Category Archives: Borrowing from Customer

Borrowing from Customer, First Western Securities, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct

Kerry Dean Wills- First Western Securities Broker- Suspended for Borrowing from Elderly Customer- Hurst, TX

February 2010-Hurst, TX

According to publicly available records of Kerry D. Wills (CRD#1353739) ,  a  stockbroker employed with First Western Securities, Inc.,  discloses a regulatory event resulting in a suspension and a civil fine.

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 January 2020, without admitting or denying the findings, Wills consented to sanctions and the entry of the findings that he borrowed $150,000 from a 90 year old customer in violation of his member firm’s procedures.  The findings stated that at the time of the loan, the customer maintained accounts at the firm and that Wills was the broker of record assigned to the customer’s account.   The loan was memorialized with a promissory note that provided for a ten year term and a two percent interest rate.   Wills never disclosed the loan to his firm or otherwise sought an exemption for the  firm’s procedures prohibiting the acceptance of a loan from a firm customer.  Wills made one annual payment on the loan, but the customer never cashed the check.  The customer passed away six months later, leaving a trust document that provided for forgiveness of the loan.  The findings also stated that Wills accepted a gift of approximately $19,500 in luxury travel from the customer.   Wills did not disclose the travel gifts on the firm’s gifts and gratuities logs, despite the requirement that he do so in the violation of the firm’s procedures.   The sanctions ordered were a six month suspension from FINRA ending October 17, 2020 and a $10,000 fine.

Wills has been employed by First Western Securities, Inc. since November of 2009.  Prior to that time he was with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.  and Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc.

If you have questions about an account handled by  Kerry Dean Wills call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.

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.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870

Borrowing from Customer, Elder Financial Abuse, Fraud, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft

Ft. Lauderdale Man Charged with Defrauding Retiree of Retirement Savings

November 2019- Ft. Lauderdale, FL

According to a recent press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Michael Jerome Atkins, 60, was arraigned on mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges on November 21, 2019.

The indictment alleges that Atkins defrauded a retiree out of her retirement savings of more than $400,000 by promising her that if she loaned him her savings he would use it for his business, All Points Aviation and Associates, and repay her in two months.

According to the allegations Atkins used the funds for his personal benefit and dd not repay the victim.

An indictment is a charging instrument containing accusations.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, beyond a reasonable double, in a court of law.

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.

International Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870

Borrowing from Customer, Broker borrowing Money from customer, Cambridge Investment Research, Failure to Supervise, FINRA, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, IFS Securities, Selling Away, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft

Anselmo Contreras, Jr.-Former Cambridge Investment Financial Advisor-Barred From Securities Industry-Angleton, Texas

May 2019 – Angleton, Texas

According to publicly available records, former Cambridge Investment Research  financial advisor Anselmo Contreras, Jr.  discloses a recent regulatory event resulting in his bar from the securities industry and a termination from employment.

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 4/2019 FINRA permanently barred Contreras from the securities industry to resolve allegations that he misused and converted customer funds. According to FINRA Contreras induced a customer to give him a $10,000 check to invest in a real estate venture which Contreras deposited in his personal account. In addition, FINRA alleges that Contreras borrowed $30,000 from customers of Cambridge Investments without the knowledge or approval of his firm.

Contreras was employed by Cambridge Investment Research from 9/2013 until 1/2018 when he was permitted to resign for failure to report a private securities transaction and settling a customer complaint. Contreras was registered with IFS Securities from 1/2018-4/2019.

If you have losses in an account handled by Anselmo Contreras, Jr. you may be able to recover damages through FINRA arbitration.

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.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870

Borrowing from Customer, Broker borrowing Money from customer, D.H. Hill Securities, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Sun Trust Investment Services

Phillip Johnson- Former SunTrust Investments Services Broker- Discloses 4 Regulatory Events, 2 Customer Disputes and a Termination- Kingwood, TX

April  2019 – Kingwood, TX

According to publicly available records  Phillip Andrew Johnson (CRD# 501352) ,  a  former stockbroker who was last  employed by D.H. Hills Securities,  disclose 4 regulatory events, 2 prior customer disputes and a termination.

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 9/2018 Johnson was permanently barred from the securities industry by FINRA for failing to respond to a FINRA request for information in connection with an investigation into an alleged loan of over $500,000 Johnson made from a customer of SunTrust Investment Services.  According to FINRA Johnson made an inaccurate statement on the firm compliance questionnaire related to borrowing from a firm customer.

Johnson had previously been sanctioned for borrowing from a firm customer without the approval of his firm in 2015.

In 5/2017, a customer of Suntrust Investment Services, Inc., was paid a settlement of $525,000 to resolve allegations that Johnson induced her to liquidate a $540,000 annuity and invest in real estate with him and to make him a personal loan.

Johnson was employed with Suntrust Investment Services, Inc. from February 2003 until May 2015 when he was allowed to resign after the firm learned that Johnson had borrowed from a customer.

Johnson was  employed with D.H. Hill Securities from April 2016 until December 2017.

If you have losses in an account handled by Phillip Andrew Johnson, contact us for a no charge consultation to learn how you may be entitled to recover damages through FINRA arbitration.

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.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870

Alternative Investments, Borrowing from Customer, Elder Financial Abuse, Energy Securities, Failure to Supervise, FInancial Exploitation of the Elderly, H. Beck Inc, Limited Partnerships, Oil & Gas Investment, Oil and Gas Partnerships, Oil related investments, Private Placements, Reg D Offerings(private placements), Stockbroker Malpractice, Unsuitable Investments

George Oldoerp Investigation-Former H. Beck Broker-Corona, CA

December 2017-San Antonio, Texas – Corona, California

We are investigating former H. Beck , Inc. stockbroker George J. Oldoerp in connection with a FINRA arbitration which we have filed on behalf of an elderly retired couple from San Antonio, Texas.

Our clients, who are seeking damages of $500,000,  allege that Oldoerp made unsuitable recommendations to them in various alternative investments including:

  • Cypress Income Fund VII
  • Cypress Income Fund 9
  • Cypress Income Fund III
  • Cypress Equipment Fund X
  • Atlas Energy
  • FS Investments
  • CNL Lifestyle Property Trust
  • Northstar Real Estate Income Trust
  • Cole Credit Property Trust II
  • Cole Credit Property Trust III

Our clients also allege that Oldoerp asked them to make a personal loan to him. Brokerage firms and industry rules generally prohibit borrowing from customers.

According to FINRA records, George J. Oldoerp  was employed by H. Beck, Inc. from 1/2002-12/2016 .

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.

 

If you have information you feel would be helpful to our investigation, please contact us. If you have questions about an account handled  by George J. Oldoerp, call for a no charge consultation.

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.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870