Securities Arbitration Lawyer Blog

SEC Awards $2.5 Million to Whistleblower, as Chief of the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower Announces Impending Departure

Published on: April 10, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On April 9, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced an award of approximately $2,500,000 to a whistleblower who provided information and assistance that resulted in a successful SEC enforcement action. The whistleblower provided crucial evidence that supported charges related to a breach of fiduciary duties owed to investors, according to Jane Norberg, Chief of the SEC’s Office of Whistleblower.

Unrelatedly, on April 8, 2021, the SEC announced that Ms. Norberg, who has been the Chief of the SEC’s Office of Whistleblower since 2016, intends to leave the agency this month. Ms. Norberg has been with the Whistleblower Office since its inception in 2012. The Whistleblower Office’s Deputy Chief, Emily Pasquinelli, will serve as Acting Chief following Ms. Norberg’s departure.

In total, the SEC has awarded over $762 million to 148 individuals since the whistleblower program became effective in August 2011. All awards are paid out of an investor protection fund established by Congress that is financed entirely through monetary sanctions paid to the SEC by securities law violators. No money has been taken or withheld from harmed investors to pay whistleblower awards.

Broker Hebert Frey Suspended by FINRA After Excessively Trading and Placing Unauthorized Trades in The Account of a Disabled Client – Mount Vernon, Ohio

Published on: April 9, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Hebert Frey from the securities industry for sixteen months. Mr. Frey consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that he excessively traded a customer’s account and placed unauthorized trades. The customer was a 54-year-old disabled homemaker. FINRA also fined Mr. Frey $15,000 and ordered him to disgorge $76,137 in commissions.

The alleged conduct occurred while Mr. Frey was employed by Lincoln Douglas Investments, LLC in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and Union Capital Company in Tucson, Arizona.

As discussed more fully below, Mr. Frey has a long history of customer complaints, run-ins with regulators, and employment terminations. Throughout his career, Mr. Frey has been suspended six times by regulators, ordered to pay nearly $50,000 in fines, and been the subject of at least six customer complaints.

Burlington, Vermont Financial Advisor Louis Olave Suspended by FINRA

Published on: April 8, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended broker Louis Olave from the securities industry for three months and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. FINRA sanctioned Mr. Olave because he solicited seven clients to purchase $217,477 worth of Future Income Payments, LLC. This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

Mr. Olave was a financial advisor with Questar Capital Corporation at the time of the alleged conduct. He has since moved to Lincoln Investment.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is interested in speaking with customers of Mr. Olave or Questar Capital Corporation. Contact securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your legal rights.

Broker Matthew Crafa Facing Three Pending Customer Disputes Related to GPB Capital Funds

Published on: April 8, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Iorio Altamirano LLP is currently investigating Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. broker Matthew Crafa who is reportedly facing three securities arbitration claims related to recommendations to 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. Crafa has been a broker at Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. since 2011. Iorio Altamirano LLP is also investigating the sales practices and due diligence of Royal Alliance Associates related to its sale of GPB Capital funds. Earlier this year, the SEC charged three people and their affiliated entities with running a “Ponzi-like scheme” that raised more than $1.7 billion by selling private placements issued by alternative asset management firm GPB Capital Holdings. Royal Alliance Associates has faced numerous lawsuits from customers in the form of FINRA securities arbitration claims to recover investment losses.

Securities arbitration is a unique and complex practice area. Investors should seek out experienced counsel who can navigate the arbitration process and effectively advocate on their behalf.

Joseph Ambrosole, a Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. Broker, Suspended by FINRA

Published on: April 8, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Joseph Ambrosole from the securities industry for six months. Mr. Ambrosole consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that he excessively and unsuitably traded the accounts of two customers. FINRA also fined Mr. Ambrosole, who was also suspended by FINRA in 2017 for unethical sales practices, $5,000 and ordered him to pay $147,031.50 in restitution.

Mr. Ambrosole, who has only eight years of experience in the securities industry, has a history of associations disreputable broker-dealers, customer complaints, and regulatory sanctions.

The alleged conduct occurred while Mr. Ambrosole was employed by Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. in New York, New York.

Dawson James Securities, Inc. Sanctioned by FINRA for Charging Customers Excessive Commissions

Published on: April 6, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has sanctioned Dawson James Securities, Inc. (“Dawson James”) for charging customers excessive commissions. On April 6, 2021, FINRA and Dawson James entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”) whereby Dawson James accepted the following sanctions:

a censure;
a $20,000 fine; and

Broker Frank Sapareto, Formerly of Advisory Group Equity Services, Investigated by FINRA

Published on: April 2, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: August 11, 2021** On August 9, 2011, FINRA’s Office of Hearing Offices entered an order barring Frank Sapareto from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity for providing false or misleading testimony and written information during a FINRA investigation and for engaging in an undisclosed outside business activity.

Original Post:

Broker Frank Sapareto, Formerly of Advisory Group Equity Services, Investigated by FINRA

Rhode Island Broker Keith Holcomb, Formerly of Cambridge Investment Research and MML Investors Services, Suspended by FINRA

Published on: April 2, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended former Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. broker Keith Holcomb from the securities industry for 6 months for borrowing money from a customer without notifying or receiving approval from his firm. Holcomb was also fined $7,500.

The conduct is alleged to have taken place while Holcomb was registered with MML Investors Services, LLC in Warwick, Rhode Island.

If you have lost money with Keith Holcomb, MML Investors Services, LLC or Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Former Insigneo Broker Ignacio Erhart Del Campo Suspended by FINRA – Miami, FL

Published on: April 2, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended former Insigneo broker Ignacio Erhart Del Campo from the securities industry for 2 months for exercising discretion in a customer’s account without proper authorization and engaging in unauthorized trading. Erhart Del Campo was also fined $7,500 and ordered to pay restitution of $19,189 plus interest.

If you have lost money with Ignacio Erhart Del Campo, or Insigneo, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

FINRA Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”)

Hutchinson Island, Florida Broker, Gregory Mancuso, Formerly of Crowdvest Securities LLC, BARRED by FINRA

Published on: April 2, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred broker Gregory Mancuso from the securities industry for providing false testimony during an on-the-record interview connected with an investigation into Mr. Mancuso’s handling of the brokerage accounts of two senior sisters with disabilities. The alleged conduct occurred while Mr. Mancuso was registered with BMA Securities, LLC, from August 2, 2016, to November 13, 2017.

On December 21, 2020, FINRA’s Department of Enforcement filed a complaint against Mr. Mancuso, alleging that Mr. Mancuso had his two elderly customers transfer a large part of their life savings to a company with which he was affiliated. One of the sisters was 73 years old and had dementia. The other sister was 68 years old and had multiple sclerosis. The complaint alleges that in 2017, Mancuso recommended that the elder sister use funds from her 401(k) account to purchase a variable annuity offered by a purported Swiss asset management firm, which Mr. Mancuso was affiliated. The complaint also alleges that Mr. Mancuso testified falsely during an on-the-record interview to conceal both his involvement in the transfer and actions he took to potentially change one of the sister’s power of attorney.

Mr. Mancuso failed to respond to the FINRA complaint. FINRA’s Department of Enforcement then requested a default decision, which the hearing officer granted.

Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog