The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Thomas Hampton (Hampton) has been accused by investors of engaging in fraudulent misappropriation of their funds. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it appears that Hampton was employed by MML Investors Services, LLC at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Hampton’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.
FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $100,000.00 on December 07, 2022.
Beginning in or around 2016, the Claimant alleges that the rep convinced the Claimant to entrust him with his investment funds and then took advantage of him as part of a plan involving financial planning, investment, and other services akin to selling away, which has harmed him financially.
We specialize in representing victims of fraud when financial advisors take loans from clients or facilitate securities transactions through OBAs. The practice of selling unapproved investments, promoting fraudulent schemes to hide misused funds, and engaging in other deceptive acts is known in the industry as “selling away,” a major infraction of securities laws. The industry defines “selling away” as a practice where a financial advisor offers investments in securities, companies, or promissory notes that have not been authorized by their brokerage firm. Some of these investments may appear legitimate, but they often lead to Ponzi schemes or advisors engaging in fund misappropriation.
However, federal securities laws and the FINRA rules require firms to monitor and supervise its employees in order to detect and prevent brokers from offering investments in this fashion. Firms are required to have protocols in place to oversee their brokers by tracking each advisor’s activities and public interactions. Selling away misconduct often occurs where brokerage firms either fail to put in place a reasonable supervisory system or fail to actually implement that system. Supervisory failures allow brokers to engage in unsupervised misconduct that can include all manner improper conduct including selling away.
In cases of selling away the investor is unaware that the advisor’s investments are improper. In many of these cases the investor will not learn that the broker’s activities were wrongful until after the investment scheme is publicized, the broker is fired or charged by law enforcement, or stops returning client calls altogether.
Hampton entered the securities industry in 1987. Hampton has been registered as a Broker with MML Investors Services, LLC since 2017.
Investors who have suffered losses are encouraged to contact us at (800) 810-4262 for consultation. At Gana Weinstein LLP, our attorneys are experienced representing investors who have suffered securities losses due to the mishandling of their accounts. Claims may be brought in securities arbitration before FINRA. Our consultations are free of charge and the firm is only compensated if you recover.