Securities Lawyers Blog

FINRA Bars Broker Clifford Morgan In Connection With the Sale of Over Promissory Note Sales

December 5, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The securities lawyers of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating Clifford Morgan (Morgan) bar from the securities industry. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently brought an enforcement action (FINRA No. 2011025610501) against Morgan alleging that between November 2011 and December 2014, while he was associated with brokerage firm Uhlmann Price, Securities, LLC (Uhlmann Price) Morgan participated in private securities transactions – also referred to as “selling away” in the industry – without providing notice to his firm. FINRA also found that in engaging in the private securities transactions Morgan made material misrepresentations to customers and also participated in numerous outside business activities without providing the required notice to the firm.

Clifford Morgan entered the securities industry in January 2004. Between January 2007 and December 2014, Morgan was associated with Uhlmann Price. On December 5, 2014, Uhlmann Price filed a Form U5 reporting that Morgan had been “permitted to resign” with the explanation that the ”registered representative participated in private securities transactions in conflict with firm policies.”

It is unclear from the regulatory filings what companies were invested in but from publicly available information, Morgan’s brokercheck disclosures reveal several outside business activities including US College Planning, W&C Business Management, Strategis Wealth Consulting, and Strategis Wealth Advisory Group.

FINRA Sanctions David Khezri Over Unauthorized Trading

December 4, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) brought an enforcement action (FINRA No. 2015044589701) against broker David Khezri (Khezri) resulting in a monetary sanction and suspension. In addition, according to the BrokerCheck records kept by FINRA, Khezri has been the subject of at least 1 customer complaint. The customer complaints against Khezri alleges excessive trading among other claims.

FINRA’s findings stated that Khezri consented to sanctions that he improperly exercised discretion by effecting around 100 trades for six customers without obtaining written authorization from the customers. The firm also did not accept the accounts as discretionary. FINRA alleged that Khezri exercised discretion by executing trades days after his customers provided him oral authority. However, FINRA found that Khezri’s firm did not permit discretionary trading except for registered investment advisors (RIA) trading in the accounts of their advisory clients and Khezri was not an RIA.

Advisors are not allowed to engage in unauthorized trading. Such trading occurs when a broker sells securities without the prior authority from the investor. All brokers are under an obligation to first discuss trades with the investor before executing them under NYSE Rule 408(a) and FINRA Rules 2510(b). These rules explicitly prohibit brokers from making discretionary trades in a customers’ non-discretionary accounts. The SEC has also found that unauthorized trading to be fraudulent nature because no disclosure could be more important to an investor than to be made aware that a trade will take place.

Oil and Gas Bankruptcy List Expands Along with Investor Losses

December 4, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The investment attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP continue to report on investor losses in oil and gas related investments. Our firm is investigating potential securities claims against brokerage firms over sales practices related to the recommendations of oil & gas and commodities products such as exchange traded notes (ETNs), structured notes, private placements, master limited partnerships (MLPs), leveraged ETFs, mutual funds, and individual stocks. See Oil and Gas Investments – What Remedies Do Investors Have?; Overconcentrated in Oil and Gas Investments?; Oil and Gas Investments – Issuers Profit While Investors Take All the Risk; Atlas Energy Oil and Gas Investments: A Risky Proposition Part I; Gana Weinstein LLP Investigates Investor Losses Tied to Oil and Commodities Linked ETNs; Gana Weinstein LLP Investigates Investor Losses In Oil-Linked Structured Notes

According to a recent news article tracking oil and gas bankruptcies the pain in the industry is expected to continue. Nearly two dozen oil and gas companies have gone bankrupt in the past year including RAAM Global Energy Co., Endeavour International Corp. (ENDRQ), Quicksilver Resources Inc. (KWKAQ), Sabine Oil & Gas Corp. (SOGCQ), Hercules Offshore Inc. (HEROQ), Cal Dive International Inc. (CDVIQ), Dune Energy Inc. (DUNRQ), BPZ Resources Inc. (BPZRQ), ERG Intermediate Holdings LLC, American Eagle Energy Corp. (AMZGQ), Saratoga Resources Inc. (SARAQ), Milagro Oil & Gas Inc., and Miller Energy Resources Inc. (MILLQ). Canadian companies that entered bankruptcy include Verity Energy Ltd., Gasfrac Energy Services Inc., Southern Pacific Resource Corp., Laricina Energy Ltd., and Shoreline Energy Corp.

