently as a Horner, Townsend, and Kent broker, where he worked for four months in 2017 and right before that with MML Investors Services, where he was a registered representative for two months.

Customers Seeking $1.8M Over Investments Recommended By Western International Securities’ David Bibo

Published on: January 26, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

California Stockbroker Accused Of Unsuitability & Misrepresentations

David Omori Bibo, a Western International Securities, Inc. registered representative is named in two pending customer disputes collectively seeking $1.8M in damages. The San Jose broker has been part of the industry for 25 years. He has seven disclosures on his BrokerCheck record.

Our California securities fraud lawyers are looking into investor claims involving Western International Securities broker, David Bibo, or any other registered representative from the firm. Contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) today so that we can help you determine whether you have grounds for a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration case to recover your losses.

Crown Capital Securities Broker Lanny Howarter Is Named in $600K Unsuitability Claim

Published on: January 25, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Crown Capital Securities Broker Has Four Customer Disputes On Record

Lanny Ray Howarter, a Crown Capital Securities registered representative, is named in a more than $624K Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim accusing him of unsuitability, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, omissions, and negligence involving alternative investment products. This latest customer dispute was brought in November 2020.

At Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com), our San Diego broker fraud attorneys are looking into claims involving Lanny Howarter and other Crown Capital Securities registered representatives who may have sold investments to customers even when they were unsuitable for their portfolios and risk tolerance levels.

David Lerner Associates Broker Rafael Klein May Have Unsuitably Recommended Energy 11 To Investors

Published on: January 21, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Pending Customer Disputes Involving David Lerner Associates Broker Rafael Klein Seek $300K in Damages

Rafael Scott Klein, a David Lerner Associates broker and Spirit of America Management Corp. investment advisor, may have unsuitably sold investments in Energy 11, LP to customers. Energy 11 is a non-traded limited partnership set up to acquire and develop natural gas and oil properties in the United States. It was marketed and sold through David Lerner Associates but is no longer available to new investors.

According to BrokerCheck, Rafael Klein, who has been a David Lerner Associates registered representative for 15 years, is currently the subject of two pending customer disputes.

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.

SunTrust Brokers May Have Unsuitably Recommended Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) to Investors

Published on: January 14, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Customers Claim That Northstar Financial Services Products Were Touted As Low Risk & Safe

If you are an investor who suffered losses while investing in Northstar Financial Services products that were recommended to you by a SunTrust Investment Services stockbroker, please contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm investorlawyers.com) today so that we can help you explore your legal options.

Unfortunately, there are financial advisors who may have marketed Northstar Financial Services’ investments as stable, safe, low risk, and liquid – like a CD or a money market account – even when that has proven to be far from the case. Now, Northstar Financial Services is in bankruptcy and undergoing liquidation proceedings. It is very likely that investors have lost most of, if not their entire, investment.

Utah Retirees Files $500K Investor Fraud Claim Over GPB & REIT Losses After Working With Triad Advisors & Broker Michael Payne

Published on: January 11, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Triad Advisors and its Ex-Florida-Based Broker Placed Claimants Funds In Too Risky GPB Capital & REIT Investments

Two Utah retirees have filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Triad Advisors, Inc. over losses they suffered from investing in GPB private placements and privately traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), including American Realty Capital Trust. Now they are seeking up to $500K in damages.

The couple worked with former Triad Advisors broker Michael Payne, who is now a broker with Proequities, Inc. in Longwood, Florida. He also is a financial representative with Payne Financial Group in Winter Springs, Florida.

Ex-Merrill Lynch Broker Gets Eight Years in Prison For Investor Fraud

Published on: January 3, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former Kentucky-Based Merrill Lynch Broker Gets Eight Years in Prison

Christopher Lee Hibbard, a former stockbroker for Merrill Lynch and Pierce, Fenner & Smith is sentenced to eight years in prison. The ex-Kentucky stockbroker pleaded guilty to investment fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud earlier this year.

Hibbard, who worked 18 years in the industry, has 14 disclosures on his BrokerCheck record, including several pending customer disputes. All of them, including the regulator and criminal cases, were filed over the last two years.