investor education

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Investment Recommendations Made by Former UBS Broker Patrick Murray – Sandusky, Ohio

Published on: October 21, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: July 6, 2022** On June 24, 2022, former UBS broker Patrick R. Murray was suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Mr. Murray, who is not currently associated with a brokerage firm, consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that from March 2018 to January 2019, Murray violated FINRA Rules 3270 and 2010 by engaging in an outside business activity without providing prior written notice to his firm. As part of the agreement, Mr. Murray also agreed to pay a fine of $5,000.

Specifically, FINRA alleged that in March 2018, Mr. Murray and two other individuals established a company called Integrity Salt, LLC to buy and sell rock salt. Mr. Murray made capital contributions to Integrity Salt, LLC and made at least one vendor payment on behalf o the company by wiring more than a million dollars from his personal account directly to the vendor. Mr. Murray also earned approximately $78,704 in compensation from his activities related to Integrity Salt, LLC.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating other potential claims related to Mr. Murray’s conduct and encourages anyone with information about Mr. Murray’s conduct or practices to contact our law firm. All conversations are confidential and privileged.

GPB Capital Founder Seeks Millions in Distributions from Fund Investors That He Allegedly Defrauded

Published on: October 7, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

David Gentile, the disgraced founder of GPB Capital Holdings LLC, who is facing criminal and civil fraud charges, is seeking to obtain millions of dollars from GPB. Despite being accused of running a Ponzi-like scheme when he was running GPB Capital, Mr. Gentile is asking for court-supervised mediation to obtain a distribution of more than $5 million to cover his personal tax liability from last year. Meanwhile, limited partners of GPB Capital private placement funds, such as GPB Automotive Portfolio LP, have not received distributions since 2019. Worse, their investments remain illiquid, as there is no secondary market to sell their units.

Mr. Gentile claims to be “entitled to distributions” under the private equity firm’s operating agreements. He also claims that GPB Capital and its funds, including GPB Holdings, LP / GPB Holdings Qualified, LP, GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP, GPB Holdings II, LP, and GPB Waste Management, LP, are responsible for paying his legal fees. He is essentially asking investors who have been defrauded to pay his legal fees to defend him against numerous allegations of wrongdoing.

Lawyers for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) argue that Mr. Gentile’s request should be denied because he does not qualify for mediation according to rules issued by the court.

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.

Lee Victor Nordstrom, Formerly with Vorpahl Wing Securities, BARRED by FINRA – Spokane, WA

Published on: October 6, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred former Vorpahl Wing Securities broker Lee Nordstrom from the securities industry. Nordstrom consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to appear for on-the-record testimony requested by FINRA during the course of an investigation into whether he engaged in potential unsuitable and excessive trading in several customer accounts.

If you have suffered investment losses with Lee Nordstrom, or Vorpahl Wing Securities, 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.

PFS Investments Broker Jeffrey Dampf BARRED by FINRA – Totowa, NJ

Published on: October 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred former PFS Investments Inc. broker Jeffrey Dampf from the securities industry. Dampf consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to provide on-the-record testimony or to produce the documents and information requested by FINRA in connection with its investigation into allegations that he misappropriated funds from elderly individuals.

If you have suffered investment losses with Jeffrey Dampf, or PFS Investments Inc., 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.

Courtney Michelle Kaplan, Formerly with Wells Fargo, BARRED by FINRA – Tampa, FL

Published on: October 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred former Wells Fargo broker Courtney Michelle Kaplan from the securities industry. Kaplan consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that she refused to provide documents and information requested by FINRA during an investigation into allegations made in a Form U5 amendment filed by Wells Fargo. Kaplan was registered with the firm between June 2017 and March 2019.

The FINRA findings stated that Wells Fargo commenced an internal review after a former client’s daughter alleged that Kaplan borrowed money from her father and that Kaplan and her husband were beneficiaries under her father’s will.

If you have suffered investment losses with Courtney Michelle Kaplan, or Wells Fargo, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Deborah Herrmann, Formerly with Transamerica Financial Advisors, BARRED by FINRA – Wheaton, IL

Published on: October 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred former Transamerica Financial Advisors broker Deborah Herrmann from the securities industry. Herrmann consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that she failed to provide documents requested by FINRA during an investigation initiated after receiving a tip. The FINRA findings stated that Herrmann made a partial production but did not provide a complete response to FINRA’s requests.

If you have suffered investment losses with Deborah Herrmann, or Transamerica Financial Advisors, 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.

Purshe Kaplan Sterling Broker Lee Taylor BARRED by FINRA – Skippack, PA

Published on: September 30, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments (PKS) broker Lee Taylor from the securities industry. Mr. Taylor consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he refused to produce documents and information requested by FINRA in connection with its investigation into his potential undisclosed private securities transactions with PKS customers, including participating in trading for them for compensation in brokerage accounts outside of the firm.

If you have suffered investment losses with Lee Taylor, or Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, 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.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Former Edward Jones Broker Alan Price – Frankfort, IN

Published on: September 30, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA’s Department of Enforcement has filed a disciplinary proceeding complaint against financial advisor Alan Price for borrowing $150,000 from a 72-year-old Edward Jones customer in violation of firm policies.

If you have suffered investment losses with Alan Price or Edward Jones, 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.

Robert Joseph Boyer III, Formerly with MML Investors Services, LLC, BARRED by FINRA – Holyoke, MA

Published on: September 29, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred former MML Investors Services, LLC broker Robert Joseph Boyer III from the securities industry. Mr. Boyer consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to provide information and documents requested by FINRA related to a matter that originated from a Form U4 amendment filed by MML Investors Services.

The amendment disclosed a customer complaint alleging that Mr. Boyer established multiple accounts that the complainant wasn’t in a financial position to purchase and that the complainant never reviewed nor signed some of the applications for these products, which were later found to contain false information.

If you have suffered investment losses with Robert Joseph Boyer III, or MML Investors Services, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.