According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Pasquale “Pat” Vitucci (Vitucci) has been the subject of at least 19 customer complaints over the course of his career. Customers have filed complaints against Vitucci alleging that the broker made unsuitable investments primarily in variable annuity…
Articles Posted in Fraud
Gana LLP Broker Spotlight: Wade Lawrence
According to the records kept by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Wade Lawrence (Lawrence) has been suspended following the broker’s failure to comply with an arbitration award or settlement and by failing to comply with the regulator’s request for information concerning compliance. In addition, FINRA permanently barred Lawrence…
Broker Spotlight: Shawn Burns of Salomon Whitney
The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating a string of customer complaints against broker Shawn Burns (Burns) currently registered Salomon Whitney LLC (Salomon). According to The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) BrokerCheck system, the customer complaints primarily allege unauthorized trading, failure to execute, suitability, misrepresentation, fraud, churning, and…
UBS Preparing to Face Investor Claims Over Puerto Rico Bond Funds
According to UBS’ second quarter earnings report, the bank is now looking at over $600 million in claims brought by Puerto Rico investors, who have suffered significant losses related to their investments in closed-end bond funds. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has been inundated with a plethora of claims…
IRS Brings Charges Against Barred Broker William Bucci
Back in Decmeber 2013, the law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP reported that “Former Ryan Beck and Oppenheimer Financial Advisor William Bucci Barred From the Financial Industry” where we reported that The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) barred Bucci for allegedly accepting 19 personal loans totaling $635,000 from nine customers…
Ronald Anglin Investigated by the SEC Over Charges of Securities Fraud
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) instituted administrative proceedings against broker Ronald Gene Anglin (Anglin), formerly of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. (Merrill Lynch), on allegations that Anglin engaged in securities fraud by forging letters of authorization from a Merrill Lynch customer to be sent by mail to…
Former Merrill Lynch Broker David Zeng Barred From the Financial Industry
David G. Zeng (Zeng) was recently barred from the financial industry by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) over allegations that the broker failed to respond to the regulator’s inquiries concerning at least a dozen customer disputes initiated against the broker. The customer complaints against Zeng include claims of misrepresentations,…
FINRA Arbitration Panel Awards BBVA Securities’ Investors $1.2 Million
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitration Panel has awarded damages to investors in the amount of $1.2 million in compensatory damages and cost of fees associated with the arbitration. The alleged claim was asserted against BBVA Securities of Puerto Rico, Inc. (BBVA Securities) and employees of the brokerage firm. BBVA Securities is…
FINRA Bars Broker Over Allegations of Churning (Excessive Trading) and Unauthorized Trading in Customer Accounts
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred Chad David Kelly (Kelly) concerning allegations of churning (excessive trading) and unauthorized trading. “Churning” is excessive investment trading activity that serves little useful purpose or is inconsistent with the investor’s objectives and is conducted solely to generate commissions for the broker. Churning…
Robert Gist Fined $5.4 Million by the SEC and Barred From the Financial Industry
Robert Gist (Gist) was recently fined $5.4 million by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and barred from association with any broker-dealer by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Gist has been accused by both regulators of converting the funds of at least 30 customers in order to pay personal…