Firm Investigations

GWG Holdings, Inc. to be Delisted from The Nasdaq Stock Market; Law Firm Investigates Legal Claims for GWG L Bond Investors

Published on: May 18, 2022 | by Iorio Altamirano

After filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month and failing to file its annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this year, GWG Holdings, Inc. will now be delisted from Nasdaq. On May 17, 2022, the Nasdaq Stock Market announced that it would delist the common stock of GWG Holdings, Inc. Since April 29, 2022, the stock has been suspended and has not been traded.

New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating potential legal claims related to investments in L Bonds offered by GWG Holdings, Inc. (GWGH). To read about the investigation’s findings, including a crucial event timeline, please visit our website: www.gwglawyer.com.

GWG Holdings, Inc.’s bankruptcy filing revealed for the first time that the ongoing SEC investigation includes an examination of sales practices of the GWG L Bonds by the brokerage firms that sold the securities, including Emerson Equity and its network of regional broker-dealers. According to the bankruptcy filing, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission issued subpoenas and documents to individual brokerage firms selling GWG L Bonds. As of the bankruptcy filing, GWG Holdings, Inc.’ had over $1.62 billion in outstanding GWG L Bond obligations, mostly owed to retail investors.

Law Firm Investigating the Sale of GWG L Bonds to Retail Investors by Western International Securities, Inc.

Published on: May 4, 2022 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: June 16, 2022** On June 15, 2022, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against Western International Securities, Inc., and several of its brokers, in California Central District Court in connection with approximately $13.3 million in L bonds sold to retail customers. The firm is accused of failing to perform due diligence regarding the inherent risks associated with L Bonds. The brokers included in the suit are Steven Graham, Andy Gitipityapon, Thomas Swan, Nancy Cole, and Patrick Egan.

The complaint alleges that although the prospectus for the June 2020 offering stated that L Bonds were only suitable for customers with “substantial financial resources,” Western International did not set any criteria or thresholds for its customers to invest in L Bonds. Western International Securities also did not restrict the sale of L Bonds to customers with certain risk profiles or investment objectives.

The complaint also alleges that the named brokers misunderstood important issues regarding GWG Holdings, Inc. and the GWG L Bonds, including that GWG significantly changed its business model beginning in 2018 and that GWG L Bonds were not directly collateralized by life insurance policies. As a result, the brokers recommended GWG L Bonds to retail customers without a reasonable basis to believe that the investments were in the customers’ best interest.

GWG L Bond Investors Seek Recourse After GWG Holdings, Inc. Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Published on: April 20, 2022 | by Iorio Altamirano

After months of working with legal and financial advisors to try and restructure outside of court, on April 20, 2022, GWG Holdings, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The bankruptcy filing is a significant and troublesome development for GWG L Bond investors who invested substantial portions of their life savings into GWG L Bonds. According to GWG’s latest filing with the SEC, GWG has more than $1.6 billion in aggregate principal outstanding to GWG L Bond investors. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy will allow GWG Holdings to propose a reorganization plan.

Investment News has reported that one anonymous GWG L bond investor estimates that the GWG L Bonds may now be worth 20 to 30 cents on the dollar. Despite the unwelcomed news, GWG L bond investors are not without recourse. Many retail investors, including those represented by securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP, are filing securities arbitration claims against brokerage firms that sold these speculative, high-risk, and illiquid financial products. These actions are separate and in addition to the bankruptcy proceedings.

GWG Holdings’ bankruptcy filing revealed for the first time that the ongoing investigation by the United States States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) includes an examination of sales practices of the GWG L Bonds by the Selling Group, including Emerson Equity LLC and its network of regional broker-dealers. According to the recent bankruptcy filing, the SEC issued subpoenas and document requests to individual brokerage firms beginning in late-2021.

GPB Investors Worried After GPB Automotive’s 10-K Annual Report Filing

Published on: April 14, 2022 | by Iorio Altamirano

On April 14, 2022, GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP filed its Form 10-K Annual Report with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing has raised new concerns for GPB investors as GPB Automotive disclosed that it had commenced a plan to liquidate the Partnerships’ remaining assets and wind up the business, which is not expected to be complete until December 31, 2024.

In addition, GPB Capital continues to disclose that it, along with its former principals and representatives, are subject to numerous material litigation, which may take substantial time (several years) to resolve, and an unknown amount of outflow of cash from the Partnership to cover judgments, and legal costs.

Frustrating limited partnership investors, GPB is advancing funds to its principals and representatives, including David Gentile, for legal costs that they may incur to defend themselves in such disputes. Mr. Gentile has been criminally charged with securities fraud for allegedly running a Ponzi-like scheme.

FINRA Sanctions Geneos Wealth Management, Inc. For Sale Practice and Supervisory Failures Related to GPB Capital and LJM Preservation and Growth Fund Offerings

Published on: April 2, 2022 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has sanctioned Geneos Wealth Management, Inc. (“Geneos Wealth Management”) for failing to reasonably supervise brokers’ recommendations of the LJM Preservation & Growth Fund. Geneos Wealth Management was also sanctioned for negligently omitting to tell investors in an offering related to GPB Capital Holdings, LLC that the issuer failed to timely make required filings with the SEC, including audited financial statements. On March 18, 2022, FINRA and Geneos Wealth Management entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”) whereby Geneos Wealth Management accepted the following sanctions:

a censure;
a $150,000 fine;

GWG Holdings, Inc. Misses Deadline to File Its 2021 Annual Report with the SEC

Published on: April 1, 2022 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: April 20, 2022** GWG Holdings, Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. As a result of the bankruptcy filing, all accrued principal and interest payment obligations owed to GWG L Bond investors have been halted as the case proceeds through bankruptcy court. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy cases can take anywhere from 17 months to five years for larger and more complex cases. GWG L Bond investors are encouraged to immediately contact law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and to review their legal rights.

