Firm Investigations

Orchard Securities Broker Alma Edwards Faerber Facing $1 Million Customer Claim

Published on: May 18, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

A FINRA customer complaint involving Orchard Securities broker Alma Edwards Faerber alleges that Ms. Faerber recommended alternative investments that were unsuitable. The claim, which was filed on December 11, 2020, is related to Ms. Faerber’s previous association with Triad Advisors. The claim seeks $1 million in damages.

Triad Advisors is one of the Advisor Group network broker-dealers. The firm was fined $150,000 by FINRA earlier this year for failing to adequately supervise short-term trades of mutual fund A shares and variable annuity exchanges. Last year, the firm reported three new investor claims related to private placements sales. According to InvestmentNews, per SEC filings, Advisor Group firms have increased legal reserves by about $4.4 million compared to the prior year.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is currently investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims of the GPB funds scheme. GPB Capital sold unregistered, high commission limited partnership interests in eight alternative-asset investment funds. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would, in turn, sell the GPB funds to their retail investors. According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, both Triad Advisors LLC and Orchard Securities, LLC likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

Broker Jason Lynn DiPaola Investigated by FINRA – New York, NY

Published on: May 18, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has filed an enforcement complaint against former Chardan Capital Markets LLC broker Jason Lynn DiPaola (CRD#: 2648836). Mr. DiPaola has 20 years of experience in the securities industry and was most recently registered as a broker with Chardan Capital Markets LLC in New York, NY, from May 2013 to May 2019.

If you have lost money with Jason Lynn DiPaola, or Chardan Capital Markets LLC, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

FINRA Enforcement Allegations

Former Wells Fargo Broker Gary Len Wells Suspended by FINRA – Tacoma, WA

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended former Wells Fargo Advisors broker Gary Len Wells from the securities industry for 15 months for accepting a $600,000 bequest from a non-family member. He was also fined $20,000.

Mr. Wells’ suspension runs from May 3, 2021, until August 2, 2022.

If you have lost money with Gary Len Wells, or Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Former Morgan Stanley Broker in Miami, Candido Viyella, BARRED by FINRA

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Candido Viyella. from the securities industry. Mr. Viyella was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. FINRA’s investigation originated after Morgan Stanley discharged Mr. Viyella and disclosed concerns regarding his participation, involvement, and a beneficial ownership interest in an outside investment.

Reportedly, Mr. Viyella recommended that his clients invest in the Conrad Hotel, a luxury hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in which he had a personal stake. Mr. Viyella reportedly knew the hotel was facing financial difficulties, yet recommended that his clients invest in the hotel, causing them to suffer financial losses.

Mr. Viyella was registered with Morgan Stanley in Miami, Florida, from June 2009 until December 2020. He has also been associated with the following entities: Terrena Enterprises, LLC, VSHC Management, LLC, VSHC Family Limited Partnership LP, and Earthview Capital, LLC.

Former LPL Financial LLC Broker John Simmons BARRED by FINRA – Gulf Breeze, FL

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred former LPL Financial LLC broker John Edgar Simmons, Jr. from the securities industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation.

Mr. Simmons, Jr. was most recently registered as a broker with LPL Financial LLC in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

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

Former Securities America, Inc. Broker, Bill Dixon, BARRED from the Securities Industry by FINRA – Urbana, Ohio

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker William Dixon. from the securities industry. Mr. Dixon was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. FINRA’s investigation originated after Securities America, Inc. discharged Mr. Dixon and alleged that he signed his deceased client’s signature and initials on multiple annuity surrender forms.

Mr. Dixon was registered with Securities America, Inc. in Urbana, Ohio, from September 2016 until October 2019.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with William Dixon or Securities America, Inc., contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account.

Former Financial Advisor Eric Vici BARRED from the Securities Industry by FINRA – Melbourne, Florida

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Eric Vici. from the securities industry. Mr. Vici was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation that originated from a complaint made to FINRA by the executor of a customer’s estate about his handling of the customer’s funds.

Mr. Vici was registered with PFS Investments, Inc. in Melbourne, Florida, from November 2012 until October 2019. He has also been affiliated with Primerica Financial Services, an affiliate of PFS Investments.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Eric John Vici, PFS Investments, Inc., or Primerica Financial Services, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Broker Adam Belardino, Formerly of MML Investors Services, LLC – Westchester County, New York

Published on: May 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Department of Enforcement has filed a disciplinary proceeding complaint against former broker Adam Belardino. The complaint alleges that Mr. Belardino failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation, which was initiated in Aril 2019 after Mr. Belardino’ s employment was terminated by MML Investors Services, LLC and disclosed (through a Form U5) that it discharged Mr. Belardino “in connection with [an] investigation into a customer complaint. The Form U5 (Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration) also disclosed a complaint from customers alleging that beginning in November of 2018, Mr. Belardino “misrepresented [the customers’] account values, engaged in excessive levels of trading, and failed to comply with requests to have their accounts liquidated and the proceeds distributed. Additional customer complaints were subsequently disclosed, including a customer alleging that “the REITs that were sold to him [by Mr. Balardino] beginning in or around 2014 were unsuitable for his conservative portfolio.”

At the time of the alleged conduct, Mr. Balardino was associated with MML Investors Services, LLC (“MML Investor Services”) in Elmsford, New York. Prior to being a broker at MML Investor Services, Mr. Belardino was associated with MSI Financial Services, Inc. (“MSI Financial Services”), also in Elmsford, New York.

If you or a loved one were a customer of broker Adam Belardino, MML Investor Services, LLC, or MSI Financial Services, Inc., contact securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your legal rights.

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates AEON Capital Inc. Over GPB Funds

Published on: May 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

AEON Capital Inc. is a broker-dealer headquartered in Middletown, New Jersey. According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, the firm likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

AEON Capital Inc. is a firm subject to FINRA Rule 3170. The Rule is referred to as the “Taping Rule,” which requires certain firms to install taping systems to record all telephone conversations between their registered persons and existing and potential customers, review those recordings and file reports with FINRA. The Rule is designed to prevent fraudulent and improper practices in the sale or marketing of financial products. The Rule applies to firms with a significant number of registered persons that previously worked for firms that have been expelled from the industry or have had their registrations revoked for inappropriate sales practices.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. GPB Capital sold unregistered, high commission limited partnership interests in eight alternative-asset investment funds. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would in turn sell the GPB funds to their retail investors.

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Pariter Securities, LLC Over GPB Funds

Published on: May 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Pariter Securities, LLC is a broker-dealer based in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. In September 2019, the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of the Government of Puerto Rico (“OCFI”) found that the firm failed to put into place a supervisory system that was reasonably designed to achieve compliance with suitability rules and regulations regarding alternative investments transactions.

According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, Pariter Securities, LLC likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors. GPB Capital sold unregistered, high commission limited partnership interests in eight alternative-asset investment funds. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would in turn sell the GPB funds to their retail investors.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme.