Selling Away

Broker Francisco Cabral in Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

April 19, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Francisco Cabral (Cabral) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that Cabral was employed by Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Cabral’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $450,000.00 on August 27, 2024.

Unsuitability, misrepresentation/omission in connection with Energy 12 and Mutual Funds and forgery in connection with Energy 12. The allegations do include misappropriation, forgery, theft or conversion of funds or securities.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Stephen Polak in Firm Avantax Investment Services, Inc.

April 10, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Stephen Polak (Polak) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that Polak was employed by Avantax Investment Services, Inc. at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Polak’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on July 31, 2024.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Polak consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he failed to provide prior written notice to his member firm of his role as an officer and director of an OBA. The findings stated that Polak served as a board member of a corporation that grew and sold hemp related products. Polak had signatory authority over the corporation’s bank accounts, and primary responsibility for its accounting and bookkeeping, including maintaining the corporation’s ledger of transactions for its unregistered offering, and receiving payments from shareholders. Polak received annual compliance trainings about regulatory requirements relating to OBAs and affirmed in annual compliance certifications that he understood his obligation to comply with regulatory requirements and his firm’s WSPs, including those about outside business activities. Polak’s firm learned about his OBA with the corporation from his state Department of Financial Regulation and questioned him about it. Polak orally acknowledged the activity but did not provide written notice to his firm until almost a year later. The findings also stated that Polak participated in private securities transactions without disclosing or seeking his firm’s written approval to participate as required by its WSPs. The corporation issued 3.25 million shares of its unregistered common stock to Polak to compensate him for his work as an Officer and Director of the corporation.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Mario Martinez in Firm Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

March 31, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Mario Martinez (Martinez) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that Martinez was employed by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Martinez’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on December 18, 2024.

Customer alleges misappropriation by the Registered Representative. Customer also alleges that she made a loan to the Registered Representative.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Rajesh Markan in Firm Hilltop Securities Inc.

March 27, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Rajesh Markan (Markan) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that Markan was employed by Hilltop Securities Inc. at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Markan’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $500,000.00 on February 18, 2025.

Clients allege that they were solicited by their Financial Advisor to invest in an outside investment that was fraudulent. They also allege misappropriation of funds.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Glenn Ngo in Firm Park Avenue Securities LLC

March 25, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Glenn Ngo (Ngo) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that Ngo was employed by Park Avenue Securities LLC at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Ngo’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on March 04, 2025.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Ngo consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to produce information and documents requested by FINRA in connection with its investigation into whether he had participated in a potential private securities transaction away from his member firm.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Randall Larson in Firm Great Point Capital LLC

March 20, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Randall Larson (Larson) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that Larson was employed by Great Point Capital LLC at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Larson’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on September 12, 2024.

This Wells Notice received from the SEC is in relation to investments from 2018-19. All matters related to this are currently pending. This proposed action would allege direct violations of Sections 15(a)(1) and 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder; aiding and abetting violations of Section 17(a)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rule 17a-4 thereunder; direct and aiding and abetting violations of Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”), and aiding and abetting violations of Section 204 of the Advisers Act and Rule 204-2 thereunder; and direct violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”).

Broker Maria Leon in Pnc Investments Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 18, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Maria Leon (Leon) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that Leon was employed by Pnc Investments at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Leon’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on September 20, 2024.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Leon consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that she refused to provide information and documents or to appear for on-the-record testimony requested by FINRA in connection with its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Form U5 filed by her member firm. The findings stated that the firm submitted the Form U5 disclosing that it had discharged Leon during an investigation into misappropriation of customer funds.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Christian De berardinis in Firm Morgan Stanley

March 18, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Christian De berardinis (De berardinis) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that De berardinis was employed by Morgan Stanley at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of De berardinis’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on September 19, 2024.

Without admitting or denying the findings, De Berardinis consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he participated in private offerings of securities that raised $2.45 million from customers of his member firm without providing prior written notice to or receiving approval from his firm. The findings stated that De Berardinis introduced the firm customers to the CEO of a dairy company and recommended that they invest in the company. De Berardinis also facilitated the customers’ investments by providing them with information about the investment. In some cases, De Berardinis assisted customers with paperwork and, at his customers’ requests, transferred funds from the customers’ firm accounts to the company to fund their investments. De Berardinis received $22,500 from the company in referral fees. De Berardinis also falsely responded to questions about whether he had participated in private securities transactions on annual firm compliance questionnaires.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Brian Davis in Firm Principal Securities, Inc.

March 14, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Brian Davis (Davis) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that Davis was employed by Principal Securities, Inc. at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Davis’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $75,000.00 on October 07, 2024.

The Plaintiffs allege Breach of Contract, Unjust Enrichment, Actual and Constructive Fraud, and ConstructiveTrust when the defendants breached the terms of the promissory notes by failing and/or refusing to pay thePlaintiffs the loan proceeds when due.

Broker Ryan Davis in Principal Securities, Inc. Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 14, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Ryan Davis (Davis) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that Davis was employed by Principal Securities, Inc. at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Davis’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $75,000.00 on October 07, 2024.

The Plaintiffs allege Breach of Contract, Unjust Enrichment, Actual and Constructive Fraud, and Constructive Trust when the defendants breached the terms of the promissory notes by failing and/or refusing to pay the Plaintiffs the loan proceeds when due.