The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has sanctioned Securities America, Inc. (“Securities America”) for failing to reasonably supervise brokers’ recommendations of the LJM Preservation & Growth Fund. On March 29, 2021, FINRA and Securities America entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”) whereby Securities America accepted the following sanctions:
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has sanctioned J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. (“J.W. Cole”) for failing to reasonably supervise brokers’ recommendations of the LJM Preservation & Growth Fund. On March 18, 2021, FINRA and J.W. Cole entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”) whereby J.W. Cole accepted the following sanctions:
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has sanctioned Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (“Cambridge”) for failing to reasonably supervise brokers’ recommendations of the LJM Preservation & Growth Fund. On March 29, 2021, FINRA and Cambridge entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”) whereby Cambridge accepted the following sanctions:
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Charles Thomas Stevens from the securities industry for failing to appear and provide on-the-record testimony.
On December 1, 2020, FINRA’s Department of Enforcement filed a three-cause complaint against Mr. Stevens. The first cause of action charged that Mr. Stevens willfully failed to disclose a judgment and three tax liens on his Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer (Form U4). The second cause of action alleged that Mr. Stevens falsely represented to his firm that he did not have any unreported liens. The third cause of action alleged that Mr. Stevens failed twice to appear and testify at an on-the-record interview.
Mr. Stevens then failed to appear at two-pear hearing conferences scheduled by the hearing officer. FINRA’s Department of Enforcement then requested a default decision, which the hearing officer granted.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended stockbroker Victor A. Rigoni, III from the securities industry for three months. FINRA accepted an Offer of Settlement submitted by Mr. Rigoni after FINRA’s Department of Enforcement filed a disciplinary complaint against Mr. Rigoni in August 2020. The complaint alleged that from August 2012 through March 2019, Mr. Rigoni willfully failed to timely amend his Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer (Form U4) to disclose six unsatisfied federal and state tax liens totaling $164,521. On average, Mr. Rigoni disclosed his tax liens almost three-and-a-half years late. Mr. Rigoni also never disclosed a state tax lien of $11,304.
Mr. Rigoni has been associated with the following broker-dealers:
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced an award of over $500,000 to a whistleblower who provided information and assistance that helped shut down an ongoing fraudulent scheme. The whistleblower initially raised concerns internally before submitting a tip to the SEC.
In connection with the announcement, Jane Norberg, Chief of the SEC’s Office of Whistleblower, said that with this award, the SEC had “awarded 40 individuals this fiscal year, surpassing last year’s record of 39 individual awards. She added that the SEC had “awarded whistleblowers nearly $200 million in the first half of FY21 alone.”
In total, the SEC has awarded over $760 million to 145 individuals since the whistleblower program became effective in August 2011.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred broker Jeremy Taylor Johnson from the securities industry. FINRA expelled Mr. Johnson from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into the suitability and potential misrepresentations and omissions related to Johnson’s offer and sale of two securities offerings while associated with Torch Securities, LLC.
Mr. Johnson entered the securities industry in 2019 when he associated with Torch Securities, LLC (“Torch Securities”) and registered with FINRA as a Private Securities Offerings. His employment ended in April 2021.
Securities and Exchange Commission Settlement
FINRA has suspended former RBC Capital Markets broker Jeffrey Fladell from associating with any FINRA member for three months over unsuitable recommendations he made to a retired senior over 100 years old, which resulted in her extreme overconcentration in high-yield municipal bonds. In addition to his suspension, Fladell was fined $5,000.
If you have lost money with Jeffrey Fladell, or RBC Capital Markets, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.
Jeffrey Fladell (CRD#: 209278)
FINRA has suspended a Senior Managing Director at Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Riaz Haidri, for three weeks for disclosing confidential information regarding a customer’s trading strategy and later confirming the customer’s identity to another customer. Mr. Haidri was the co-head of Cantor Fitzgerald’s high yield fixed income trading desk at the time of the alleged conduct. FINRA also fined Mr. $15,000 and ordered him to complete five hours of training.
Cantor Fitzgerald has employed Mr. Haidri since May 2013.
FINRA Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2017054288401
**Update: November 11, 2021** On November 8, 2021, Aegis Capital Corp agreed to pay nearly $2.7 million in sanctions for supervisory failures related to excessive and unsuitable trading by its brokers from July 2014 through December 2018. Click on the following link to read more: Aegis Capital Corp. Ordered to Pay Nearly $2.7 Million for Supervisory Failures Related to Rampant Excessive and Unsuitable Trading
Customers of Aegis Capital, including customers that have been notified that they may be receiving restitution, should consult with a securities arbitration law firm. If you or a loved one were a customer of Aegis Capital, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of your legal rights.
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