Firm Investigations

Popular Securities, LLC Broker Dennis Cummings Suspended by FINRA – Mayaguez, PR

Published on: June 19, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended Popular Securities, LLC broker Dennis Cummings from the securities industry for 45 business days for instructing his sales assistant to use pre-signed Letters of Authorization (LOA) to effect transfers between customers’ accounts. Cummings’ suspension is scheduled to start on July 19, 2021, and end on September 20, 2021. He was also fined $5,000.

If you have lost money with Dennis Cummings, or Popular Securities, LLC, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors nationwide that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Popular Securities, LLC.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Financial Broker Michael Giovannelli, Formerly of Spartan Capital Securities, for Unauthorized Trades in an Elderly Customer’s Account

Published on: June 18, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: April 30, 2022** On November 19, 2021, the FINRA Office of Hearing Officers entered a default decision barring Mr. Giovannelli from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity for providing falsified documents and false testimony to FINRA staff and engaging in unauthorized trading in a customer account. For the unauthorized trading, Mr. Giovannelli was also ordered to pay $1,494 in restitution, plus interest, to the customer. In light of the bars, the hearing officers did not impose any additional sanctions for Mr. Giovannelli’s discretionary trading without written authorization in four additional customer accounts.

Original Post:

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Financial Broker Michael Giovannelli, Formerly of Spartan Capital Securities, for Unauthorized Trades in an Elderly Customer’s Account

Former Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated Broker, Marc Lippman, Barred by FINRA – Washington, DC

Published on: June 18, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Marc Lippman from the securities industry. Mr. Lippman consented to the bar after FINRA alleged that he provided false information to FINRA during on-the-record testimony regarding whether he was aware that his customer was deceased at the time of entering a securities transaction in the customer’s account. Mr. Lippman was associated with Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated in Washington, DC, from December 2009 until January 2021.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Marc R. Lippman or Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated, contact securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors nationwide that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated.

FINRA Files Complaint Against Former Allstate Financial Services, LLC Broker Elizabeth Ann Sollars – Terre Haute, IN

Published on: June 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA’s Department of Enforcement has filed a Complaint against former Allstate Financial Services, LLC broker Elizabeth Ann Sollars for failing to provide information and documents and for failing to appear and provide testimony to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 8210.

FINRA requested the information in connection with its investigation into allegations that Sollars misappropriated insurance customer premium payments while registered with her firm.

The Complaint was filed on June 7, 2021.

Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC Broker Scott Niekamp Suspended by FINRA – Chesterfield, MO

Published on: June 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended broker Scott Niekamp from the securities industry for three months for engaging in two outside business activities without providing prior written notice to his firm, Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC. Additionally, Niekamp loaned money to a firm customer in violation of the firm’s written supervisory procedures and FINRA rules.

Niekamp’s suspension is scheduled to begin on July 7, 2021, and end on October 5, 2021. He was fined $10,000.

If you have lost money with Scott Niekamp, or Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Marc Reda of Spartan Capital Securities

Published on: June 16, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Department of Enforcement has filed a disciplinary proceeding complaint against financial advisor Marc Reda. The complaint alleges that from January 2017 to December 2019, while associated with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC, Mr. Reda recommended to all of his customers an investment strategy – actively trading in anticipation of corporate announcements – that was unsuitable because he failed to consider that the substantial commissions and costs associated with his investment strategy made it unlikely that his customers could profit from it.

The recommended strategy and its high total costs allegedly harmed his customers. The complaint alleges that across 66 customer accounts in which Mr. Reda executed ten or more trades connected with his unsuitable investment strategy, Mr. Reda charged $952,764 in commissions and fees, while the customers lost $934,482.

If you or a loved one were a customer of broker Marc Augustus Reda or Spartan Capital Securities, LLC, contact securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your legal rights.

Broker Jason Howell Poff, Formerly with LPL Financial LLC, Suspended by FINRA – Houston, TX

Published on: June 15, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended former LPL Financial LLC broker Jason Howell Poff from the securities industry. According to an Office of Hearing Officers (“OHO”) order, Poff engaged in two outside business activities without his firm’s approval.

Poff’s suspension began on June 7, 2021, and is scheduled to end on September 6, 2021. He was also fined $5,000.

If you have lost money with Jason Howell Poff, or LPL Financial LLC, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Fined $525,000 by FINRA – New York, NY

Published on: June 15, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has fined Oppenheimer $525,000 for negligently misrepresenting cost basis information on more than 1,000 customer account statements and Forms 1099. The firm was also censured and consented to conduct a comprehensive review of the adequacy of its procedures, systems, and controls to track and report cost basis information relating to customer securities transactions.

Oppenheimer is a full-service broker-dealer that is headquartered in New York, New York. The firm has been a FINRA member since 1945. It has approximately 140 branch offices and over 1,900 registered representatives.

If you have lost money with Oppenheimer, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Broker Gregory Walter McCloskey, Formerly with WestPark Capital, BARRED by FINRA – Newport Beach, CA

Published on: June 15, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred former WestPark Capital broker Gregory Walter McCloskey from the securities industry. According to an Office of Hearing Officers (“OHO”) order, McCloskey participated in two undisclosed private securities transactions involving a customer who was an elderly, retired widow and then sought to conceal these transactions from his member firms and FINRA.

If you have lost money with Gregory Walter McCloskey, or WestPark Capital, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

FINRA Disciplinary Proceeding No. 2018059242801

Broker Jimmie Darrel Summers, Formerly with Cetera Investment Services LLC, Suspended by FINRA – Tulsa, OK

Published on: June 15, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended former Cetera Investment Services LLC broker Jimmie Darrel Summers from the securities industry for 45 business days for circumventing Cetera’s procedures that prohibited registered representatives from being named as a trustee, successor trustee, or executor for a firm customer, or from having power of attorney for a firm customer, except when the customer was a member of the representative’s immediate family.

Summers’ suspension began on May 17, 2021, and is scheduled to end on June 30, 2021. He was also fined $5,000.

If you have lost money with Jimmie Darrel Summers or Cetera Investment Services LLC, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.