Not only have oil and gas companies gone bankrupt but companies that provide services to oil and gas companies have also been effected including A&B Valve and Piping Systems LLC, CCNG Energy Partners LP, and Boomerang Tube LLC.

Broker Spotlight: Wells Fargo Advisor Evan Wuhl

December 3, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The securities and investment attorneys of Gana Weinstein LLP are interested in speaking with clients of Evan Wuhl (Wuhl). According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Wuhl has been the subject of at least 15 customer complaints and 1 employment termination. The customer complaints against Wuhl allege securities law violations that claim unsuitable investments among other claims. Many of the more recent claims appear to involve allegations of unsuitable leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds (Non-Traditional ETFs) and mutual funds.

In December 2011, Wuhl voluntarily resigned from UBS Financial Services Inc. (UBS) under circumstances where it was alleged that Wuhl worked client orders inconsistent with firm policy and industry rules concerning two clients’ use of credit lines to purchase securities.

The most recent customer complaint was filed in September 2012 alleging that Wuhl inappropriately recommended multiple shares of an inverse-leveraged ETF and then liquidated the trades without authorization from July 2008 through January 2010 resulting in damages of $277,180. The case was resolved for $220,000.

FINRA Bars Broker Jeffrey Snyder Over Failure to Respond to Regulator Requests

December 3, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) brought and enforcement action (FINRA No. 2015045289901) against broker Jeffrey Snyder (Snyder) resulting a permanent bar from the securities industry. In addition, according to the BrokerCheck records kept by FINRA, Snyder has been the subject of at least 6 customer complaints, and 1 regulatory event. The customer complaints against Snyder allege a number of securities law violations including that the broker made unsuitable investments, engaged in churning (excessive trading), misrepresentations, negligence, fraud, and unauthorized trading other claims.

FINRA’s findings stated that although Snyder appeared for an on-the-record interview, he refused to respond to certain questions concerning allegations that he paid a customer compensation for investment losses without the knowledge or authorization of his member firm. Snyder’s refusal resulted in an automatic bar.

An examination of Snyder’s employment history reveals that Snyder moves from troubled firm to troubled firm. The pattern of brokers moving in this way is sometimes called “cockroaching” within the industry. See More Than 5,000 Stockbrokers From Expelled Firms Still Selling Securities, The Wall Street Journal, (Oct. 4, 2013). In Snyder’s 12 year career he has worked at 6 different firms. Snyder entered the securities industry in 2003. From February 2006, through June 2008, Snyder was associated with New Castle Financial Services LLC. Thereafter from June 2008 until August 2008, Snyder was a registered representative of The Concord Equity Group, LLC. From August 2008, until April 2012, Snyder was registered with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC. From April 2012 until April 2015, Snyder was associated with Rockwell Global Capital LLC. Finally, in March 2015, Snyder was registered with Network 1 Financial Securities Inc. until September 2015 out of the firm’s Danbury, Connecticut office location.

Advisor John McKinstry Jr. Discharged After Customer Complaints

December 1, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The securities and investment attorneys of Gana Weinstein LLP are interested in speaking with clients of John McKinstry Jr. (McKinstry). According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) McKinstry has been the subject of at least 5 customer complaints, 2 regulatory actions, and two employment terminations. The customer complaints against McKinstry allege securities law violations that claim unsuitable investments and churning among other claims.

The most recent complaint was filed in July 2015, and alleged $11,400 in damages due to claims that the broker made unsuitable investments and recommendations considering the age and risk tolerance of the client. Also in July 2015, another customer filed a complaint alleging that McKinstry made unsuitable investment recommendations causing alleged damages of $216,000.

In addition, in August 2015, McKinstry’s brokerage firm Moloney Securities Co., Inc. (Moloney Securities) terminated McKinstry concerning allegations that the firm had conducted an internal review concerning customer complaints and a FINRA exam.

