Tag Archives: theft by stockbroker

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

Merrill Lynch, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft, Unauthorized Trading

Christopher L. Hibbard-Former Merrill Lynch Broker-Subject of Customer Theft Allegation-Louisville, KY

February 2018-Louisville, KY

Christopher Lee Hibbard  was recently discharged from Merrill Lynch where he had been employed since 7/2010.   His  FINRA record  discloses that in December 2017 a Merrill Lynch customer alleged  unauthorized trades and theft from their account. In January 2018, Merrill Lynch discharged Hibbard and made the following allegation on his FINRA record: “Conduct including unauthorized transactions and theft.” 

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 handled by Christopher L. Hibbard and have questions about the way it was handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney 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

Elder Financial Abuse, FInancial Exploitation of the Elderly, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft, Wells Fargo

Jeffrey Palish-Former Wells Fargo Broker-Charged with Theft-Woodcliff Lake, NJ and Delray Beach,FL

February 2018-Woodcliff Lake, NY & Delray Beach, FL

According to The Ridgewood Blog and other local press, Jeffrey Palish, DOB 2/23/1953 of 22 Oakwood Drive, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey was arrested and charged with Theft by Deception.

According to these reports, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information that Palish had failed to make payments on a $100,000 loan that he had received from two elderly clients of the financial institution where he was employed. Further investigation revealed that he had received over $600,000 from the clients during the prior four years. Funds were obtained through conversion of the client’s stock holdings.

Further investigation revealed that Palish initiated approximately forty unauthorized wire transfers from the clients’ bank account to make payments to his personal credit card account. The acting Bergen County prosecutor Dennis Calo stated that the charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

FINRA records indicate that Jeffrey Howard Palish was employed by Wells Fargo Clearing Services from 8/2010-11/2017. He was discharged by Wells Fargo who made the following allegation on his FINRA record: “Registered associate received funds from client.”

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 have questions about how your account was handled by Jeffrey Palish , 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

Failure to Supervise, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Merrill Lynch, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft, Wells Fargo

Marcus Parker-Former Wells Fargo Broker-Barred From Securities Industry-Santa Fe, N. Mexico

February 2018-Santa Fe, New Mexico

According to publicly available records Marcus Duane Parker  ,  a  former stockbroker who last worked for Wells Fargo Clearing Services discloses that he was recently permanently barred from the securities industry by FINRA for failing to appear for an interview and questioning about misappropriations from client accounts.

According to FINRA records Parker acknowledged receiving the FINRA requests and indicated that he will not produce the documents and information requested.

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.

Parker was employed by Wells Fargo  from 9/2008-12/2017. Prior to that he was employed by Merrill Lynch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

If you have losses in an  investment account handled by Marcus D. Parker , 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

Department of Justice, FINRA, Next Financial Group, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft

Former NEXT Financial Group Broker Heidi Wivolin Pleads Guilty to Wire/Tax Fraud-Ft. Lauderdale, FL

MARCH 2018 UPDATE– Shawn O’Sullivan a former registered broker who once shared office space with Heidi Wivolin in the former NEXT Financial Group offices that were located in Manalapan, FL, recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy  to commit mail fraud. He will be sentenced in the coming months.

February 2018-Ft. Lauderdale , Florida

Former NEXT Financial Group broker Heidi Wivolin has agreed to plead  guilty to an Information filed by US Attorney’s Office to the following:

  • One count of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud
  • One count of Willfully Filing a False Income Tax Return for 2010, and
  • One count of Tax Evasion for 2011

In the Factual Agreement entered into with the government, Wivolin agrees that had the case proceeded to trial the government would have proven certain facts, beyond a reasonable doubt, including:

  • Wivolin marketed securities and investment services to Finnish clients
  • Between July 2008 through January 2014 Wivolin and co-defendant Shawn O’Sullivan devised a scheme to defraud a customer by purporting to sell a bond and promising a 7% rate of return
  • Wivolin never invested any of the money in a bond or other investment vehicle
  • Wivolin and  O’Sullivan took the customer’s money and used it for their personal and business expenses
  • Wivolin continued to perpetuate the illusion that the customer’s money had been invested by verbal assurances and by sending false and fraudulent statements.

Statutory maximum sentences are 20 years for mail fraud, 3 years for filing a false tax return and up to five years for tax evasion. Sentencing is set for May 2, 2018.

Wivolin has agreed to pay restitution to a person referred to as “M.W.” in court pleadings in the amount of $190,280.51 and restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $140,069. Wivolin also agrees to make restitution to a person referred to as “P.M.” in the plea agreement in the amount of $2,567,585 for wire fraud against P.M. in year 2012 and 2013. USA vs Heidi Wivolin, Case 9:18-cr-80023-WPD, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida.

Wivolin was a stockbroker registered with NEXT Financial Group from 2009-2014.

Pasi Martin, et al vs. NEXT Financial Group–    As we have previously reported, Dickenson Murphy Rex & Sloan and co-counsel Mrachek, Fitzgerald, Rose, Konopka, Thomas & Weiss represent a group of Finnish individuals and companies who allege that millions were stolen from them by Wivolin while she was employed at the NEXT Financial Group office that was previously located in Manalapan, FL.

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