Securities Fraud

Ex-Morgan Stanley Broker Darryl Cohen, Accused of Defrauding Pro Athletes, To Be Barred by FINRA

Published on: February 10, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Fired California Financial Advisor Allegedly Bilked Pro Athletes of Millions

Darryl Matthew Cohen, a former top-producing Morgan Stanley Smith Barney registered representative of Southern California, faces a FINRA bar beginning February 16, 2022. This bar will come into effect unless he cooperates in the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO’s) probe into allegations that he improperly used customers’ money. A number of the clients who have stepped forward to complain are current and ex-professional athletes.

Morgan Stanley fired Darryl Cohen in March 2021 over allegedly engaging in undisclosed outside business activities and using an unapproved platform to communicate with clients inappropriately. He has nine customer disputes listed on BrokerCheck, with four of them still pending in which the damages sought total millions of dollars.

Customers of Morgan Stanley Broker Michael Wagner Seek Over $20M in Damages

Published on: January 13, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Atlanta Financial Advisor Accused of Using an Unsuitable Options Investment Strategy

Michael John Wagner, a longtime Morgan Stanley broker, is currently under scrutiny in the wake of recent customer disputes in which the claimants are requesting over $20M in damages.

Based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Wagner has worked in the industry for 20 years. He has been a Morgan Stanley broker since 2012. Before that, he was a Merrill Lynch stockbroker and investment advisor.

McNally Financial Services Broker Mark Kemp Has Been Named in 11 Customer Disputes

Published on: January 6, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Corpus Christi Financial Advisor is Accused of Negligence, Misrepresentations

Our Texas broker misconduct lawyers are looking into claims of losses by customers of Mark Alan Kemp, who is currently a McNally Financial Services registered representative. Mark Kemp, who has been in the industry for 30 years, has been named in nearly a dozen customer disputes, three of which are still pending.

If you are one of these investors, please contact us at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) today. We can determine whether you have grounds for a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim to pursue damages.

Ex-Worden Capital Markets Broker Mark Kolta Has Been Named in 26 Customer Disputes

Published on: January 3, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Investors Are Seeking Six- to Seven-Figures in Damages

If you suffered investment losses while working with former Worden Capital Markets broker Mark Sam Kolta, you may want to explore your legal options with a seasoned securities law firm.

Kolta, who worked for 13 years in the industry, has 27 disclosures in his BrokerCheck record, 26 of which are customer disputes. A number of these are still pending, with some claimants requesting damages in the six and seven figures.

Ex-Parkland Securities Broker Keith Ashley, Who Is Accused of Murder, Faces FINRA Charges

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

Ex-Texas Financial Advisor Allegedly Killed An Investor While Operating a Ponzi Scam

Keith Todd Ashley, who was fired by Parkland Securities in October 2020 and is charged with murder, is now also facing Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) charges.

FINRA filed its complaint in December 2021 and is alleging that Ashley took part in undisclosed business activities, misappropriation, and engaged in private securities transactions from February through October 2020. During this entire time, Ashley was a registered representative with Parkland Securities.

Ex-Ameriprise Broker James Dunn is Accused of Unsuitability, Unauthorized Trading

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

Former Ameriprise Financial Advisor is Named in Five Pending Customer Disputes

James William Dunn, an ex-stockbroker and investment advisor in Vienna, VA with Ameriprise Financial Services, is under scrutiny over losses suffered by customers. He is currently named in five customer disputes in which the damages sought range from six- to seven figures.

All of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims involving Dunn were brought in 2021. The misconduct alleged was said to have occurred during this same year.

SSEK Law Firm Client of Fired J.P. Morgan Securities Broker Ed Turley Wins $4 Million FINRA Arbitration Award

Published on: December 13, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

SSEK Law Firm Represented Client of Fired J.P. Morgan Securities Broker, Ed Turley, and Wins $4 Million FINRA Arbitration Award

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel in Houston, Texas has awarded a client of Shepherd, Smith, Edwards & Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) $4 million in compensatory damages over losses she sustained while working with ex-J.P. Morgan Securities stockbroker, Edward Turley.

Not only did this ex-San Francisco-based financial advisor unsuitably invest her in products that were too risky, but he and the firm also used a complex strategy that involved borrowing on margin without her knowledge. Tragically, the client lost millions of dollars while Ed Turley and J.P. Morgan profited significantly from her account.

Customers Accuse Ex-Cetera Broker Robert Wolfe of Unsuitability and Omissions

Published on: December 6, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Fort Lauderdale, Florida Financial Advisor is Named in Six-Figure Customer Dispute

Robert Brian Wolfe, who was a Goldman Sachs broker from July 2020 to October 2021, was recently dismissed by the broker-dealer. His firing came following allegations related to client communications involving market valuations and portfolio performance, as well as his handling of customer grievances without the firm’s knowledge or approval.

A longtime financial advisor of 21 years in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Wolfe has been named in five customer disputes. According to sources, all of the claims that have been brought as of November 2021 are from his time as a Cetera Advisors Network broker from 2017 to 2020.

Fired Edward Jones Broker Ronald Molo Accused of Defrauding Senior Customers

Published on: November 30, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Joliet, Illinois Financial Advisor Faces Criminal Charges For Wire Fraud

Ronald Terrence Molo, a former Edward Jones broker, is accused of misappropriating customers’ funds and costing at least three older clients $778,000 in investment losses. He was suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) beginning October 25, 2021, after he failed to respond to the self-regulatory organization’s request for more information.

On November 23, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed civil charges against Molo, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois filed criminal charges against him for wire fraud.

Ex-Raymond James Broker Guilford Nergard Is Accused of Making Unauthorized Trades

Published on: November 29, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-Mesa, Arizona Financial Advisor Has Been Named in Multiple Customer Disputes

Ex-Raymond James broker, Guilford Ward Nergard, is facing at least one still pending customer dispute in which the claimant is alleging unauthorized trading.

This is not the only time that Nergard has been accused of broker misconduct. He was suspended by the Arizona Corporation Commission Securities Department from April through June 2021 over allegations that he made discretionary trades with customers without the required authorizations.