Advisor Investigation: Morgan Stanley Broker Kirk Gill

December 1, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The securities and investment attorneys of Gana Weinstein LLP are interested in speaking with clients of Kirk Gill (Gill). According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Gill has been the subject of at least 7 customer complaints. The customer complaints against Gill allege securities law violations that claim unsuitable investments, misrepresentations, unauthorized investments, and breach of fiduciary duty among other claims.

The most recent complaint was filed in July 2015, and alleged $300,000 in damages due to claims that the broker, from 2007 to November 2014 made unsuitable investments and recommendations to the client. In April 2015, another customer filed a complaint alleging that Gill, from October 2011, until November 2014, made unsuitable investment recommendations causing alleged damages of $450,000. Gill denied the claims made by this investor and seeks an expungement of this case from his record. In December 2013, a customer filed a complaint against Gill alleging that the client was not properly advised concerning high risk and volatile stocks causing losses of $100,000.

Gill entered the securities industry in 1992. From July 2007 onward Gill has been associated with Morgan Stanley out of the firm’s Tucson, Arizona branch office location.

Broker Investigation: SagePoint Financial’s Scott Aabel

November 30, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The investment attorneys of Gana Weinstein LLP are interested in speaking with clients of Scott Aabel (Aabel). According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Aabel has been the subject of at least 10 customer complaints, one regulatory event, three judgment or liens, and three financial disclosures. The customer complaints against Aabel allege securities law violations that claim unsuitable investments and misrepresentations among other claims involving mostly variable annuity products.

In June 2009, a customer filed a complaint alleging $71,873 in damages stemming from a loss of a living benefit rider for an annuity contract. In September 2007, a customer complained that the performance and fees for a variable annuity were misrepresented to the customer leading to losses of $13,595.

Also in April 2012, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation Division of Securities filed an administrative complaint against Aabel alleging violations of the state’s code and imposed a fine of $70,000.

Broker Investigation: Madison Avenue Securities’ Noel Vincent

November 30, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The investment attorneys of Gana Weinstein LLP are interested in speaking with clients of Noel Vincent (Vincent). According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Vincent has been the subject of at least 9 customer complaints, one regulatory event, and three judgment or liens. The customer complaints against Vincent allege securities law violations that claim unsuitable investments, misrepresentations, and fraud among other claims.

The most recent complaint was filed in August 2015, and alleged $50,000 in damages due to claims pertaining to investments purchased from 2005 through 2007 that were unsuitable based on the client’s risk tolerance, investment objectives, investment knowledge, time horizon, and liquidity needs.

In March 2015, a customer filed a complaint alleging an unsuitable series of investments between 2006 through 2009 resulting in damages of $413,000. In another case filed in October 2013, the client alleged unsuitable investments were made in 2007 resulting in $190,000 in damages. The case settled for $26,331. Also in April 2013, another customer complained that Vincent sold unregistered securities and committed fraud causing $638,000 in damages.

Financial Advisor Investigation: Ameriprise Financial Services’ Advisor Detlef Schoeppler

November 29, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The investment attorneys of Gana Weinstein LLP are interested in speaking with clients of Detlef Schoeppler (Schoeppler). According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Schoeppler has been the subject of at least 10 customer complaints, one criminal matter, and three judgments or liens. The customer complaints against Schoeppler allege securities law violations that claim unsuitable investments in various investment products including REITs, variable annuities, and mutual funds. The most recent complaint was filed in August 2012, and alleged $77,569 in damages due to claims that the broker recommended a variable annuity purchase in June 2011 that was misrepresented to the customer. In addition, the customer alleged that the fees were not fully disclosed and that there were trades made without the client’s authorization.

In addition, in July 2014, two tax liens were imposed on Schoeppler. One lien is for $184,519 and the other is for $182,691. A broker with large liens are an important consideration for investors to consider when dealing with a financial advisor. An advisor may be conflicted to offer high commission investments to customers in order to satisfy liens and debts that may not be in the client’s best interests.

Schoeppler entered the securities industry in 1996. Since June 1996, Schoeppler has been associated with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. out of the firm’s Tampa, Florida branch office location.