Securities Arbitration Lawyer Blog

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.

SEC Awards $22 Million to Two Whistleblowers Whose Information Resulted in Successful SEC Enforcement Actions Against A Financial Services Firm

Published on: May 10, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On May 10, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced an award of approximately $22 million to two whistleblowers whose information and assistance aided the SEC that resulted in successful SEC enforcement actions brought against a financial services firm.

The first whistleblower, who was the initial source of the investigation, received an award of $18 million. The second whistleblower, who submitted information much later after the investigation was already underway, received an award of $4 million. Both whistleblowers assisted the SEC’s staff to better understand complex transactions related to the matters under investigation.

“This case demonstrates once again the value of the whistleblower program in helping to protect investors, and the Commission’s continued commitment to rewarding individuals who provide high-quality tips,” said Emily Pasquinelli, Acting Chief of the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower.

Retail Investors Fight Back Against Robinhood for Its January 28, 2021, Trading Restrictions on “Meme Stocks,” Such as GameStop, AMC, Koss Corporation, and Express, Inc.

Published on: May 10, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On Thursday, January 28, 2021, Robinhood designated specific stocks “position closing only,” meaning that customers could not purchase additional shares in those stocks. The targeted stocks included GameStop (NYSE: GME), AMC (NYSE: AMC), Blackberry (NYSE: BB), Nokia (NYSE: NOK), Koss Corporation (NYSE: KOSS), and Express, Inc. (NYSE: EXPR).

Robinhood was joined by other online brokers, including TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab & Co, Inc, Interactive Brokers, LLC, Webull Financial, LLC, E*Trade Securities LLC, who all implemented trading restrictions on targeted securities. These online brokerage firms, including Robinhood, intentionally deprived their customers, without notice, of the ability to use their service in order to slow the growth of the targeted “meme stock” securities.

As the trading restrictions were put into place by the online brokerage firms, including Robinhood, retail investors watched helplessly as the value of their positions plummeted with no potential to remediate the positions given the wrongful sale pressure initiated by Robinhood and others.

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates AEON Capital Inc. Over GPB Funds

Published on: May 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

AEON Capital Inc. is a broker-dealer headquartered in Middletown, New Jersey. According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, the firm likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

AEON Capital Inc. is a firm subject to FINRA Rule 3170. The Rule is referred to as the “Taping Rule,” which requires certain firms to install taping systems to record all telephone conversations between their registered persons and existing and potential customers, review those recordings and file reports with FINRA. The Rule is designed to prevent fraudulent and improper practices in the sale or marketing of financial products. The Rule applies to firms with a significant number of registered persons that previously worked for firms that have been expelled from the industry or have had their registrations revoked for inappropriate sales practices.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. GPB Capital sold unregistered, high commission limited partnership interests in eight alternative-asset investment funds. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would in turn sell the GPB funds to their retail investors.

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Pariter Securities, LLC Over GPB Funds

Published on: May 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Pariter Securities, LLC is a broker-dealer based in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. In September 2019, the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of the Government of Puerto Rico (“OCFI”) found that the firm failed to put into place a supervisory system that was reasonably designed to achieve compliance with suitability rules and regulations regarding alternative investments transactions.

According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, Pariter Securities, LLC likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors. GPB Capital sold unregistered, high commission limited partnership interests in eight alternative-asset investment funds. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would in turn sell the GPB funds to their retail investors.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme.

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Cabot Lodge Securities LLC Over GPB Funds

Published on: May 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Cabot Lodge Securities LLC is a midsize independent broker-dealer headquartered in New York, NY. According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, the firm likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

Cabot Lodge Securities LLC is under common control with Purshe Kaplan through holding company PKS Holdings, LLC. Read more about our firm’s investigation into Purshe Kaplan.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. GPB Capital sold unregistered, high commission limited partnership interests in eight alternative-asset investment funds. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would in turn sell the GPB funds to their retail investors.

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Calton & Associates, Inc. Over GPB Funds

Published on: May 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Calton & Associates, Inc. is a Florida-based broker-dealer. According to publicly available records, the firm is facing a $500,000 customer complaint from an investor who suffered losses in his account. The investor’s account held positions in the GPB funds.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. GPB Capital sold unregistered, high commission limited partnership interests in eight alternative-asset investment funds. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would in turn sell the GPB funds to their retail investors. Public records filed with the SEC show that Calton & Associates, Inc. likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

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

Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Capital Investment Group, Inc. Over GPB Funds

Published on: May 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Capital Investment Group, Inc. is a broker-dealer headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. According to publicly available records filed with the SEC, the firm likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. GPB Capital sold unregistered, high commission limited partnership interests in eight alternative-asset investment funds. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would in turn sell the GPB funds to their retail investors.

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

Dempsey Lord Smith Broker Raymond Sun Facing $1.2 Million Customer Claim

Published on: May 4, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

A FINRA customer complaint involving Dempsey Lord Smith broker Raymond Sun alleges elder financial abuse as defined by the Welfare and Institutions Code under California law. The claim seeks $1.2 million in damages, including $900,000 in punitive damages. The claim, which was filed on August 28, 2020, is related to Sun’s previous association with Sandlapper Securities, LLC.

FINRA expelled Sandlapper Securities, LLC from the securities industry in June 2020.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is currently investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims of the GPB funds scheme. GPB Capital sold unregistered and high commission limited partnership interests in eight alternative-asset investment funds. 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, both Sandlapper Securities, LLC, and Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC likely received sales compensation for selling the GPB funds to retail investors.

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