investment advisor fraud lawyer Tag Archives

Stifel, Nicolaus Advisor Steven Rodemer Barred From Industry Over Misappropriation of Funds

May 27, 2020 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that advisor Steven Rodemer (Rodemer) has been accused by his former employer and a financial regulator of taking money from a client account for his personal use among other allegations. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Rodemer was terminated by his prior employer, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (Stifel, Nicolaus) concerning his theft and misappropriation of client funds. If you have been a victim of Rodemer’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

In December 2019 Stifel, Nicolaus terminated Rodemer after alleging that he took money from a client account for his personal use without authorization.

Thereafter, in March 2020, FINRA brought a regulatory action and fount that Rodemer consented to sanctions and findings that he refused to provide on-the-record testimony requested by FINRA during its investigation into the conduct disclosed in a Form U5 submitted by his member firm. FINRA determined that the firm submitted the Form U5 terminating Rodemer for taking money from a client account for his personal use without authorization.

Advisor Victor Agnihotri Under Investigation for Conversion of Funds

January 28, 2020 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that advisor Pratul Victor Agnihotri (Agnihotri) is under investigation for conversion of customer funds among other allegations. According to BrokerCheck records, Agnihotri is currently registered with The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm SW Financial. In addition, Agnihotri disclosed three customer complaints and one civil judgment. If you have been a victim of Agnihotri’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

In October 2019 FINRA initiated an investigation concerning Agnihotri conduct related to FINRA’s preliminary determination to recommend that disciplinary action be brought against Agnihotri for potential violations including conversion of investor funds, engaging in an outside business activity without providing prior written notice to his FINRA member employer firms.

In October 2019 a customer complained that Agnihotri violated the securities laws by alleging that Agnihotri engaged in sales practice violations related to unauthorized trading, selling away, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence. The claim alleges $650,000 in damages and is currently pending.

Our law firm has significant experience bringing cases on behalf of defrauded victims when their advisors engage in receiving loans from clients or selling securities sales through OBAs. The sale of unapproved investment products – is a practice known in the industry as “selling away” – a serious violation of the securities laws. In the industry the term selling away refers to when a financial advisor solicits investments in companies, promissory notes, or other securities that are not pre-approved by the broker’s affiliated firm. Sometimes those investments have some legitimacy but often times these types of investments can end up being Ponzi schemes or the advisor can be engaging in the conversion of funds.

Nicolas Barrios Barred From Financial Industry Over Investment Fraud Allegations

September 8, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating reports that advisor Nicolas Barrios (Barrios) engaged in undisclosed outside business activities (OBAs) that were not approved by his brokerage firm resulting in potential fraudulent investments. Barrios, formerly registered with UBS Financial Services Inc. (UBS) out of Winter Haven, Florida was barred from the financial industry according to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). In addition, Barrios disclosed at least four customer complaints and one employment termination for cause.

In April 2019 UBS terminated Barrios for cause alleging that he was discharged after stating during a firm review: (1) he arranged for client to invest away from firm in private company; (2) he personally invested in that company without firm approval; and (3) he used personal email to communicate with client’s family in an attempt to evade firm detection. UBS claims to have subsequently learned that at least seven of Barrios’ clients moved money from UBS accounts to outside bank accounts from which they wrote checks to an entity with which Barrios is affiliated

In June 2019 FINRA found that Barrios consented to the sanctions and findings that he failed to provide FINRA with requested documents and information in connection with FINRA’s investigation into allegations that Barrios mismanaged and committed fraud with respect to a customer’s account. Accordingly, Barrios was automatically barred from the securities industry.

At this time it is unclear what OBA Barrios engaged in that FINRA was investigating. Barrios’s public disclosures state that he was involved in a auto boat broker dealer business. It is unclear if these OBAs were the subject of FINRA’s investigation.

Alberto Sanchez Barred From the Securities Industry Over Undisclosed Activity

July 2, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that advisor Alberto Sanchez (Sanchez) engaged in undisclosed outside business activities (OBAs) that were not approved by his brokerage firm. Sanchez, formerly registered with SagePoint Financial, Inc. (SagePoint Financial) and MML Investors Services, LLC (MML Investors) out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida was barred from the financial industry according to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). In addition, Sanchez disclosed at least two customer complaints.

