Category Archives: Finra Investigation of Stockbroker

Failure to Cooperate with Regulatory Investigation, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, First Allied Securities, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Voya (formerly ING)

Masood (Mike) Azad-Former First Allied Broker-Sanctioned by Securities Regulator-League City, TX

April 2018 -League City, TX

According to FINRA records, Masood (Mike) Husain Azad,  a   former stockbroker who was last employed by First Allied Securities, disclose  a prior regulatory event 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 November 2017, FINRA permanently barred Azad from the securities industry to resolve allegations that Azad failed to provide documents and information in connection with a FINRA investigation related to Azad’s alleged participation in an unapproved securities transaction. FINRA Case #2017054623301. 

 

Masood Azad was employed by First Allied Securities from 1/2015-6/2017, when he was discharged. First Allied makes the following allegation in connection with the discharge:“RR violated firm policy relating to borrowing money from clients, engaging in an unapproved private securities transaction and outside business activity”. Azad was employed by Voya Financial from 8/2004-1/2015. Azad discloses business affiliations with Consolidated Working Group, Robertson Wealth Management and American Retirement Solutions.

If you have questions about an account handled by Mike Azad , contact us for a no charge consultation to discuss your options.

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

Churning, Discretionary Trading, Failure to Supervise, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, FIrst Financial Equity, Merrill Lynch, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unsuitable Investments

Joseph I. Yanofsky-Former Merrill Broker-Subject of $2.2M Customer Dispute-Greenwood, CO

April 2018-Greenwood Village, Colorado

According to FINRA records, former Merrill Lynch broker Joseph I. Yanofsky , discloses a recent regulatory suspension, a pending customer dispute, a termination from employment and 8 prior customer disputes that are final.

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 September 2017 Yanofsky was fined $10,000 and suspended for 20 business days to resolve FINRA allegations that he exercised discretion in nine customer accounts while at Merrill Lynch.

Yanofsky was registered with Merrill Lynch from 2/1990-5/2015, when he was discharged. In connection with his discharge  , Merrill made the following allegations:

“allegations relating to exercising discretion in non-discretionary accounts, providing inaccurate responses to related internal compliance questionnaires, directing an employee to enter trades utilizing another employee’s user identification and password and failing to report a customer complaint on a timely basis”

In a pending matter, a customer of Merrill Lynch alleges that Yanofsky failed to follow instructions, made unauthorized trades, excessively traded the account and made unsuitable investment recommendations from 2/2013-4/2015. Damages are alleged to be $2,268,095.

In a prior FINRA Case 15-2143, a Merrill Lynch customer alleged unsuitable recommendations and misrepresentations from 2012 to 2015 and sought damages of $400,000. That matter was settled in 7/2016 for $75,000.

Joseph Yanofsky is currently registered with First Financial Equity Corp. in Greenwood, CO.

If you have losses in an account handled by Joseph I. Yanofsky   you may be able to recover damages through FINRA arbitration. Call for a no charge consultation to discuss your options.

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

Broker Discloses Criminal Event, Discretionary Trading, Elder Financial Abuse, Failure to Supervise, FInancial Exploitation of the Elderly, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Metlife Securities, Misrepresentation, Newbridge Securities Corp., Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft, Unauthorized Trading, Wells Fargo

Brian Berger-Former Newbridge Securities Broker-Sentenced for Fraud-Boca Raton, FL

April 2018-Boca Raton, FL

The FINRA records of former stockbroker Brian M. Berger disclose a pending regulatory matter and two prior regulatory matters, a criminal conviction, 4 customer disputes and a termination from employment.

In 7/2015 Berger  entered into a Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent (AWC) with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to resolve allegations that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that he had misappropriated funds from elderly customers while registered with Wells Fargo Advisors and MetLife Securities.As a result, Berger   was  barred from the securities industry.

There is an SEC administrative proceeding pending in connection with the misappropriation of funds.

