Ponzi Scam

Oppenheimer Ordered To Pay $36.7M to Eight Investors of Alleged Horizon Private Equity III Ponzi Scam

Published on: September 16, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Customers Were Sold Private Equity Shares By Ex-Georgia Broker and Southport Capital Investment Adviser John Woods

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel in Atlanta has ordered Oppenheimer & Co. to pay several investors $36.7M in the wake of losses sustained in the alleged $110M Horizon Private Equity III Ponzi Scheme. The investment fraud was allegedly run by its former Georgia stockbroker John Justin Woods for several years, including while he was under the firm’s supervision. This award is six times what the claimants had sought.

The investors had originally asked for punitive damages and $6M in compensatory damages after accusing the firm of broker-dealer negligence, and other claims, as well as of violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

SEC Sues Ex-Morgan Stanley Broker Shawn Good Over Alleged $4.8M Ponzi Scam

Published on: April 25, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-Morgan Stanley Broker Accused of Defrauding Investors, Including Retirees

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed civil charges against former Morgan Stanley financial advisor Shawn Edward Good accusing him of operating a years-long Ponzi scheme and misappropriating millions of dollars from customers.

Shawn Good is accused of raising at least $4.8M from five clients at the firm, including retirees and a single mom with young children, to supposedly invest in low-risk, tax-free bonds and land development projects.

Senior Investors Say Seeman Holtz Reneged On Paying Them Millions

Published on: January 20, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Boca Raton Insurance & Financial Services Firm Accused of Ponzi Scam

Many senior investors say that Seeman Holtz failed to pay out millions of dollars upon the maturity of their investments.

These investors contend that they had expected to make an interest of up to 8% yearly and garner fixed return rates of up to 18%. These investors bought $10K to $10M of “secured promissory notes” through National Senior Insurance and several affiliates

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.

FINRA Bars Ex-Wells Fargo Broker James Seijas Who Is Accused In More Than $33M Ponzi Scam

Published on: November 4, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former New Jersey Financial Advisor Allegedly Targeted Florida Doctors

James Alan Seijas, an ex-Wells Fargo Clearing Services broker, was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) beginning November 2, 2021. The former New Jersey investment advisor did not provide information in the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO’s) investigation into his alleged involvement in an over $33M Ponzi scam.

Seijas, ex-UBS broker Michael Ackerman, and general surgeon Quan Tran are accused of running a cryptocurrency scam that targeted mostly Florida doctors through the entity Q3 Trading Club from 2017 to 2019. This would have been during Seijas’ time as a Wells Fargo registered representative.

Florida Retirees File $2.5M FINRA Arbitration Case Against Henley & Co. Over Alleged Ponzi Scam Losses

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

Deceased New York Broker Philip Incorvia May Have Defrauded Investors

A retired couple living in Florida has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against broker-dealer Henley & Co. over losses they suffered while working with Philip Robert Incorvia as their registered financial advisor. Incorvia, who died in August 2021, was a registered representative with the firm for over 15 years until his passing. He also ran Jefferson Resources, Inc. in Shoreham, New York.

Our Ponzi fraud attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are speaking with investors who suffered losses while working with ex-Henley & Co. broker Philip Incorvia. He may have defrauded more than 15 East Coast investors in his alleged Ponzi scheme.

Senior Customer of Ex-NYLIFE Securities Broker Felix Chu Seeks Over $5M in Ponzi Scam Losses

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

Barred Stockbroker is Accused of Running Ponzi Scam That Defrauded Elderly Investors

Felix S. Chu, a former NYLIFE Securities registered representative, is currently facing at least two customer disputes in which the claimants are seeking $5,230,000 in damages. Chu was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) last year. He has been accused of running a Ponzi scam involving promissory notes that defrauded investors, including seniors.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) is investigating claims of losses by former investors of ex-NYLIFE Securities financial advisor, Felix Chu. If you are one of these investors, call (800) 259-9010 today.

New York And Other States Sue GPB Capital Holdings For Mass Ponzi Scam

Published on: February 9, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

State Lawsuits Come After SEC Complaint and FBI Arrests

New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing GPB Capital Holdings along with five co-defendants for running a mass Ponzi scam.

The NY AG contends that the alternative asset firm and private equity fund manager, which is based in the state, defrauded investors throughout the US of over $700M. The complaint said that more than 1,400 of those victims were New Yorkers who invested over $150M.

Ex-SagePoint Financial Broker Troy Baily Sold Future Income Payments Securities to Investors

Published on: October 23, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Suspends Nebraska Stockbroker Who Marketed An Alleged $300M Ponzi Scam to Customers

Troy Robert Baily, a former SagePoint Financial broker, has been suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for six months. Baily, who is also a previously registered investment advisor, is based in Nebraska.

The suspension comes in the wake of allegations that Baily took part in unapproved and undisclosed private transactions and persuaded customers to invest in Future Income Payments (FIP), which federal prosecutors now say was a $300M Ponzi scam.

Former Benjamin & Jerrold Broker Rand Heckler Faces Elder Financial Fraud and Ponzi Scam Allegations

Published on: October 9, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Rand Heckler of Rand Heckler, Inc. is Now The Subject of SEC and Criminal Fraud Charges

Former stockbroker Rand Allan Heckler of Long Island, New York, is facing US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges accusing him of investor fraud. Heckler, who was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) last year, is also now facing criminal charges alleging that he ran an over $1M Ponzi scam.

Over his 22 years in the securities industry, Rand Heckler worked at 11 broker-dealers. Four of these firms were expelled by FINRA.