Category Archives: Theft

Failure to Supervise, Forgery, Misrepresentation, Outside Business Activities, Parkland Securities (Sammons), Ponzi Schemes, Selling Away, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Theft, Unsuitable Investments

Keith Ashley-Parkland Securities Broker/ Allen Brewery Owner-Charged with Murder of Client-Carrollton, TX

November 2020- Dallas, TX 

ASHLEY ACCUSED OF MURDERING CLIENT AND STAGING COVERUP TO LOOK LIKE SUICIDE

According to  Fox4 KDFW news, Nine Band Brewing owner and former Parkland Securities financial advisor Keith Ashley has been charged with staging the murder of a client to look like suicide in order to gain control of the client’s finances.

The murder of 62 year old Jim Seegan happened in Carrollton in February. His wife discovered him upon returning home with a gunshot to his head and a typed suicide note.

According to the arrest affidavit, things did not look right from the outset.  The gun was in Seegan’s left hand, however he is right handed and was not a gun owner.  During the investigation over the past 9 months, detectives found evidence that Ashley had drugged Seegan and then murdered him in order to gain control over his money.

Investigators report that Ashley was captured by a doorbell camera entering and leaving Seegan’s house on the day of his death. In addition the camera recorded a unknown loud noise while Ashley was in the house. Forensics have determined the noise was gunfire.

In addition to owning the brewery in Allen, Ashley owns North Texas Money Management. He is also a registered nurse with access to and training on how to use the drug located in Seegan’s system.

According to investigators Seegan had several million in life insurance coverage and 3 weeks before the murder the beneficiary was changed from Seegan’s wife to Ashley.

Investigators believe Ashley was operating a Ponzi Scheme and that there are more victims.

According to his FINRA record  Keith Todd Ashley has been a stockbroker employed with Parkland Securities in Allen, TX, since 2002. He was discharged by Parkland Securities  in 10/2020 when they discovered he was engaged in undisclosed and unapproved outside business activities.

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 had an account with Keith Ashley that suffered losses, or if you are a victim of his Ponzi Scheme,  you may be entitled to collect damages from his prior employer. Call for a no charge consultation 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

American Portfolio Financial Services, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Theft, Unregistered Securities

Mark Hopkins- Former American Portfolios Financial Broker-Barred from Securities Industry- Discloses Regulatory Events & Customer Disputes -Grand Blanc, MI

November 2020- Grand Blanc, MI

According to publicly available records, former American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) ,  financial advisor Mark Lewton Hopkins,  has been barred from the securities industry by FINRA. He discloses 2 regulatory events, a pending civil case,  2 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 January of 2020,  the State of Michigan filed case #240324 alleging that in connection with the offer or sale of securities, Hopkins omitted a material fact necessary to make other statements made not misleading.      Sanctions were a fine of $2,500.

In May of 2019  in FINRA case 2018060968101 Hopkins was  permanently barred from the securities industry to resolve allegations that he refused to provide documents and information requested by FINRA in connection with its investigation relating to the issues disclosed in his regulatory reporting.  As a result,  Hopkins was permanently barred from FINRA in all capacities.

In July of 2020, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Federal Court in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan filed case #20cv11980 against Hopkins alleging that he misappropriated at least $1.15 million from at least five customers of the brokerage firm with which he was associated.    Hopkins represented that he would invest their funds in an investment program at a local credit union, when in actuality no such program existed.    Rather than investing the customer funds, Hopkins deposited them into an account he controlled at the credit union and misappropriated them.

In July of 2019 an American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. customer alleged that Hopkins solicited $500,000 purportedly for an investment away from APFS  and utilized the funds for his own purposes.    That  case was resolved for $175,000.

In March of 2019, an APFS customer alleged that Hopkins solicited funds for an investment away from the brokerage dealer at a credit union.  Hopkins presented an altered bank check as evidence of his ability to repay.   The alleged damages are $400,000 and the case is still pending.

In December of 2018, APFS permitted Hopkins to resign after allegations that he accepted customer funds for an investment that was not on the books of the firm and without obtaining pre-approval.

Hopkins  was employed by American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. from June of 2009 until December of 2018.   Before that time he was employed with LPL Financial Corporation.

If you have losses in an account handled by Mark Hopkins, call to learn how 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

Commonwealth Financial Network, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Fraud, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Theft, Unsuitable Investments

Benjamin Bourgeois, Jr.-Former Commonwealth Financial Broker-Discloses Customer Disputes and a Termination-Metairie, LA

November 2020- Metairie, LA

According to publicly available records, former Commonwealth Financial Network,  financial advisor Benjamin Bourgeois, Jr.   is barred from FINRA and discloses 3 prior customer disputes, a pending customer dispute 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 May of 2019  in FINRA case 2019062162101  Bourgeois was  permanently barred from the securities industry to resolve allegations that he failed to produce documents and information requested by FINRA during the course of an investigation into allegations reported on his Form U5 that he, among other things, borrowed money from a customer, converted customer funds and committed fraud.

In August of 2019 a customer of  LPL Financial and Commonwealth Financial Network , alleged that over several years beginning as early as March 2014 Bourgeois induced her to write personal checks purportedly to make investments but which he instead deposited into his personal bank account for his own use and that he potentially recommended unsuitable investments.    The case settled for $15,000.

In April 2019 a customer of Commonwealth Financial Network alleged conversion of customer funds made by personal check purportedly for investment purposes; employing devices, schemes or artifices to defraud; making untrue statements of material facts; fraud.       Customer is seeking $519,500 in damages.     The case is still pending.

In April of 2019 Bourgeois was discharged from Commonwealth Financial Network following allegations of borrowing money from a customer in violation of FINRA Rule 3240 and Firm Policy.

Bourgeois  was employed by Commonwealth Financial Network from May of 2015 until his termination.   Before that time he was registered with LPL Financial and Sterne Agee Asset Management.  

If you have losses in an account handled by Benjamin Bourgeois, Jr., call to learn how 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

Cambridge Investment Research, Failure to Supervise, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Fraud, Misrepresentation, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Theft

Lynn Cawthorne-Cambridge Investment Research Broker- Charged With Wire Fraud-Shreveport, LA

October 2020- Shreveport, LA

Shreveport Times photo of Lynn Cawthorne

According to publicly available records, Lynn Dale Cawthorne, a former broker who last worked for Cambridge Investment Research  has been charged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a felony. Link to US Atty Office press release. 

FINRA suspended Cawthorne’s license to sell securities in 1/2020. In 8/2020 FINRA filed a complaint alleging that Cawthorne failed to comply with requests for information in connection with an investigation into his failure to disclose multiple felony charges.  In addition to the wire fraud charges it is alleged that Cawthorne misappropriated $536,000 from a government program that provided meals to children in low income areas.

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 Cawthorne was discharged by Cambridge Investment Research where he had been employed since 4/2013. Cawthorne discloses affiliations with Advocare, Goodwill Industries, Christian Services and Cawthorne Financial Group, all located in Shreveport.

If you have losses in an account handled by Lynn Cawthorne, call to learn how 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