Articles Posted in Selling Away

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shutterstock_182054030-300x200The investment fraud attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have currently been investigating previously registered broker Bradley Tennison (Tennison). According to BrokerCheck Records kept by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Tennison was barred from the financial industry due to a customer complaint alleging Tennison’s selling away activities during his employment at Geneos Wealth Management Inc (Geneos Wealth).  In addition, Tennison has been subject to two other customer disputes and termination from employment at two firms.

In January 2018, the customer alleged that in January 2016, Tennison recommended the client to wire $300,000 of her funds into “The Joseph Project” away from the member firm, with a promise of a 5% enhancement. Geneos Wealth had no record of such investment, and the customer never received any statements or return on the principal of the investment. Subsequently after, in April 2018, Geneos Wealth discharged Tennison from employment after failing to locate any record of investment and for being unable to retrieve information from Tennison regarding the investment. This complaint is currently still pending.

Shortly after, in July 2018, Tennison was barred from the financial industry for failing to show up to on-the-record testimony regarding the selling away allegations of “The Joseph Project” at Geneos Wealth. By failing to provide information and show up to the testimony, Tennison was in violation of FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010. Without admitting or denying the findings, Tennison consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings.

In addition, Tennison has been subject to two preceding customer disputes. In March 2010, a customer alleged that Tennison placed the Continue Reading

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shutterstock_191231699-300x200According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) former advisor Alex Herrera (Herrera), formerly associated with UBS Financial Services Inc. (UBS) in Coral Gables, Florida was barred by FINRA.  In the regulatory action FINRA claimed that Herrera consented to the sanction and findings that he refused to provide information requested by FINRA in connection with its investigation of his possible participation in unreported outside business activities (OBAs) and private securities transactions.

At this time it is unclear the nature or scope of the alleged OBAs and private securities transactions that Herrera was involved in.  However, in May 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Herrera stole her money to buy a vacation home.  The claim is currently pending.

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shutterstock_135103109-300x200According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) advisor Daniel Flores (Flores), formerly associated with Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. (Woodbury Financial) in Appleton, Wisconsin was terminated by his firm concerning allegations that Flores engaged in an unapproved financial transaction with a client.  Thereafter in May 2018  a customer filed a complaint alleging that that Flores engaged in unauthorized and excessive trading.  The claim is currently pending.  In July 2018 FINRA sought documents and information from Flores which he refused to provide.  Accordingly, Flores was barred from the industry for failing to respond to FINRA’s requests.

At this time, the claims against Flores are unclear as to the exact nature and extent of the activity.  Flores has outside business disclosures including New Heights Insurance Services and Fox River Valley.

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shutterstock_20354401-300x200According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) advisor Stacy Cheney-Jamison (Cheney-Jamison), a/k/a Stacy Cheney, Stacy Edwards, Stacy Kuczynski, and Stacy Sang was formerly associated with CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. (CUNA) in Boca Rotan, Florida was barred by FINRA concerning allegations that Cheney-Jamison sold investments away from her firm.

In May 2018 FINRA found that Cheney-Jamison consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that she refused to provide information requested by FINRA in connection with its investigation into allegations regarding her involvement in private securities transactions and falsification of client account forms.  In addition, in March 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging multiple violations of the securities laws and claiming $350,000 in damages.

The allegations concerning private securities transactions are often accompanied by claims of engaging in outside business activities.  Private securities transactions is a practice known in the industry as “selling away” – a serious violation of the securities laws.

At this time, the selling away claims against Cheney-Jamison are unclear as to the exact nature and extent of the activity.  Cheney-Jamison does not have any outside business disclosures on her public record

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shutterstock_103681238-300x300According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) advisor Thomas Sova (Sova), formerly associated with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc. (Hornor Townsend) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana was terminated by his firm concerning allegations that Sova violated firm policies and procedures regarding disclosure of outside business activities relating to the outside sale of an unapproved and unregistered security.  That termination came on the heels of an arbitration complaint filed a couple of months earlier in April 2018.  The customer complaint alleged that Sova sold and unregistered security in May 2016 and seeks $100,000 in damages.  The claim is currently pending.

At this time, the claims against Sova are unclear as to the exact nature and extent of the activity other than that it involves a mortgage investment fraud or real estate security.  Sova has outside business disclosures including Sova Financial Group – his investment d/b/a.  Sova also discloses that he is the owner of rental property.

