Category Archives: Unregistered Securities

Broker Discloses Criminal Event, Comprehensive Asset Management & Servicing, Department of Justice, Failure to Supervise, FINRA, Fortune Financial Services, Fraud, Selling Away, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Theft, Unregistered Securities

Michael Giokas-Former Fortune Financial Services-Broker-Pleads Guilty to Fraud-Williamsville, NY

September 2019- Williamsville, NY

According to publicly available records  Michael Giokas (CRD# 1398674) ,  a  former stockbroker who was last  employed by Fortune Financial Services, Inc.,  disclose  2 prior regulatory events, a felony fraud criminal charge , 3 pending and 7 prior customer disputes 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.  

According to a Department of Justice news release, in April 2018 Michael Giokas, 58, of Clarence, NY, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for defrauding numerous clients of hundreds of thousands of dollars. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the charges.

According to the release, between 5/2017-10/2017, he persuaded clients to withdraw money from their  accounts at Nationwide Mutual and invest in a company called Trinity Council, with a promise to earn 8-9% annually. Trinity Council was a shell company with no real business, set up to accomplish the fraud.

Settlements totaling several hundred thousands have been paid out to customers already. Pending customer claims exceed $1 million.

Giokas was employed with Fortune Financial Services, Inc. from 2/2013 until 10/2017.    Prior to that he was employed by Comprehensive Asset Management and Servicing, Inc., from March 2002 until February 2013.    Giokas discloses  business affiliations with Giokas Wealth Advisors and Giokas Financial Services in Williamsville, NY.

If you have losses in an account handled by Michael Giokas, 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

Energy Securities, Michigan Securities Regulator, Oil & Gas Investment, Oil & Gas Royalty Trusts, Oil and Gas Partnerships, Oil related investments, Stockbroker Malpractice, Texas State Securities Board, Unregistered Brokers, Unregistered Securities

Michael Patman Subject of TX Securities Regulators Investigation Over Woodland Resources-Fort Worth, TX

September 2019 -Fort Worth, Texas

The Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) announced that unregistered investment promoter Jeremy “JB” Yowell is cooperating with the Enforcement Division of the State Securities Board in its investigation of Woodland Resources LLC and its director Michael E. Patman.

According to the TSSB release, earlier this year Yowell promoted an investment offering by Woodland Resources, soliciting Texas residents to purchase working interests in oil wells in Seminole County, Oklahoma.

A TSSB emergency order alleges that Patman is violating the Texas Securities Act by failing to disclose that he previously headed two companies that went into bankruptcy and that he owed over $13 million to investors who successfully sued him for fraud.

Yowell was previously sanctioned by Michigan regulators for acting as an unregistered agent selling investments for a commission of up to 20% of the value of the securities sold.

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

High Pressure Sales, Misrepresentation, Precious Metals, Stockbroker Malpractice, Texas State Securities Board, Unregistered Securities

Texas Securities Regulators Require Metals.Com to Refund $10M

July 2019-Austin, Texas

The Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) issued a news release announcing that Metals.Com, has agreed to offer a full refund to some 84 Texas investors.

According to the release Metals.Com cold called Texas residents, mostly individuals age 65 to 90,  and told them that their money was not safe with conventional registered brokers in order to get them to move their funds into precious metals. The total amount to be refunded may exceed $10 million.

An 80 year old Dallas was convinced to move $850,000 of retirement assets from an IRA into precious metals sold by Metals.Com, according to the TSSB.

The order issued by TSSB requires Metals.Com to repay the full amount invested by the Texas victims.

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

Failure to Cooperate with Regulatory Investigation, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Raymond James, Selling Away, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unregistered Securities

Mark Tudor-Fired by Raymond James-Barred From Securities Industry-Lake Mary, FL

May 2019, Lake Mary, Florida

According to publicly available records Mark Andrew Tudor  ,  a  former stockbroker who last worked for Raymond James Financial  ,  disclose a recent regulatory event barring him from the securities industry, 3 prior customer disputes, and a discharge 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 March 2019 FINRA permanently barred Mark Tudor from the securities industry to resolve allegations that he failed to respond to a request for information in connection with a FINRA investigation.

In December 2018 a customer of Raymond James was paid $40,000 to resolve FINRA arbitration 18-03428 alleging that Tudor had recommended a private securities transaction without the approval or knowledge of the firm.

Tudor, who is owner of Tudor Wealth Management,  was employed by Raymond James from 2/2013 until 10/201 when he was discharged for introducing clients to investments away from the firm without approval and for not being helpful when interviewed by Raymond James counsel.

If you have losses in an account handled by Mark Tudor, call to discuss you 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