Articles Tagged with investor protection

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**Update: November 8, 2021**  On April 15, 2021, FINRA’s Department of Enforcement filed disciplinary proceeding No. 2019063626703 against former Joseph Stone Capital broker Abdul Rahmani.  On October 28, 2021, Mr. Rahmani submitted an Offer of Settlement to FINRA’s Department of Enforcement.  On November 2, 2021, FINRA’s Department of Enforcement and the National Adjudicatory Council (NAC),  a Review Subcommittee of the NAC, or the Office of Disciplinary Affiars (ODA) have accepted Mr. Rahmani’s offer of settlement.  Under the terms of the settlement, Mr. Rahmani has consented to a bar from the securities industry.

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FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Former Joseph Stone Capital, LLC. Broker Abdul Rahmani

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The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Department of Enforcement has filed a disciplinary proceeding complaint against former broker Steven Schisler.  The complaint alleges that from April 2009 to October 2020, Steven Schisler committed nine separate violations of FINRA and NASD rules related to his dealings with two sets of retired customers and IFS Securities, the firm that employed him.  Specifically, the FINRA complaint alleges:

  • made an unsuitable recommendation to two elderly, married customers;
  • participated, without the approval of his firm, in a private securities transaction with those customers;
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Iorio Altamirano LLP is currently investigating MSC – BD, LLC, and veteran stockbroker Robert Fehrman for recommending that clients invest in private placement securities issued by GPB Capital.  Mr. Fehrman and MSC – BD, LLC are currently the subject of a customer dispute related to his recommendation of GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP, one of the private placement funds issued by GPB Capital.

The GPB funds, 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.

Bob Fehrman has been registered as a financial consultant with MSC – BD, LLC in Cumming, Georgia, since June 2013.  According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr. Fehrman is located in Florissant, Missouri.

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Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would, in turn, sell the GPB funds to their retail investors. According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, broker-dealer Investment Architects, Inc. likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

If you lost money in GPB funds with Investment Architects, Inc., you may have a claim.

The SEC has charged GPB Capital, Ascendant Capital, and Ascendant Alternative Strategies with running a Ponzi-like scheme that raised roughly $1.8 billion from securities issued by GPB Capital. The SEC believes that as many as 17,000 retail investors nationwide have been defrauded.

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Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would, in turn, sell the GPB funds to their retail investors. According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, broker-dealer Landolt Securities, Inc. likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

If you lost money in GPB funds with Landolt Securities, Inc., you may have a claim.

The SEC has charged GPB Capital, Ascendant Capital, and Ascendant Alternative Strategies with running a Ponzi-like scheme that raised roughly $1.8 billion from securities issued by GPB Capital. The SEC believes that as many as 17,000 retail investors nationwide have been defrauded.

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Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would, in turn, sell the GPB funds to their retail investors. According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, broker-dealer Lowell & Company, Inc. likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

If you lost money in GPB funds with Lowell & Company, Inc., you may have a claim.

The SEC has charged GPB Capital, Ascendant Capital, and Ascendant Alternative Strategies with running a Ponzi-like scheme that raised roughly $1.8 billion from securities issued by GPB Capital. The SEC believes that as many as 17,000 retail investors nationwide have been defrauded.

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Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would, in turn, sell the GPB funds to their retail investors. According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, broker-dealer Great Point Capital LLC likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

If you lost money in GPB funds with Great Point Capital LLC, you may have a claim.

The SEC has charged GPB Capital, Ascendant Capital, and Ascendant Alternative Strategies with running a Ponzi-like scheme that raised roughly $1.8 billion from securities issued by GPB Capital. The SEC believes that as many as 17,000 retail investors nationwide have been defrauded.

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Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would, in turn, sell the GPB funds to their retail investors. According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, broker-dealer Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

If you lost money in GPB funds with Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC, you may have a claim.

The SEC has charged GPB Capital, Ascendant Capital, and Ascendant Alternative Strategies with running a Ponzi-like scheme that raised roughly $1.8 billion from securities issued by GPB Capital. The SEC believes that as many as 17,000 retail investors nationwide have been defrauded.

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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
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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.

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