In June 2019 FINRA found that Sanchez consented to the sanctions and findings that he did not provide documents as requested by FINRA in connection with an investigation concerning his involvement in a potential undisclosed outside business activity. Accordingly, Sanchez was automatically barred from the securities industry.

At this time it is unclear what OBA Sanchez engaged in that FINRA was investigating and whether or not that activity also involved private securities transactions. Sanchez’s public disclosures state that he was involved in a number of OBAs including rental property business, an insurance business, Creative Financial Network, and Health Insurance. It is unclear if these OBAs were the subject of FINRA’s investigation.

Advisor Richard Bernstein Has Investor Complaints

May 24, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Richard Bernstein (Bernstein), currently employed by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (Wells Fargo) has been subject to at least eight customer complaints during the course of his career. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Bernstein’s customer complaints allege that Bernstein recommended unsuitable investments and securities among other allegations.

In February 2019 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Bernstein violated the securities laws by, among other things, that the client is seeking at least $53,000.00 in damage and claims that from February 2013 to July 2015 the advisor made unauthorized trades which conflicted with the client’s stated investment goals. The claim is currently pending

In January 2019 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Bernstein violated the securities laws by, among other things, that from 2015 through 2016 the advisor made unsuitable investments. The claim is currently pending.

Advisor Keith Kordich Subject to Customer Complaints Over Investment Practices

May 21, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Keith Kordich (Kordich), currently employed by Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (Ameriprise) has been subject to at least six customer complaints during the course of his career. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Kordich’s customer complaints allege that Kordich recommended unsuitable investments and securities among other allegations.

In February 2019 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Kordich violated the securities laws by, among other things, made unsuitable investments from 2012 through 2015. The claim alleges damages of $300,000 and is currently pending.

In April 2013 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Kordich violated the securities laws by, among other things, that from May 2011 through September 2012 the advisor traded excessively in the client’s accounts. The claim alleged $150,000 in damages and resulted in a settlement of $43,000.

Morgan Stanley Broker Barry Speyer Subject to Multiple Customer Investment Complaints

April 28, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Barry Speyer (Speyer), currently employed by Morgan Stanley has been subject to at least seven customer complaints and one regulatory action. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), most of Speyer’s customer complaints allege that Speyer made was negligent and made unsuitable investments.

In January 2019 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Speyer violated the securities laws including unsuitable investments from August 2014 until October 2018 causing damages. The claim is currently pending.

In August 2013 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Speyer violated the securities laws including that Speyer failed to follow the instructions of the client in or about December 2011. The claim was denied by the firm.

Centaurus Financial Broker Atul Makharia Has Several Suitability Complaints

February 6, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Atul Makharia (Makharia), currently employed by Centaurus Financial, Inc. (Centaurus Financial) has been subject to at least three customer complaints. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), most of Makharia’s customer complaints allege that Makharia made unsuitable recommendations in a variety of investments including debt securities.

In November 2018 a customer brought a complaint against Makharia alleging the broker violated the securities laws by recommending unsuitable investments and several other allegations associated therewith causing $200,000 in damages. The claim is currently pending.

In October 2018 a customer brought a complaint against Makharia alleging the broker violated the securities laws by recommending unsuitable investments causing $333,000 in damages. The claim is currently pending.

Former Morgan Stanley Advisor Michael Ralby Barred by Securities Regulator and Subject to Complaints

December 16, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records former financial advisor Michael Ralby (Ralby), formerly employed by Morgan Stanley has been subject to eight customer complaints and one regulatory matter in his career. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), many of the complaints against Ralby concern allegations of unsuitable investments.

In March 2018, Ralby entered into a consent agreement with FINRA where Ralby consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to appear for a FINRA on-the-record testimony for the regulator’s investigation into whether Ralby had accepted loans from a customer in violation of FINRA rules.

In July 2018, a customer filed a complaint alleging that Ralby engaged in unsuitable investments in structured products from March 2016 until August 2016. The client alleged $37,170 in damages and the case was resolved.