Category Archives: Theft

Alternative Investments, Failure to Supervise, Fraud, Private Placements, Reg D Offerings(private placements), Theft, UBS

John Maccoll Charged With Stealing Nearly $4 Million from UBS Customers-Birmingham, MI

August 2018-Birmingham, Michigan

The FINRA records of  John C. Maccoll,  a  stock broker who was last employed by UBS Financial Services ,  disclose that he was recently discharged by UBS after failing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation alleging that he misappropriated money from a client.

According to a complaint filed in Federal court by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) , Maccoll defrauded at least 15 of his brokerage clients out of $4 million. Maccoll used high pressure tactics to convince his customers to invest, by telling them there was only a short window of opportunity.

According to the SEC complaint about $400,000 was used by Maccoll to make Ponzi-like payments to some of the customers to keep the scheme alive. The balance was used for Maccoll’s personal benefit.

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.

Maccoll’s FINRA record discloses 11 prior customer disputes that were resolved by cash payments. Some of these prior cases were for unsuitable investments, including annuities and private placements.

There are two pending customer arbitrations by UBS customers seeking damages in excess of $1 million related to annuities and private placements.

Maccoll was employed by UBS Financial from 1/2006-3/2018.

If you have losses in an account handled by John C. Maccoll call for a no charge consultation to discuss your options for recovery of damages.

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

StockBroker Misconduct, Theft

Gabriel Claudio Sentenced to 25 Years For Defrauding Victims From Alice, TX

August 2018-Corpus Christi, TX

The Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) announced that Gabriel Claudio, Jr. was sentenced in the 79th District Court of Jim Wells County to 25 years  to state prison and ordered to pay restitution of $2.7 million to investors.

Claudio had pleaded guilty to first-degree felony offenses of theft, money laundering, and misapplication of fiduciary property. His victims were from the South Texas counties of Jim Wells, Nueces, San Patricio, Cameron and Bexar.

As set forth in the Petition and Notice for Seizure, Claudio spent money of his victims on Las Vegas gambling ($300,000); child support payments ($193,000); private school tuition ($156,000); home expenses ($169,211); jewelry ($151,646) and cash withdrawals of $656,394. He also used victims’ funds to pay off the mortgage on a house in Portland, TX, and for the purchase of several Mercedes Benz automobiles.

His victims, who are from Alice, TX, believed the $2.7 million they entrusted to Claudio was being invested in annuities. In reality Claudio did  not make any payments to the insurance  company and presented them with phony spreadsheets purporting to reflect the purchase of the annuities.

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

Department of Justice, Failure to Supervise, FINRA, Securities America, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft

Hector May-Former Securities America Broker-Investigation Over Missing Client Funds-New City, NY

May 2018-New City, New York

Local press is reporting that Rockland/Orange County businessman and former Securities America stockbroker Hector May is being investigated by federal prosecutors on allegations of stealing money from his clients. May has operated Executive Compensation Planners in New City, NY since the mid 1980’s.

According to  FINRA records   May currently has one customer claim pending that alleges misappropriation of funds and there is a disclosure that the U.S. Department of Justice is conducting an official criminal investigation of May’s potential involvement in a suspected felony.

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.

May is a prominent member of the local business community and received the Rockland Business Association’s Pinnacle Award two years ago. Press reports suggest that the missing millions could be the result of a Ponzi scheme.

In a Ponzi scheme the perpetrator of the fraud uses some of the money from the new victims, who think the funds are being invested, to pay fake returns to the earlier investors. The balance of the new funds are used by the perpetrator of the fraud for personal expenses.

Hector May was a registered representative of Securities America from 8/1998 until March 2018 when he was fired. Securities America indicated the reason for the discharge was: “Misappropriation of client assets”.

If you have an account with Hector May and have questions about how it has been handled or believe you are a victim of fraud,  call for a no charge consultation with an experienced securities attorney to learn how you may be able to recover damages from May’s employer, Securities America.

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

LPL Financial, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft

Sonya Camarco-Former LPL Financial Broker-Charged With Securities Fraud/Theft-Colorado Springs, CO

May 2018-Colorado Springs, CO

The FINRA records of  Sonya D. Camarco ,   a   former LPL FInancial broker was recently permanently barred from the securities industry by FINRA for failing to respond to a FINRA Notice of Suspension.

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.

Camarco has been charged with 25 counts of securities fraud and theft in a criminal proceeding pending in Douglas County, Colorado. According to the regulator statement on her FINRA disclosure report she withdrew funds from client accounts at LPL Financial  using third party check requests that were payable to C Investments and mailed to a post office box in Parker, Colorado. The checks were retrieved by Camarco who used the funds for her personal benefit.

There are several currently pending customer arbitrations on behalf of Carmarco’s victims.

Sonya Camarco was employed by LPL Financial from 2/2004 until 8/2017 when the theft was discovered and she was discharged.

If you have losses in an account  handled by Sonya Camarco, contact us for a no charge consultation to learn how you can recover damages.

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, at no cost to you.

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

Alluvion Securities, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft

John S. Jumper-Former Alluvion Securities Broker-Indicted for Embezzlement-Memphis, TN

April 2018-Memphis, TN

John Sherman Jumper, 52, of Memphis, Tennessee was indicted by a federal grand jury for embezzling $5.7 million from a pension plan for the employees of Snowshoe Refractories, a company that makes fire bricks, located in Clarence County, PA.

According to the press release from the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Sherman forged signatures on documents permitting him to transfer funds from the pension plan. He used the embezzled funds to make unauthorized loans and to purchase a tubing plant in Arkansas, pay off over a million in personal loans and personal legal fees.

FINRA records disclose that John Sherman Jumper was registered with Alluvion Securities 9/20007-2/2017. Alluvion Securities is no longer registered with FINRA effective 2/22/2018.

An indictment is only an allegation and persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. The maximum penalty for this offense is 65 years, followed by supervised release and a fine.

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