churning

Former Worden Capital Management LLC Principal, Henry Bones II, Suspended by FINRA – New York, NY

Published on: August 12, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended former Worden Capital Management LLC supervisor Henry Bones II. Mr. Bones consented to a two-month suspension from associating with any FINRA member in all principal capacities after FINRA alleged that he failed to reasonably supervise a former broker, Christopher Orlando, that excessively traded ten customer accounts.

Earlier this year, FINRA has barred Christopher Orlando from the securities industry for excessively trading his customers’ accounts. In December 2020, Worden Capital Management LLC was sanctioned more than $1.5 million by FINRA for, among other things, failing to establish, maintain and enforce a supervisory system, including written supervisory procedures, reasonably designed to achieve compliance with FINRA’s suitability rule as it pertains to excessive trading.

Mr. Bones, who was associated with Worden Capital Management LLC from November 2016 to December 2019, has a history of associations with firms that have been expelled by FINRA. He is currently registered with SW Financial in New York, NY.

StockCross Financial Services, Inc. (now Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc.) Sanctioned by FINRA for Failing to Properly Supervise Solicited Transactions for Excessive Trading

Published on: July 20, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

StockCross Financial Services, Inc. (“StockCross Financial”), which was acquired by Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc. (“Muriel Siebert”), consented to a censure and $250,000 fine in connection with FINRA’s findings that between July 2009 and December 2019, StockCross Financial had no reasonable surveillance system to review solicited transactions for excessive trading and suitability.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors nationwide that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as StockCross Financial Services, Inc.

If you have lost money with StockCross Financial Services, Inc., contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of your legal rights.

Another Aegis Capital Corp. Broker (Douglas Szempruch) Suspended for Excessive Trading and Unauthorized Trading

Published on: July 12, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: November 11, 2021** On November 8, 2021, Aegis Capital Corp agreed to pay nearly $2.7 million in sanctions for supervisory failures related to excessive and unsuitable trading by its brokers from July 2014 through December 2018. Click on the following link to read more: Aegis Capital Corp. Ordered to Pay Nearly $2.7 Million for Supervisory Failures Related to Rampant Excessive and Unsuitable Trading

Customers of Aegis Capital, including customers that have been notified that they may be receiving restitution, should consult with a securities arbitration law firm. If you or a loved one were a customer of Aegis Capital, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of your legal rights.

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Update: Former Aegis Capital Corp Broker, Kishan (Sean) Parikh, SUSPENDED by FINRA for Excessive Trading and Unauthorized Trading

Published on: July 9, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: November 11, 2021** On November 8, 2021, Aegis Capital Corp agreed to pay nearly $2.7 million in sanctions for supervisory failures related to excessive and unsuitable trading by its brokers from July 2014 through December 2018. Click on the following link to read more: Aegis Capital Corp. Ordered to Pay Nearly $2.7 Million for Supervisory Failures Related to Rampant Excessive and Unsuitable Trading

Customers of Aegis Capital, including customers that have been notified that they may be receiving restitution, should consult with a securities arbitration law firm. If you or a loved one were a customer of Aegis Capital, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of your legal rights.

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Former Worden Capital Management LLC Broker, Christopher Orlando, BARRED by FINRA for Excessively Trading 13 Accounts

Published on: July 1, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On July 1, 2021, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and broker Christopher Orlando entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2017056432603 after FINRA alleged that from October 2015 through December 2018, Mr. Orlando excessively traded 13 accounts of 12 customers in violation of Rules 2111 and Rule 2010. The alleged conduct occurred when Mr. Orlando was associated with Legend Securities (2015-2016) and Worden Capital Management LLC (2016-2019).

As part of the settlement terms with FINRA, Mr. Orlando consented to a bar from associating with any FINRA member brokerage firm in any capacity.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Christopher Orlando or Worden Capital Management LLC, or suspect that Mr. Orlando did not have your best interest in mind when recommending investments or making account transactions, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your legal rights.

Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. Broker Suspended by FINRA

Published on: June 30, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On June 29, 2021, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and a Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. stockbroker entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2020066888001 whereby the broker consented to a three-month suspension, $5,000 fine, and to pay $7,653.21 in restitution to a customer. The broker consented to the sanctions after FINRA alleged that between May 2018 and March 2019, the broker excessively and unsuitably traded a customer’s account in violation of FINRA Rules 2111 and 2010.

FINRA previously suspended the broker in 2019 after FINRA alleged that he exercised discretion in customers’ accounts without prior authorization from the customers and without seeking or obtaining approval from his firm.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C., or suspect that Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. did not have your best interest in mind when recommending investments or making account transactions, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your legal rights.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Marc Reda of Spartan Capital Securities

Published on: June 16, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Department of Enforcement has filed a disciplinary proceeding complaint against financial advisor Marc Reda. The complaint alleges that from January 2017 to December 2019, while associated with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC, Mr. Reda recommended to all of his customers an investment strategy – actively trading in anticipation of corporate announcements – that was unsuitable because he failed to consider that the substantial commissions and costs associated with his investment strategy made it unlikely that his customers could profit from it.

The recommended strategy and its high total costs allegedly harmed his customers. The complaint alleges that across 66 customer accounts in which Mr. Reda executed ten or more trades connected with his unsuitable investment strategy, Mr. Reda charged $952,764 in commissions and fees, while the customers lost $934,482.

If you or a loved one were a customer of broker Marc Augustus Reda or Spartan Capital Securities, LLC, contact securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your legal rights.

Former Worden Capital Management Broker, Salvatore Pizzimenti, Barred by FINRA – New York, New York

Published on: June 14, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Salvatore Pizzimenti from the securities industry. Mr. Pizzimenti was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation related to improper trading in customer accounts while associated with Worden Capital Management LLC in New York.

According to a 2017 investigation by Reuters, Worden Capital Management hired more brokers with a history of significant disclosures than all but twenty-three other firms in the country. In 2021, Iorio Altamirano LLP set out to update that analysis.

The investigation revealed that fifty-four percent (54%) of Worden Capital Management’s brokers and supervisors have significant “red flag” public disclosures. Significant red flag disclosures include:

Boiler Room Broker, James Flower, Barred by FINRA for Excessive Trading, Churning, Unauthorized Trading, Mismarking Orders, and Targeting Elderly Investors

Published on: June 3, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) Office of Hearing Officers has barred stockbroker James W. Flower from the securities industry for excessively trading in five customers’ accounts, executing 17 unauthorized trades, and mismarking 58 transactions. According to the findings, although he is based in New York, Mr. Flower generated business by cold calling people all over the country, focusing primarily on senior and elderly customers who are small business owners and retirees. Cold-calling customers is a common tactic for “boiler room” brokerage firms.

Mr. Flower was also ordered to pay restitution plus prejudgment interest to harmed customers. However, it is unclear whether he will be able to satisfy the judgment.

Mr. Flower was associated with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC since June 2019. Previously, he was associated with SW Financial from December 2015 to June 2019.

Broker Spotlight: Ross Barish of Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. – Mineola, NY

Published on: May 31, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Ross Barish is a stockbroker with Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. (“Joseph Stone Capital”) in Mineola, New York. Mr. Barish is currently under investigation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for defrauding sixteen retail customers by executing a high-cost, in-and-out pattern of trading that lost his customers over $800,000 while generating commissions and fees for him of more than $400,000.

The sixteen customers experienced total losses of $814,509.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Ross Barish or Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C., or suspect that Mr. Barish did not have your best interest in mind when recommending investments or making account transactions, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account or annuity contract.