In 2/2017, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami, Berger pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to 18 months and ordered to pay restitution of $372,643.

Over $300,000 has been paid in settlements to former customers of Berger.

According to FINRA records, Berger was registered with Wells Fargo Advisors in Boca Raton from 7.2010-7/2014 and with MetLife Securities from 7/2014-4/2015. After that he was briefly registered with Newbridge Securities from 4/2015-6/2015.

If you have questions about an account handled by Brian Berger, call for a no charge consultation to discuss your options.

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

Buckman Buckman and Reid, Discretionary Trading, Failure to Cooperate with Regulatory Investigation, Failure to Supervise, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unsuitable Investments

Buckman Buckman Reid Broker Ron Ison Barred From Securities Industry

April 2018- Little Silver, New Jersey

Ron Jason Ison , a former stockbroker who last was employed by Buckman, Buckman & Reid, was permanently barred from the securities industry by FINRA for failing to appear at FINRA hearings investigating potential unauthorized and unsuitable trading.

Ison testified before the FINRA investigators on March 15, 2018, for part of the day, then requested an adjournment. FINRA granted the adjournment and set a continuation of the hearing later in the month. Ison’s attorney advised that he would no longer participate in the proceeding resulting in FINRA’s bar from the industry.

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.

Ron Ison’s FINRA record discloses 6 prior customer disputes.

Ison had been employed by Buckman, Buckman & Reid since 1/2010.

If you have questions about an account handled by Ron J. Ison ,  contact us for a no charge consultation to discuss your options.

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

Energy Securities, FINRA, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Lack of Due Diligence, Misrepresentation, Oil & Gas Investment, Oil and Gas Partnerships, Oil related investments, Private Placements, Reef Securities Inc., Reg D Offerings(private placements), Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments

How to Recover Losses on Reef Oil and Gas Fund Investments

April 2018-Richardson, TX

Reef Securities Inc. and its owner and president Frank Mauceli were sanctioned by FINRA on April 11, 2018, for failing to timely notify investors in an Oil and Gas Drilling and Income Fund L.P. , sold in 2014, of revisions to an offering prospectus and of the investors’ rights to rescind his or her investment.

In addition Reef was sanctioned for advertising violations in another Reef offering. According to the FINRA sanction the subject advertising communications:

“failed to provide a balanced presentation or a sound basis for evaluating the investments being promoted, contained misleading and unwarranted claims, and, in addition, made prohibited profit projections.”

FINRA noted the following as being inconsistent and unwarranted statements in the subject advertising materials:

  • a 3 year profit range of 45%-75% in one communication vs a 35-45% range in another communication
  • a divest period of 24-36 months in one communication vs. 3-5 years in another communication
  • prohibited investor performance projections such as “Total Anticipated Profit 45%-75%”

Reef Securities was censured and fined $40,000. Mauceli was fined $5,000 and suspended 4 months from association from any FINRA member firm in all principal capacities. FINRA AWC2015043469001

Reef Oil and Gas, an affiliate of Reef Securities, engages in the developing, exploiting and producing oil and natural gas.

A partial list of recent Reef oil and gas offerings we have been investigating:

  • Reef 2015 Oil & Gas Opportunity Fund
  • Reef 2015 Income Fund
  • Reef Bakken Bear Cat Drilling Fund
  • Reef 2012-A Private Drilling Fund
  • Reef 2011 Private Drilling Fund
  • Reef 2010 Drilling Fund
  • Reef 2009 Drilling Fund
  • Reef 2007-2009 Drilling Program
  • Reef Oil & Gas Drilling & Income Fund
  • Reef Oil & Gas Income & Development Fund III
  • Reef Oil & Gas Income & Development Fund IV

Reef Oil and Gas investments were sold by many brokerage firms, including Reef Securities. These investments can be unsuitable for certain individuals, including the elderly and retired. If you have losses on an investment in one of the Reef Oil and Gas offerings, call for a no charge consultation to discuss your options.

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