June 2020- Norwalk, CT
According to publicly available records, former LPL Financial financial advisor James T. Booth, has been barred from the securities industry by FINRA. He discloses 3 regulatory events, a pending criminal charge, a pending civil event, 21 settled and 15 pending 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.
In 2019 FINRA (FINRA case 2019062787101) and United States Securities and Exchange Commission (case #3-19596) permanently barred Booth from the securities industry to resolve allegations that he converted funds, totaling at least approximately $1,000,000 that multiple customers of his gave him to invest on their behalf, he however, deposited the funds into an account he controlled and used them for his own personal use.
In February 2020 the State of Connecticut filed case #CDFR-20-8535 alleging that Booth had violated the anti-fraud provisions of the Connecticut Uniform Securities Act and engaged in dishonest or unethical practices. More specifically, Booth allegedly used investor funds for his personal expenses and that he fabricated client account statements to reflect investments that were, in fact, never made. Booth allegedly misappropriated approximately $5 million in investor funds.
In September 2019 formal charges were brought against Booth in Federal Court in the U.S. District for the Southern District of New York of 1 felony count of securities fraud, one felony count of investment advisor fraud and one felony count of wire fraud. Booth pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud. The criminal case is still pending.
In September 2019 the United States Securities and Exchange commission filed civil charges in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut alleging that Booth conducted a multi- year scheme that defrauded approximately 40 investors of nearly $4 million. Many of Booth’s clients and customers were unsophisticated investors, including seniors who utilized Booth’s services for their retirement savings. In furtherance of the scheme, Booth fabricated elaborate account statements, which were provided to the investors. The fabricated account statements reflected various ownership positions, transactions and earnings, all to create the false appearance that the investors’ money had been invested as promised; some statements even included fictitious securities and values. When investors requested withdrawals, Booth routinely used assets fraudulently acquired from other investors to cover those withdrawals. Relief sought in this case are civil and administrative penalties and fines, disgorgement, injunction and monetary penalties and other fines. This case is pending.
In 2019, 10 of Booth’s customers of LPL Financial and Invest Financial Corporation settled customer disputes in the collective amount of over $2,266,000.
From July 2019 until December 2019 there were 22 customer disputes filed alleging among other things that Booth misappropriated funds by depositing customers funds into an account for an entity which he controlled, that Booth converted their funds to support a Ponzi scheme using multiple shell companies and misconduct. Many of these cases are all still pending.
Booth was employed by LPL Financial from February 2018 until June 2019 when he was discharged. Before that Booth was employed with Invest Financial Corporation and with Cadaret, Grant & Co..
If you have losses in an account handled by James Booth 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.
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