investor advocates

The SEC Announces $1 Million to Whistleblower Award, Bringing 2021 Total to Over $200 Million

Published on: July 19, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On July 15, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced an award of more than $1 million to a whistleblower. According to Emily Pasquinelli, Acting Chief of the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower, the whistleblower “played a crucial role” by providing the SEC with valuable information and ongoing assistance.

In 2021, the SEC has now awarded over $200 million to whistleblowers. Since the whistleblower program became effective in August 2011, the SEC has awarded over $939 million to 182 individuals. The awards are paid out of an investor protection fund established by Congress financed entirely through monetary sanctions paid to the SEC by securities law violators. Money is not taken or withheld from harmed investors to pay whistleblower awards.

Congress established the whistleblower program to incentivize whistleblowers with specific, timely, and credible information about federal securities law violations to report to the SEC. A whistleblower may receive an award if they voluntarily provide the SEC with qualifying information, leading to successful enforcement. The award can range from 10 percent to 30 percent of the money collected due to the enforcement action.

Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. Fined $1.5 million by FINRA – New York, NY

Published on: July 15, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has fined and censured Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. (“Laidlaw”) over the firm’s supervisory system, which according to the regulator, was not reasonably designed to achieve compliance with federal securities laws and FINRA rules prohibiting market manipulation. As a result, Laidlaw was fined $1.5 million.

Additionally, the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) was suspended from association with any FINRA member firm in any principal capacity for two months. He received a $15,000 fine.

Laidlaw also consented to provide a certification that the firm has enhanced its supervisory system and written supervisory procedures in ways that are reasonably expected to address the areas of conduct outlined by FINRA. Laidlaw must provide the certification to FINRA within 60 days.

NEXT Financial Group, Inc. Fined by FINRA – Houston, TX

Published on: July 14, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has fined and censured NEXT Financial Group, Inc. (“NEXT”) over supervisory failures related to unsuitable short-term trading of mutual funds and municipal bonds, and over-concentration of customer accounts in Puerto Rican municipal bonds.

NEXT was fined $750,000 and consented to provide a certification to FINRA, within 120 days, regarding the implementation of reasonably designed procedures to address its supervisory failures.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors nationwide that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as NEXT Financial Group, Inc.

Another Aegis Capital Corp. Broker (Douglas Szempruch) Suspended for Excessive Trading and Unauthorized Trading

Published on: July 12, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**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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Update: Former Aegis Capital Corp Broker, Kishan (Sean) Parikh, SUSPENDED by FINRA for Excessive Trading and Unauthorized Trading

Published on: July 9, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**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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GWN Securities Broker, Ronald Giovino, Barred by FINRA – Clearwater, Florida

Published on: July 9, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred financial advisor Ronald Giovino from the securities industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into whether Mr. Giovino converted customer funds. FINRA launched the investigation after it received information through the FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors. Mr. Giovino has been registered with GWN Securities Inc. in Clearwater, Florida, since March 2004.

Customers of Mr. Giovino or GWN Securities Inc. can contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of their legal rights.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors nationwide that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as GWN Securities Inc.

Popular Securities, LLC Broker Fernando Luis Monllor Suspended by FINRA – Ponce, PR

Published on: July 8, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended Popular Securities, LLC broker Fernando Luis Monllor from the securities industry for 30 business days for using a pre-signed Letter of Authorization (LOA) from a customer to transfer assets among the customer’s accounts. Monllor’s suspension is scheduled to start on August 2, 2021, and end on September 13, 2021. He was also fined $5,000.

If you have lost money with Fernando Luis Monllor, or Popular Securities, LLC, contact FINRA 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 Popular Securities, LLC.

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Sanctuary Securities, Inc. (Formerly David A. Noyes & Company) Over Inverse and Leveraged Exchange-Traded Funds Supervisory Failures

Published on: July 7, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of Sanctuary Securities, Inc. (formerly David A. Noyes & Company) customers who invested in inverse and leveraged exchanged-traded funds.

On July 1, 2021, Sanctuary Securities, Inc. and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 20190606942201 (“AWC”) over allegations that between January 2014 and December 2018, Sanctuary Securities, Inc. failed to establish and maintain a supervisory system reasonably designed to achieve compliance with FINRA Rule 2111 in relation to the solicited sales of inverse and leveraged exchange-traded funds (collectively “Non-Traditional ETFs”) in that the firm’s supervisory system was not sufficiently tailored to address the unique features and risks of these products.

Relatedly, on July 2, 2021, FINRA suspended former Sanctuary Securities, Inc. financial advisor Stuart Pearl from the securities industry for three months. Click on the following link to read more: Stu Pearl, Former David A. Noyes & Company Broker, Suspended for Making Unsuitable Non-Traditional ETF Investment Recommendations – Indianapolis, IN

SagePoint Financial Broker, Gary Bowman, Suspended by FINRA for Short-Term Trading of Unit Investment Trusts in Customer Accounts

Published on: July 7, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Gary Bowman from the securities industry for three months and fined him $10,000. FINRA alleged that between February 2013 through December 2017, Mr. Bowman engaged in an unsuitable pattern of short-term trading of Unit Investment Trusts in customer accounts.

Mr. Bowman has been a stockbroker at SagePoint Financial, Inc. in Corona, CA, since February 2013.

Iorio Altamirano LLP has also been investigating SagePoint Financial, Inc. over Unit Investment Trusts (UIT) early rollover practices.

Former Wells Fargo Broker, Tyler Rigsbee, Barred by FINRA

Published on: July 7, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred financial advisor Tyler Rigsbee from the securities industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. FINRA launched the investigation after Wells Fargo terminated Mr. Rigsbee in April 2021 and alleged that he “was terminated during the course of an internal review where documents appear to show that client funds were received in his personal bank account after being transferred from Wells Fargo to a third-party broker-dealer, and then to his bank account, without permission from clients.”

Mr. Rigsbee was associated with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC in Sacramento, CA, from October 2016 until April 2021.

Customers of Mr. Rigsbee or Wells Fargo can contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of their legal rights.