churning

FINRA Arbitration Award: Westpark Capital, Inc. Ordered to Pay Customers Nearly $800,000 for Actions of Former Broker, Lawrence Fawcett, Including Churning and Recommending Risky Private Placements

Published on: May 27, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

A FINRA Dispute Resolution Services arbitration panel in Richmond, Virginia, found Westpark Capital, Inc. to be liable for actions of its disgraced former broker, Lawrence Fawcett, and ordered the firm to pay nearly $800,000 to customers Charles and Karen Hailey. The award included over $545,000 in compensatory damages, $33,500 in costs, and $215,000 in attorneys’ fees. The arbitration panel found Westpark liable for failing to supervise Mr. Fawcett, who churned the Hailey’s accounts and made unsuitable investment recommendations. The unsuitable investment recommendations related to private placement investments in the following entities: Protagenic Therapeutics, Inc., Monster Digital, Inc., Miamar Labs, Inc.

The former stockbroker, Lawrence (Larry) Fawcett, was barred from the securities industry by FINRA in March 2018 for failing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into his outside business activities. FINRA subsequently revoked Mr. Fawcett’s securities license for failing to pay a fine and suspended him for failing to comply with an arbitration award. Mr. Fawcett, who had only been in the securities industry for five years, had an extensive history of customer complaints, regulatory sanctions, associations with disreputable brokerage firms, and an employment termination after allegations of wrongdoing.

If you have lost money with Lawrence Fawcett or Westpark Capital, Inc., contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Broker Spotlight: Robert Yasnis of Worden Capital Management LLC – New York, NY

Published on: May 26, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Robert Yasnis is a stockbroker with Worden Capital Management LLC (“Worden Capital Management”) in New York, New York. Mr. Yasnis has a history of customer disputes, regulatory actions, and association with disreputable brokerage firms that have been expelled by FINRA.

If you have lost money with broker Robert Yasnis or Worden Capital Management, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Worden Capital Management

Network 1 Financial Securities Inc. Broker Carl Antaki (Formerly of First Standard Financial Company LLC) Suspended by FINRA for Excessive and Unsuitable Trading

Published on: May 21, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Carl Antaki from the securities industry for three months. Mr. Antaki consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that he excessively and unsuitably traded a customer’s account. FINRA also fined Mr. Antaki $5,000 and ordered him to pay $22,865 in restitution to the customer.

The alleged conduct occurred while First Standard Financial Company LLC employed Mr. Antaki in Melville, New York. Since September 2019, Mr. Antaki has been registered with Network 1 Financial Securities Inc. in Syosset, New York.

As discussed more fully below, Mr. Frey has a long history of customer complaints, associations with disreputable firms, and at least one employment termination.

Bronx Broker, Matthew Siliato, Formerly of Wynston Hill Capital, LLC, Barred by FINRA

Published on: May 20, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Matthew Siliato from the securities industry. Mr. Siliato was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. FINRA’s investigation originated from an investigation into Mr. Siliato’s potentially excessive and unauthorized trading in a customer’s account while he was associated with Wynston Hill Capital, LLC in the Bronx, New York.

Mr. Siliato has a history of regulatory sanctions. In June 2019, FINRA suspended Mr. Siliato for failing to comply with an arbitration award. That suspension was lifted in June 2019 but reimposed in January 2020. In September 2019, FINRA suspended Siliato for failing to comply with a second arbitration award. Mr. Siliato has also been the subject of numerous customer complaints.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Matthew Siliato or Wynston Hill Capital, LLC, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account.

Investigative Report: Worden Capital Management LLC’s Owners, Executives, and Brokers Have Concerning Red Flag Disclosures

Published on: May 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

This post is part of a series of investigative blog posts that spotlight modern-day boiler rooms that operate under the guise of a reputable brokerage firm. Many of the broker-dealers featured in this series still use boiler room tactics such as cold-calling customers and high-pressure or aggressive sales tactics. Other brokerage firms have a propensity for broker misconduct, such as excessive trading, churning, unauthorized trades, and misrepresentation. Iorio Altamirano LLP is a securities arbitration law firm based in New York City. We represent investors nationwide who have suffered investment losses due to wrongful conduct by financial advisors and brokerage firms. We are investor advocates.

Other Investigative Blog Posts:

Arive Capital Markets, LLC

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.

Another Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. Broker in Trouble with Regulators: Financial Advisor David Martirosian BARRED by FINRA – New York

Published on: April 29, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker David Martirosian from the securities industry. Mr. Martirosian was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into potentially unsuitable and excessive trading and his potential participation in private securities transactions while associated with Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. (“Joseph Stone Capital”).

Mr. Martirosian, who had only 13 years of experience in the securities industry, had a history of associations disreputable broker-dealers, customer complaints, and tax liens.

Mr. Martirosian was employed by Joseph Stone Capital in New York from July 2016 until April 26, 2021

Former LPL Financial LLC Broker Elias Hakimian, Suspended by FINRA – Costa Mesa, California

Published on: April 21, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Elias Hakimian from the securities industry for three months. Mr. Hakimian consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that he borrowed $120,000 from a customer without notice to or obtaining written pre-approval from his employing brokerage firm, LPL Financial LLC, in violation of FINRA Rules 3240 and 2010. FINRA also fined Mr. Hakimian $5,000.

LPL Financial LLC allowed Mr. Hakimian to “voluntarily resign” after a customer alleged that he engaged in churning in the customer’s accounts and invested the customer’s funds in speculative ventures contrary to the customer’s objectives and risk tolerance, in addition to taking loans from the customer.

Excessive trading occurs when a financial advisor makes many trades in a customer’s account, not to benefit the customer but to generate commissions for the broker.

Former Financial Advisor Michael Dellaporta, Jr. BARRED From the Securities Industry by FINRA – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Published on: April 14, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Michael Dellaporta, Jr. from the securities industry. Mr. Dellaporta was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into an outside business activity.

Mr. Dellaporta, who was a broker for over forty years, most recently worked at B.B. Graham & Company, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from August 2018 to August 2019. Previously, he was affiliated with Fusion Analytics Securities LLC, from 2015 until 2018, and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc, from 2010 to 2015.

Since 2009, Mr. Dellaporta has been the subject of numerous customer disputes.

Broker Hebert Frey Suspended by FINRA After Excessively Trading and Placing Unauthorized Trades in The Account of a Disabled Client – Mount Vernon, Ohio

Published on: April 9, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Hebert Frey from the securities industry for sixteen months. Mr. Frey consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that he excessively traded a customer’s account and placed unauthorized trades. The customer was a 54-year-old disabled homemaker. FINRA also fined Mr. Frey $15,000 and ordered him to disgorge $76,137 in commissions.

The alleged conduct occurred while Mr. Frey was employed by Lincoln Douglas Investments, LLC in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and Union Capital Company in Tucson, Arizona.

As discussed more fully below, Mr. Frey has a long history of customer complaints, run-ins with regulators, and employment terminations. Throughout his career, Mr. Frey has been suspended six times by regulators, ordered to pay nearly $50,000 in fines, and been the subject of at least six customer complaints.