Merrill Lynch

Broker Misconduct Uncovered: The Case of William King and What It Means for Investors

Published on: March 4, 2025 | by Iorio Altamirano

As securities arbitration attorneys advocating for investors against brokerage firms like Merrill Lynch, we frequently encounter cases where brokers breach their duty to act in their clients’ best interests. One such case involves William Worthen King, a former Merrill Lynch broker who was recently sanctioned by FINRA and allowed to resign amid allegations of misconduct. His story highlights the risks investors face and the critical need for accountability in the financial industry. Let’s dive into the details of King’s regulatory troubles, analyze his alarming history of customer disputes, and explore what this means for investors seeking justice.

William King’s FINRA Sanction: A Closer Look

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended former Merrill Lynch broker William King (CRD No. 1432593) for 30 days and assessed a $5,000 monetary fine. According to FINRA Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 222077401201, between January 6, 2021, and January 5, 2023, William King exercised discretion over 204 trades across the accounts of four Merrill Lynch customers without prior written authorization. This conduct violated FINRA Rule 3260(b), which prohibits discretionary trading without explicit client consent, and Rule 2010, which mandates high standards of commercial honor.

Merrill Lynch Fined $1.5 million by FINRA – New York, NY

Published on: October 6, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has fined Merrill Lynch $1.5 million over its alleged breach of supervisory and disclosure-related rules involving short positions in municipal securities. The firm was censured, fined, and required to certify that its supervisory systems and written procedures are reasonably designed to achieve compliance with Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) Rules G-17 and G-27 and Rule 15C3-3(D)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). The firm was also required to certify that its revised written supervisory procedures have been distributed to all firm personnel with responsibilities for compliance with MSRB Rules G-17 and G-27 and Exchange Act Rule 15C3-3(D)(4).

If you have suffered investment losses with Merrill Lynch, contact New York securities 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 Merrill Lynch.

Scott Madison, Formerly with Merrill Lynch, BARRED by FINRA – Riverhead, NY

Published on: September 4, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred former Merrill Lynch broker Scott Madison from the securities industry after he failed to provide information and documents requested by FINRA in connection with its investigation into the circumstances of his termination from Merrill Lynch.

If you have suffered investment losses with Scott Madison, or Merrill Lynch, contact New York securities 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.

Former Merrill Lynch Broker in Atlanta, Tyler Delahunt, BARRED by FINRA

Published on: January 26, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred financial advisor Tyler Dean Delahunt from the securities industry. Tyler Delahunt was registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) in Atlanta, Georgia, from October 2016 until August 2020. Merrill Lynch terminated Mr. Delahunt’s employment on August 3, 2020, alleging that his conduct involved improper solicitation of clients related to private securities transactions. Merrill Lynch also alleged that Mr. Delahunt participated in financial arrangements involving clients.

If you or a loved one were a customer of Tyler Delahunt and either sustained financial losses or suspect inappropriate activity, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account or annuity contract.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Merrill Lynch.

After Merrill Lynch Has Paid Over $66 Million to Settle Churning Allegations Against Former Broker Charles Kenahan, FINRA Has Barred Kenahan From the Industry.

Published on: January 25, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Summary:

FINRA has barred financial advisor Charles Kenahan from the securities industry after he refused to cooperate with FINRA’s investigation.
In 2019, Bank of America Merrill Lynch agreed to pay $40 million to settle with Robert Levine, co-founder of Cabletron Systems, over churning allegations.

Former Merrill Lynch Broker in Beverly Hills, Ryan Raskin, Barred by FINRA

Published on: January 14, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred financial advisor Ryan Ashley Raskin from the securities industry. Ryan Raskin was registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) in Beverly Hills, California, from May 2016 until May 2020. Merrill Lynch terminated Mr. Raskin’s employment on March 4, 2020, alleging that his business practices were inconsistent with Merrill Lynch’s standards. The business practices purportedly included inappropriate investment recommendations involving mutual funds.

According to public records, shortly after Mr. Raskin’s termination, a customer complained that Mr. Raskin engaged in unauthorized trading and churning of mutual funds and money funds from January 2018 until January 2020. Peculiarly, Merrill Lynch denied this customer’s complaint.

Investors should be aware that filing a complaint directly with a financial institution, like Merrill Lynch, is not the same as filing a securities arbitration complaint. If an investor is seeking monetary compensation, the investor must initiate a securities arbitration through FINRA Dispute Resolution Services.

Former Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor, Rawad Roy Alame, Suspended by FINRA for Selling Away

Published on: December 22, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended financial advisor Rawad Roy Alame (CRD #5376696) from the securities industry for six months, fined $5,000, and ordered him to pay $2,700 to a former client. Rawad Alame was a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, working out of branch offices in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Provo, Utah, from January 2016 until June 2019. Mr. Alame’s employment was terminated by Merrill Lynch, which alleged that he completed an account-related document, signed by clients, to service a client’s account that was not held at Merrill Lynch and failed to be forthcoming with Merrill Lynch’s review of the matter.

Since leaving Merrill Lynch, Mr. Alame has been affiliated with Insight Advisors, LLC in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and Gate Key Financial, L.L.C., in Raleigh, North Carolina.

If you have lost money with Rawad Alame, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Hector Gonzalez, with Merrill Lynch, facing six pending customer disputes over unsuitable investment recommendations – Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

Published on: December 22, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

Merrill Lynch broker Hector J. Gonzalez has six pending customer complaints on his CRD, including one customer complaint filed in 2020 claiming $3 million in losses. The claims allege unsuitable investment recommendations and misrepresentations.

Mr. Gonzalez (CRD#: 5330726) has been in the securities industry for 13 years. He has been registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 2010. He was previously registered with UBS Financial Services Incorporated of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico between September 2007 and June 2010.

Mr. Gonzalez has been the subject of eight customer complaints, most of which allege the same types of violations outlined in the pending cases.

Former Merrill Lynch Broker Douglas Stopkey Suspended by FINRA for 30 Days Over Unauthorized Trading and Mismarked Orders in Senior Customer Accounts

Published on: November 19, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended financial advisor Douglas William Stopkey from the securities industry for a 30-day period, which began on November 16, 2020, and runs through December 15, 2020. Douglas Stopkey was registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith in Richmond, VA, from March 1992 until September 2018, when he was terminated. Since then, he has been registered with Davenport & Company LLC in Richmond, VA.

If you have lost money with Douglas Stopkey, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Douglas Stopkey and FINRA entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”) on October 26, 2020, over allegations related to Stopkey’s conduct between January 2016 and June 2018. Specifically, FINRA alleged: