March 2019- Grand Rapids, MI
The FINRA records of David Carl Ferwerda , a former stock broker who is not currently registered and who was last employed by Signator Investors , disclose a regulatory bar from the securities industry , a customer dispute and a termination from employment related to his alleged involvement in the sales the allegedly fraudulent Woodbridge Mortgage Investment Funds.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the agency that licenses and regulates stockbrokers and brokerage firms. FINRA requires brokers and brokerage firms to report customer complaints and disputes as well as regulatory sanctions. In addition brokers are required to disclose certain financial matters such as personal bankruptcies, judgments and liens.
In October 2018 FINRA permanently barred Ferwerda from the securities industry for his failure to provide FINRA with requested documents and information in connection with an investigation of Ferwerda’s participation in sales of notes related to the Woodbridge Group of Companies and 1 Global Capital LLC.
Ferwerda was employed by Signator Investors from 9/2012-3/2018 when he was discharged by Signator Investors for his involvement in the sale of unapproved outside investments in violation of firm policy. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is currently investigating this matter.
Woodbridge-A $1.2 billion Ponzi According to SEC
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced charges and an asset freeze against a group of unregistered funds and their owner who allegedly bilked thousands of retail investors, many of them seniors, in a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme.
According to the SEC’s complaint, unsealed in federal court in Miami, Florida, Robert H. Shapiro and a group of unregistered investment companies called the Woodbridge Group of Companies LLC, formerly headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, defrauded more than 8,400 investors in unregistered Woodbridge funds.
“We allege that through aggressive tactics, Woodbridge and Shapiro swindled seniors into a business model built on lies, which the SEC’s Miami Regional Office staff moved to halt,” said Stephanie Avakian, Co-Director of the SEC’s Enforcement Division.
“Our complaint alleges that Woodbridge’s business model was a sham,” said Steven Peikin, Co-Director of the SEC’s Enforcement Division. “The only way Woodbridge was able to pay investors their dividends and interest payments was through the constant infusion of new investor money.”
“Our complaint further alleges that Shapiro used a web of layered companies to conceal his ownership interest in the purported third-party borrowers,” said Eric I. Bustillo, Director of the SEC’s Miami Regional Office. “Shapiro used the scheme to line his pockets with millions of investor dollars.”
If you have losses in an account handled by David Ferwerda on investments in Woodbridge or other unsuitable investments , call for a no charge consultation to learn about your options for recovery of damages from Signator Investors.
Rex Securities Law , with offices in Boca Raton, FL, and Austin, TX, provides representation to investors nationwide who are seeking recovery of investment losses due to the negligence or fraud of stockbrokers and broker dealers. If you have questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.
Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.
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