Selling Away

Broker Richard Carlesco in Cambridge Investment Research, INC. / IBN Financial Services, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

February 6, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Richard Carlesco (Carlesco) 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 Carlesco was employed by Cambridge Investment Research, INC. / IBN Financial Services, INC. at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Carlesco’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $96,000.00 on December 08, 2025.

Claimant, who has been a registered representative for decades, allegedly purchased a convertible note in November 2019 after a discussion with another registered representative. Claimant alleges that the other RR was selling away from his firm and that he was not an accredited investor for purposes of the investment.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Frank Mastrosimone in Firm LPL Enterprise, LLC

January 29, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Frank Mastrosimone (Mastrosimone) 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 Mastrosimone was employed by LPL Enterprise, LLC at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Mastrosimone’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 August 04, 2021.

It is alleged that private investment fund was inappropriate for client.

Broker Brent Greninger in Buckman, Buckman & Reid, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 24, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Brent Greninger (Greninger) 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 Greninger was employed by Buckman, Buckman & Reid, INC. at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Greninger’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 $500,000.00 on September 20, 2021.

Claimants allege that FA recommended an unsuitable and unapproved outside private investment and also improperly recommended that Claimants fund the investment using margin.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Mark Young in Firm LPL Financial LLC

January 22, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Mark Young (Young) 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 Young was employed by LPL Financial LLC at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Young’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 $4,179,859.03 on September 29, 2021.

Misrepresentation and unsuitability alleged with regard to a private investment fund…dates 2015 to 2017

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Michael Barranco in Firm LPL Financial LLC

January 21, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Michael Barranco (Barranco) 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 Barranco was employed by LPL Financial LLC at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Barranco’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 $3,215,649.78 on October 06, 2021.

Claimants allege selling away, unsuitability, breach of fiduciary duties, fraud and/or negligence in connection with their investment in real estate. Activity period April 2013 to June 2017.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Felix Chu in Firm Nylife Securities LLC

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Felix Chu (Chu) 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 Chu was employed by Nylife Securities LLC at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Chu’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 $113,620.00 on October 28, 2021.

Customer alleges that beginning in or around October 2017 until May 2018 they were misled into purchasing promissory notes resulting in a damages of $113,620. No securities products were involved.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Lefranc Joseph in Firm Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

January 17, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Lefranc Joseph (Joseph) 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 Joseph was employed by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Joseph’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 $150,000.00 on November 15, 2021.

LeFranc Joseph who was not a named party to the action. Joseph’s name did not appear in the body of the SOC, however, DLA made a best efforts attempt and confirmed that he was the IC who sold the investments at issue in the SOC. The allegations do not include misappropriation, forgery, theft or conversion of funds or securities. Allegation period December 22, 2015 to November 15, 2021

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Richard Hogan in Firm Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

January 13, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Richard Hogan (Hogan) 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 Hogan was employed by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Hogan’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on July 26, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Hogan consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he participated in private securities transactions in Asia-based funds without providing prior written notice to his member firm. The findings stated that Hogan participated in five private securities transactions in Asia-based funds by three firm customers, who invested a total\<char_lb_r>\, of $630,000 in the funds. Hogan participated in the transactions by soliciting the investments from the customers and directing his assistants to process the investment documentation. The firm did not offer these funds for investment by customers, and the customers’ investments were not custodied with the firm. Hogan disclosed on the firm’s associate investment monitoring (AIM) system that he had personally invested in a Hong Kong equity fund but attested that he had not co-invested with customers or solicited others in connection with the investment. Contrary to this representation, two customers had invested in the same fund, based upon Hogan’s recommendation, prior to his AIM disclosure.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Michael Conte in Firm Fusion Analytics Securities LLC

January 12, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Michael Conte (Conte) 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 Conte was employed by Fusion Analytics Securities LLC at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Conte’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on October 05, 2022.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (‘Commission’) deems it appropriate and in the public interest that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘Exchange Act’) and Section 203(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (‘Advisers Act’) against Michael J. Conte (‘Respondent’). The Commission finds that on September 29, 2022, a final judgment was entered by consent against Conte, permanently enjoining him from future violations of Section 17(a)(2) and 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Advisers Act, in the civil action entitled Securities and Exchange Commission v. Fusion Analytics Investment Partners, LLC, Civil Action Number 0:21-cv-61721, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The Commission’s complaint alleged that from 2010 to 2016, Conte, through two entities he controlled-FAIP and FAIP’s holding company, Fusion Analytics Holdings, LLC (‘Fusion Holdings’)-raised approximately $1.4 million for FAIP through the offer and sale of promissory notes to 10 individual retail investors and advisory clients, most of whom were retired and elderly, without disclosing material facts regarding FAIP’s declining financial condition. Fusion Holdings defaulted on most of the notes, and Conte renegotiated many of the notes without fully disclosing FAIP’s continuing financial decline.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Christopher Eriksson in Firm Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

January 12, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Christopher Eriksson (Eriksson) 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 Eriksson was employed by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at the time of the activity. If you have been a victim of Eriksson’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on November 09, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Eriksson consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he borrowed money from a customer without notice to, or approval from, his member firm. The findings stated that Eriksson borrowed $350,000 from a customer, at a fixed interest rate, as documented by a promissory note drafted by one of the co-trustees of the customer. Eriksson has paid off in full the principal and interest of the loan. The findings also stated that Eriksson engaged in three undisclosed outside business activities (OBAs). In addition, Eriksson submitted questionnaire responses to the firm which failed to disclose all his OBAs.