investor protection

Broker Jason Lynn DiPaola Investigated by FINRA – New York, NY

Published on: May 18, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has filed an enforcement complaint against former Chardan Capital Markets LLC broker Jason Lynn DiPaola (CRD#: 2648836). Mr. DiPaola has 20 years of experience in the securities industry and was most recently registered as a broker with Chardan Capital Markets LLC in New York, NY, from May 2013 to May 2019.

If you have lost money with Jason Lynn DiPaola, or Chardan Capital Markets LLC, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

FINRA Enforcement Allegations

Former Wells Fargo Broker Gary Len Wells Suspended by FINRA – Tacoma, WA

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended former Wells Fargo Advisors broker Gary Len Wells from the securities industry for 15 months for accepting a $600,000 bequest from a non-family member. He was also fined $20,000.

Mr. Wells’ suspension runs from May 3, 2021, until August 2, 2022.

If you have lost money with Gary Len Wells, or Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Former Morgan Stanley Broker in Miami, Candido Viyella, BARRED by FINRA

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Candido Viyella. from the securities industry. Mr. Viyella was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. FINRA’s investigation originated after Morgan Stanley discharged Mr. Viyella and disclosed concerns regarding his participation, involvement, and a beneficial ownership interest in an outside investment.

Reportedly, Mr. Viyella recommended that his clients invest in the Conrad Hotel, a luxury hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in which he had a personal stake. Mr. Viyella reportedly knew the hotel was facing financial difficulties, yet recommended that his clients invest in the hotel, causing them to suffer financial losses.

Mr. Viyella was registered with Morgan Stanley in Miami, Florida, from June 2009 until December 2020. He has also been associated with the following entities: Terrena Enterprises, LLC, VSHC Management, LLC, VSHC Family Limited Partnership LP, and Earthview Capital, LLC.

Former LPL Financial LLC Broker John Simmons BARRED by FINRA – Gulf Breeze, FL

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred former LPL Financial LLC broker John Edgar Simmons, Jr. from the securities industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation.

Mr. Simmons, Jr. was most recently registered as a broker with LPL Financial LLC in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

If you have lost money with John Edgar Simmons, Jr., or LPL Financial LLC, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Former Securities America, Inc. Broker, Bill Dixon, BARRED from the Securities Industry by FINRA – Urbana, Ohio

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker William Dixon. from the securities industry. Mr. Dixon was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. FINRA’s investigation originated after Securities America, Inc. discharged Mr. Dixon and alleged that he signed his deceased client’s signature and initials on multiple annuity surrender forms.

Mr. Dixon was registered with Securities America, Inc. in Urbana, Ohio, from September 2016 until October 2019.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with William Dixon or Securities America, Inc., contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account.

Former Financial Advisor Eric Vici BARRED from the Securities Industry by FINRA – Melbourne, Florida

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Eric Vici. from the securities industry. Mr. Vici was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation that originated from a complaint made to FINRA by the executor of a customer’s estate about his handling of the customer’s funds.

Mr. Vici was registered with PFS Investments, Inc. in Melbourne, Florida, from November 2012 until October 2019. He has also been affiliated with Primerica Financial Services, an affiliate of PFS Investments.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Eric John Vici, PFS Investments, Inc., or Primerica Financial Services, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Broker Adam Belardino, Formerly of MML Investors Services, LLC – Westchester County, New York

Published on: May 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Department of Enforcement has filed a disciplinary proceeding complaint against former broker Adam Belardino. The complaint alleges that Mr. Belardino failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation, which was initiated in Aril 2019 after Mr. Belardino’ s employment was terminated by MML Investors Services, LLC and disclosed (through a Form U5) that it discharged Mr. Belardino “in connection with [an] investigation into a customer complaint. The Form U5 (Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration) also disclosed a complaint from customers alleging that beginning in November of 2018, Mr. Belardino “misrepresented [the customers’] account values, engaged in excessive levels of trading, and failed to comply with requests to have their accounts liquidated and the proceeds distributed. Additional customer complaints were subsequently disclosed, including a customer alleging that “the REITs that were sold to him [by Mr. Balardino] beginning in or around 2014 were unsuitable for his conservative portfolio.”

At the time of the alleged conduct, Mr. Balardino was associated with MML Investors Services, LLC (“MML Investor Services”) in Elmsford, New York. Prior to being a broker at MML Investor Services, Mr. Belardino was associated with MSI Financial Services, Inc. (“MSI Financial Services”), also in Elmsford, New York.

If you or a loved one were a customer of broker Adam Belardino, MML Investor Services, LLC, or MSI Financial Services, Inc., contact securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your legal rights.

Investigative Report: Worden Capital Management LLC’s Owners, Executives, and Brokers Have Concerning Red Flag Disclosures

Published on: May 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

This post is part of a series of investigative blog posts that spotlight modern-day boiler rooms that operate under the guise of a reputable brokerage firm. Many of the broker-dealers featured in this series still use boiler room tactics such as cold-calling customers and high-pressure or aggressive sales tactics. Other brokerage firms have a propensity for broker misconduct, such as excessive trading, churning, unauthorized trades, and misrepresentation. Iorio Altamirano LLP is a securities arbitration law firm based in New York City. We represent investors nationwide who have suffered investment losses due to wrongful conduct by financial advisors and brokerage firms. We are investor advocates.

Other Investigative Blog Posts:

Arive Capital Markets, LLC

SEC Awards $3.6 Million to Whistleblower; The SEC Has Awarded Over $104 Million Whistleblowers in 2021

Published on: May 12, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On May 12, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced an award of approximately $3.6 million to a whistleblower who brought valuable information to the SEC’s attention, which lead to an investigation that ended in a successful SEC enforcement action. According to Emily Pasquinelli, Acting Chief of the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower, the “whistleblower further assisted the SEC by providing ongoing assistance as the Commission’s investigation progressed.”

Since the beginning of the year, the SEC has awarded over $104 million to whistleblowers:

May 10, 2021: The SEC awarded $22 million to two whistleblowers whose information and assistance aided the SEC, resulting in successful SEC enforcement actions against a financial services firm.

How to Recover Investment Losses: Frequently Asked Questions

Published on: May 11, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

You worked hard, opened a brokerage or retirement account, and invested your savings with a financial advisor or stockbroker, only to suffer financial losses due to bad investment advice, misleading sales pitches, or brokers that were driven by commissions. Now what?

Can I Sue My Financial Advisor Over Losses?

Yes, you can sue your financial advisor or broker to recover investment losses if the broker did not have your best interest in mind when they made an investment recommendation or offered investment advice. You can also sue your financial advisor or broker if the financial advisor misrepresented or omitted material facts that an investor should have known about the security or investment strategy.