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shutterstock_173864537-300x200The investment attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating previously registered broker Bradley Tennison (Tennison). According to BrokerCheck Records, the Financial Industry Regulative Authority (FINRA) barred Tennison indefinitely from the financial industry for failing to appear to an on the record testimony regarding an investigation of Tennison’s outside business activities at Geneos Wealth Management, Inc. (Geneos Wealth Management). In addition, Tennison has been subject to three customer disputes, one of which is still pending. The majority of these disputes involve unsuitable limited partnerships and selling away. Tennison has also been subject to termination from two firms of employment.

In April 2018, a customer alleged that in 2016, Tennison recommended a former client to invest $300,000 in “The Joseph Project”, which he represented to be a 12 month investment with 5 % returns. The customer never received any statements or returns on her principal payment. The customer has requested $300,000 in damages. This dispute is currently still pending.

Subsequently, in April 2018, Tennison was terminated from Geneos Wealth Management for failing to be in compliance with the firm’s policies and regulations regarding outside business activities and selling away.

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shutterstock_103610648-300x212According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) advisor Ralph Adamo (Adamo), formerly associated with FSC Securities Corporation (FSC Securities) in Newport Beach, California was terminated by his firm concerning allegations that he engaged in an unapproved financial transaction with a client.  Adamo has been subject to two customer complaints including one for over $4 million in claimed damages.  That complaint alleges a solicitation of a personal loan and is still pending.  In addition, Adamo has been subject to two prior regulatory actions.  One action in 2005 alleged that Adamo paid customers privately to resolve complaints without telling his firm.

At this time it is unclear the extent of Adamo’s outside business activities or private securities transactions.  Adamo disclosed a number of outside business activities including that he operates his securities business through a d/b/a Integrity Wealth Management.

The allegations concern private securities transactions – a practice known in the industry as “selling away” – a serious violation of the securities laws.

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shutterstock_128856874-300x200The securities attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating previously registered broker John James (James). According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), in March 2016, James was discharged  by his firm, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch) based on allegations that James was engaging in outside business activities, private investments, and borrowing money from clients without disclosing the activities to the firm.  Subsequently, in September 2016, James was also discharged from Stifel Nicolaus for providing inaccurate information on his employment application (U5) regarding the status of an internal inquiry at his prior firm, Merrill Lynch.

In December 2017, FINRA barred James from the industry after James failed to provide FINRA with requested documents and information regarding these allegations and activities.  FINRA sought documents concerning the circumstances surrounding Jones’s termination from his member firm and of certain outside business activities that James was involved in while registered with the firm. After James refused to show up to an on-the-record testimony regarding these allegations, he was barred from the industry for being in violation of F1NRA Rule 8210, James violates FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010.

In addition, James has been subject to one customer complaint. In May 2009, a customer alleged that James recommended unsuitable investments. The case was settled at $160,000 in damages.

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shutterstock_102242143-300x169According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) advisor Mark Solomon (Solomon), formerly associated with M Holdings Securities, Inc. (M Holdings) in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania was suspended by FINRA concerning allegations that he engaged private securities transactions in a real estate private placement.  M Holdings terminated Solomon in January 2016 during an ongoing internal review that centered around potential violations of investment related statues and the firm’s policies and procedures.

Thereafter in January 2018 FINRA found that Solomon solicited seven investors to purchase a total of $1,400,000 in interests in a private placement without providing his firm written notice of that activity or obtaining the firm’s written approval prior to doing so. FINRA found that Solomon first provided written notice of his sales activity to his firm after responding to inquiries made by FINRA during an examination of the firm.  FINRA suspended Solomon for 12 months and imposed a fine.

At this time it is unclear the extent of Solomon’s outside business activities or private securities transactions.  Solomon disclosed a number of outside business activities including that he is the control person limited partnerships, is involved with Devon Park Partnership, Horsham Business Center, and 1000 Howard Blvd Partners LP.

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shutterstock_20354398-300x200The investment fraud attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have been investigating previously registered broker Robert Meyers (Meyers).

According to the Financial Industry Regulation Authority (FINRA) BrokerCheck records, in October 2017, Meyers was terminated from Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC (Wells Fargo) for recommending investments to customers that he did not notify the firm about.

In addition, Meyers has been subject to eight customer disputes. In August 2005, a customer alleged that Meyers failed to follow the customer’s instructions regarding the investment. The customer requested $1,000,000 in damages.

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