**Update: April 4, 2022** According to the Wall Street Journal, GWG Holdings, Inc. is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the coming days.

Original Post:

GWG L Bond Investor Update: GWG Holdings, Inc. Officially Defaults on Its Obligations to L Bond Investors – February 14, 2022

Published on: February 14, 2022 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: April 20, 2022** GWG Holdings, Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. As a result of the bankruptcy filing, all accrued principal and interest payment obligations owed to GWG L Bond investors have been halted as the case proceeds through bankruptcy court. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy cases can take anywhere from 17 months to five years for larger and more complex cases. GWG L Bond investors are encouraged to immediately contact law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and to review their legal rights.

Original Post:

GWG L Bond Investor Update: GWG Holdings, Inc. Officially Defaults on Its Obligations to L Bond Investors – February 14, 2022

Law Firm Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigating the Sale of GWG L Bonds by Mark Williams, Formerly of Centaurus Financial, Inc.

Published on: February 9, 2022 | by Iorio Altamirano

New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating the sales practices of broker Mark Williams connected with his recommendation of L Bonds issued by GWG Holdings, Inc. to senior and elderly customers. From November 2015 until March 2021, Mr. Williams was registered as a broker with Centaurus Financial, Inc. in Carmel, CA.

Iorio Altamirano LLP has been contacted by numerous senior and elderly retail investors who were recommended and sold GWG’s L Bonds by Mr. Williams. GWG’s L Bonds are speculative, high-risk, and illiquid securities that were sold as private placement offerings. Brokerage firms received a commission of up to 5% of the principal amount sold.

On January 15, 2022, GWG Holdings Inc. missed interest and principal payments to L bond investors. The company is also reportedly seeking rescue financing in an effort to avoid bankruptcy after facing a series of accounting issues, financial stress, and an SEC investigation. In addition, GWG’s independent auditor resigned at the end of 2021, and the company has disclosed that its 2021 financials are not likely to be completed on time. These are just a few recent developments that have GWG L Bond investors concerned.

Investor Alert: Law Firm Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates the Sale of L Bonds by Centaurus Financial, Inc.

Published on: January 31, 2022 | by Iorio Altamirano

Investor advocate law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating potential securities arbitration claims against Centaurus Financial, Inc. for its sale of L Bonds issued by GWG Holdings, Inc. Upon information and belief, Centaurus Financial, Inc. was a part of Emerson Equity LLC’s network of broker-dealers who sold the speculative, high-risk, and illiquid “L Bonds” issued by GWG Holdings.

On April 20, 2022, GWG Holdings, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Despite the unwelcomed news, GWG L Bond investors can file individual arbitration claims to recover losses from the brokerage firm that sold them these speculative bonds. Brokerage firms, like Centaurus Financial, Inc., are required to make investment recommendations that are suitable and in the best interest of their customers. Brokerage firms and financial advisors must also disclose all material facts and risks of a security when making a recommendation. When a firm or advisor fails to meet these standards of conduct, they can be held liable for damages.

Firms and brokers are also required to conduct reasonable due diligence on products they offer before recommending them to any clients. There are serious concerns that some broker-dealers failed to understand the material risks and features of GWG L Bonds. For example, in April 2020, Centaurus Financial raised the cap on how much the firm would allow customers to purchase despite GWG’s significant departure from the life settlements business and its foray into a risker alternative asset business, making it a much larger credit risk. The limit was raised from $100,000 to $150,000, or no more than 10% of the customer’s net worth (excluding primary residence), whichever is less. August Iorio, a managing partner of Iorio Altamirano LLP, was recently quoted in Investment News about Centaurus Financials’ remarkable decision.

Law Firm Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigating the Sale of GWG L Bonds by Tony Barouti of Emerson Equity LLC

Published on: January 29, 2022 | by Iorio Altamirano

Prominent securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating the sales practices of broker Tony Barouti connected with his recommendation of L Bonds issued by GWG Holdings, Inc. to senior and elderly customers. Mr. Barouti is registered as a broker with Emerson Equity LLC in Los Angeles, CA, and is the CEO of Barouti Financial Services, LLC.

Iorio Altamirano LLP has been contacted by numerous senior and elderly retail investors who were recommended and sold GWG’s L Bonds by Mr. Barouti. GWG’s L Bonds are speculative, high-risk, and illiquid securities that were sold as private placement offerings. Brokerage firms received a commission of up to 5% of the principal amount sold.

On January 15, 2022, GWG Holdings Inc. missed interest and principal payments to L bond investors. The company is also reportedly seeking rescue financing in an effort to avoid bankruptcy after facing a series of accounting issues, financial stress, and an SEC investigation. In addition, GWG’s independent auditor resigned at the end of 2021, and the company has disclosed that its 2021 financials are not likely to be completed on time. These are just a few recent developments that have GWG L Bond investors concerned.