Securities Arbitration Lawyer Blog

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates International Assets Advisory, LLC Over GPB Funds

Published on: April 20, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

International Assets Advisory, LLC is a broker-dealer and registered investment advisor (RIA) headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

The firm has faced FINRA arbitration complaints from customers seeking to recover GPB investment losses. Houston-based broker Williams Keen Butcher was involved in one such customer complaint. He has been registered with International Assets Advisory since April 2015. Additionally, former firm broker Jingbo Pan may have recommended GPB Capital funds or other investments in private placement offerings to clients. He was registered with the firm between April 2014 and August 2018.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. 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, International Assets Advisory, LLC likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Western International Securities, Inc. Over GPB Funds

Published on: April 20, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Western International Securities, Inc. is a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser (RIA) headquartered in Pasadena, California. The firm was formed in April 1995.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. 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, broker-dealer Western International Securities, Inc. likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

If you lost money in GPB funds with Western International Securities, Inc., you may have a claim.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Former Joseph Stone Capital, LLC. Broker Abdul Rahmani

Published on: April 16, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: November 8, 2021** On April 15, 2021, FINRA’s Department of Enforcement filed disciplinary proceeding No. 2019063626703 against former Joseph Stone Capital broker Abdul Rahmani. On October 28, 2021, Mr. Rahmani submitted an Offer of Settlement to FINRA’s Department of Enforcement. On November 2, 2021, FINRA’s Department of Enforcement and the National Adjudicatory Council (NAC), a Review Subcommittee of the NAC, or the Office of Disciplinary Affiars (ODA) have accepted Mr. Rahmani’s offer of settlement. Under the terms of the settlement, Mr. Rahmani has consented to a bar from the securities industry.

Original Post:

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Former Joseph Stone Capital, LLC. Broker Abdul Rahmani

Former Financial Advisor Michael Dellaporta, Jr. BARRED From the Securities Industry by FINRA – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Published on: April 14, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Michael Dellaporta, Jr. from the securities industry. Mr. Dellaporta was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into an outside business activity.

Mr. Dellaporta, who was a broker for over forty years, most recently worked at B.B. Graham & Company, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from August 2018 to August 2019. Previously, he was affiliated with Fusion Analytics Securities LLC, from 2015 until 2018, and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc, from 2010 to 2015.

Since 2009, Mr. Dellaporta has been the subject of numerous customer disputes.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Hugues Guirand, Formerly of Woodstock Financial Group, Inc. – Virginia Beach, VA

Published on: April 14, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: July 26, 2021** FINRA has barred Hugues Guirand from the securities industry after Mr. Guirand failed to respond to FINRA’s Department of Enforcement’s complaint.

Original Post:

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Hugues Guirand, Formerly of Woodstock Financial Group, Inc. – Virginia Beach, VA

Former IFS Securities Broker, Steven Schisler, Facing Disciplinary Charges by FINRA for Numerous Alleged Misconduct, Including Unsuitable Investment Recommendations to An Elderly Couple

Published on: April 14, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Department of Enforcement has filed a disciplinary proceeding complaint against former broker Steven Schisler. The complaint alleges that from April 2009 to October 2020, Steven Schisler committed nine separate violations of FINRA and NASD rules related to his dealings with two sets of retired customers and IFS Securities, the firm that employed him. Specifically, the FINRA complaint alleges:

made an unsuitable recommendation to two elderly, married customers;
participated, without the approval of his firm, in a private securities transaction with those customers;

Iorio Altamirano LLP is Investigating MSC – BD, LLC and Broker Robert Fehrman For Recommending GPB Capital Holdings to Customers

Published on: April 14, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Iorio Altamirano LLP is currently investigating MSC – BD, LLC, and veteran stockbroker Robert Fehrman for recommending that clients invest in private placement securities issued by GPB Capital. Mr. Fehrman and MSC – BD, LLC are currently the subject of a customer dispute related to his recommendation of GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP, one of the private placement funds issued by GPB Capital.

The GPB funds, which are private securities offerings exempt from registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are inherently risky investments. These investments are suitable only for highly sophisticated investors who understand the risks and can afford a significant monetary loss. Unfortunately, many brokerage firms and brokers sold the GPB Capital securities to retirees and unsophisticated investors because they paid a high up-front commission.

Bob Fehrman has been registered as a financial consultant with MSC – BD, LLC in Cumming, Georgia, since June 2013. According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr. Fehrman is located in Florissant, Missouri.

Investigation: Former Axiom Capital Management, Inc Broker, Michael Packman, Reportedly Recommended GPB Capital Holdings to Customers

Published on: April 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Iorio Altamirano LLP is currently investigating former Axiom Capital Management, Inc. broker Michael Packman, who reportedly recommended that his customers invest in private placement securities issued by GPB Capital. The GPB notes, which are private securities offerings exempt from registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are inherently risky investments. These investments are suitable only for highly sophisticated investors who understand the risks and can afford a significant monetary loss. Unfortunately, many brokerage firms and brokers sold the GPB Capital securities to retirees and unsophisticated investors because they paid a high up-front commission.

Mr. Packman was a broker at Axiom Capital Management, Inc. in Westbury, New York, from May 2015 to March 2018. Before he joined Axiom Capital Management, Inc. in 2018, he was associated with several disreputable brokerage firms, including Financial West Group and Continental Broker-Dealer Corp., both of which were expelled from the industry by FINRA.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is also investigating the sales practices and due diligence of Axiom Capital Management, Inc. related to its sale of GPB Capital funds. It is believed, according to reports, that Axiom Capital Management, Inc. has been subjected to numerous lawsuits from customers in the form of FINRA securities arbitration claims to recover investment losses.

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Moloney Securities Co., Inc. Over GPB Funds

Published on: April 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. 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, broker-dealer Moloney Securities Co., Inc. likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

Moloney Securities Co., Inc. has faced numerous FINRA arbitration complaints from customers seeking to recover investment losses. Current and former Moloney Securities Co., Inc. brokers may have recommended GPB Capital funds, or other investments in private placement offerings to clients, including:

Jeffrey Max Cohen;

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Investment Architects, Inc. Over GPB Funds

Published on: April 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. 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, broker-dealer Investment Architects, Inc. likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

If you lost money in GPB funds with Investment Architects, Inc., you may have a claim.

The SEC has charged GPB Capital, Ascendant Capital, and Ascendant Alternative Strategies with running a Ponzi-like scheme that raised roughly $1.8 billion from securities issued by GPB Capital. The SEC believes that as many as 17,000 retail investors nationwide have been defrauded.

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