Firm Investigations

Cadaret Grant Broker Matthew Zanowiak Suspended by FINRA – Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Published on: June 8, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority “(FINRA”) has suspended Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. broker Matthew Zanowiak from the securities industry for ten business days for exercising discretion without written authorization in approximately 15 customer accounts. Mr. Zanowiak was also fined $5,000.

If you have lost money with Matthew Zanowiak or Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc., contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors who have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc.

Mario Rivero, Jr., Formerly with Wells Fargo, BARRED by FINRA – Elizabeth, New Jersey

Published on: June 8, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred former Wells Fargo broker Mario Rivero, Jr. from the securities industry for failing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations made by two former customers.

If you have lost money with Mario Rivero, Jr., Wells Fargo, or LPL Financial LLC, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

FINRA Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent

Former Park Avenue Securities Broker Nick Palumbo, BARRED by FINRA

Published on: June 4, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Nicholas Palumbo from the securities industry. Mr. Palumbo was expelled from the brokerage industry after refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations related to his termination from Park Avenue Securities LLC. Mr. Palumbo was associated with Park Avenue Securities LLC from May 1999 until he was “permitted to resign” in May 2020 over allegations that he engaged in undisclosed private securities transactions.

If you have lost money with broker Nicholas Palumbo or Park Avenue Securities LLC, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

FINRA Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2020066651001

Boiler Room Broker, James Flower, Barred by FINRA for Excessive Trading, Churning, Unauthorized Trading, Mismarking Orders, and Targeting Elderly Investors

Published on: June 3, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) Office of Hearing Officers has barred stockbroker James W. Flower from the securities industry for excessively trading in five customers’ accounts, executing 17 unauthorized trades, and mismarking 58 transactions. According to the findings, although he is based in New York, Mr. Flower generated business by cold calling people all over the country, focusing primarily on senior and elderly customers who are small business owners and retirees. Cold-calling customers is a common tactic for “boiler room” brokerage firms.

Mr. Flower was also ordered to pay restitution plus prejudgment interest to harmed customers. However, it is unclear whether he will be able to satisfy the judgment.

Mr. Flower was associated with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC since June 2019. Previously, he was associated with SW Financial from December 2015 to June 2019.

Investor Alert: FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Broker-Dealer NYPPEX, LLC, and Two Executives Alleging They Made Material Misrepresentations And Omissions to Prospective Investors of NYPPEX Holdings

Published on: June 2, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Department of Enforcement has filed a disciplinary proceeding complaint against brokerage firm NYPPEX, LLC (CRD No. 47654), Former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) Laurence Allen (CRD No. 1063970), and Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) Michael Schunk (CRD No. 732595). The complaint alleges:

Allen continued to serve as NYPPEX, LLC’s CEO after being statutorily disqualified in December 2018 when the Office of the New York Attorney General (“New York Attorney General”) secured an Ex Parte Order (the “Order”) from the Supreme Court of the State of New York that preliminarily enjoined and restrained Mr. Allen and NYPPEX Holdings from engaging in securities fraud, violating New York Securities law, and converting or otherwise disposing of or transferring funds from ACP X, LP, a private equity fund controlled by Mr. Allen. NYPPEX, LLC’s CCO Michael Schunk allowed Mr. Allen to continue to associate as NYPPEX, LLC’s CEO despite his statutory disqualification.
In March 2019, Mr. Allen devised and orchestrated an aggressive sales campaign to raise $10 million for NYPPEX Holdings through the sale of securities in NYPPEX Holdings. While soliciting these investments, NYPPEX, LLC, and Allen intentionally or recklessly made a series of material misrepresentations and omissions of material fact to prospective investors concerning, among other things, NYPPEX Holdings’ valuation, its financial condition, and its management team. NYPPEX and Allen also failed to disclose to prospective investors the New York Attorney General’s ongoing investigation into Mr. Allen’s and NYPPEX Holdings’ alleged fraudulent activity and the Order that preliminarily enjoined both of them.

Broker Spotlight: Ross Barish of Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. – Mineola, NY

Published on: May 31, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Ross Barish is a stockbroker with Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. (“Joseph Stone Capital”) in Mineola, New York. Mr. Barish is currently under investigation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for defrauding sixteen retail customers by executing a high-cost, in-and-out pattern of trading that lost his customers over $800,000 while generating commissions and fees for him of more than $400,000.

The sixteen customers experienced total losses of $814,509.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Ross Barish or Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C., or suspect that Mr. Barish did not have your best interest in mind when recommending investments or making account transactions, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account or annuity contract.

Former Oppenheimer Broker, Jeffrey Warren, Barred by FINRA – Boca Raton, Florida

Published on: May 31, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Jeffrey Warren from the securities industry. Mr. Warren was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into a gift that Mr. Warren received from a former Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. customer. Mr. Warren was associated with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. in Boca Raton, Florida, from 2009 until 2021.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Jeffrey Warren or Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors nationwide that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

FINRA Arbitration Award: Westpark Capital, Inc. Ordered to Pay Customers Nearly $800,000 for Actions of Former Broker, Lawrence Fawcett, Including Churning and Recommending Risky Private Placements

Published on: May 27, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

A FINRA Dispute Resolution Services arbitration panel in Richmond, Virginia, found Westpark Capital, Inc. to be liable for actions of its disgraced former broker, Lawrence Fawcett, and ordered the firm to pay nearly $800,000 to customers Charles and Karen Hailey. The award included over $545,000 in compensatory damages, $33,500 in costs, and $215,000 in attorneys’ fees. The arbitration panel found Westpark liable for failing to supervise Mr. Fawcett, who churned the Hailey’s accounts and made unsuitable investment recommendations. The unsuitable investment recommendations related to private placement investments in the following entities: Protagenic Therapeutics, Inc., Monster Digital, Inc., Miamar Labs, Inc.

The former stockbroker, Lawrence (Larry) Fawcett, was barred from the securities industry by FINRA in March 2018 for failing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into his outside business activities. FINRA subsequently revoked Mr. Fawcett’s securities license for failing to pay a fine and suspended him for failing to comply with an arbitration award. Mr. Fawcett, who had only been in the securities industry for five years, had an extensive history of customer complaints, regulatory sanctions, associations with disreputable brokerage firms, and an employment termination after allegations of wrongdoing.

If you have lost money with Lawrence Fawcett or Westpark Capital, Inc., contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

ONESCO Ordered to Pay Nearly $1.3 Million by FINRA – Cincinnati, Ohio

Published on: May 27, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has fined and censured the O.N. Equity Sales Company, Inc. (“ONESCO”) over the firm’s failure to supervise a broker’s recommendations involving the purchase and liquidation of variable annuities. ONESCO was fined $275,000 and ordered to pay $1 million in restitution to customers.

Variable annuities are complex products, commonly marketed and sold to retirees or individuals saving for retirement, that permit customers to choose among a variety of contract features and options. Typically, variable annuities assess surrender charges for customers taking early withdrawals beyond a specified percentage of the annuity’s account value. Customers can also incur tax penalties and additional charges for early withdrawals. As such, they are generally not appropriate for customers with a short-term investment horizon.

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

UnionBanc Investment Services, LLC Fined by FINRA – Glendale, California

Published on: May 26, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has fined UnionBanc Investment Services, LLC (“UBIS”) $100,000 over supervisory violations related to variable annuity transactions and exchanges.

Variable annuities are complex products, commonly marketed and sold to retirees or individuals saving for retirement, that permit customers to choose among a variety of contract features and options.

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