Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker Alvery Bartlett in Aegis Capital Corp. Firm Has Customer Complaint

September 3, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

Previously financial advisor Alvery Bartlett (Bartlett), previously employed by brokerage firm Aegis Capital Corp. has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on July 29, 2025.

The claimants allege that the Firm and representative failed to make a suitable recommendation and over-concentrated claimants account in an oil and gas private placement and other unspecified investments in 2013 through 2015. The claimant further allege that the Firm and representative misrepresented the investments and induced the claimants to retain the investment and cause them to suffer a loss.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Marcus Moon in Firm Nylife Securities LLC

September 2, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Marcus Moon (Moon), previously associated with Nylife Securities LLC, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, one regulatory event, alleging that Moon recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on May 18, 2023.

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 Marcus K. Moon (‘Moon’ or ‘Respondent’). The Commission finds that on May 8, 2023, a final judgment was entered by consent against Moon, permanently enjoining him from future violations of Section 15(a)(1) of the Exchange Act, Sections 17(a)(2) and (3) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 206(2) of the Advisers Act, in the civil action entitled Securities and Exchange Commission v. Marcus K. Moon, Civil Action Number 23-cv-60715-RS, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The Commission’s complaint alleged that from May 2020 through February 2021, Moon used the unregistered entity Increase Financial to enter into brokerage agreements with nine investors, provide them with investment advice for a fee, and ‘sell away’ from his employer outside of its knowledge and supervision. The complaint further alleged that Moon made multiple misstatements to investors, predominantly targeting African-American investors of the Christian faith, about Increase’s status as a purported broker-dealer, and held himself out as a ‘financial services professional’ who ‘holds various registrations in the financial services space.’ Moon directed investors to open accounts with online broker-dealers and to provide him with their passwords, so that he could trade in their individual accounts on their behalf. In total, Moon accessed at least 18 different online brokerage accounts owned by nine investors, and conducted hundreds of trades that resulted in approximately $31,800 in losses; these same investors paid Moon $3,000 in fees for his services.

Broker Roman Anaya in Edward Jones Firm Has Customer Complaint

September 2, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Roman Anaya (Anaya), previously associated with Edward Jones, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Anaya recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on May 19, 2023.

The client alleges the financial advisor placed various unauthorized trades in his account. Additionally, the client alleges the financial advisor was to invest approximately $10,000.00 in Google and only invested $2,000.00.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Stephanie Hughes in Firm Cetera Advisor Networks LLC

September 2, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Stephanie Hughes (Hughes), previously associated with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Hughes recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $10,900.00 on May 18, 2023.

CLIENT ALLEGES THE VARIABLE LIFE POLICY THAT WAS SOLD TO HIM ON 3-11-21 IS NOT A SUITABLE INVESTMENT FOR HIM.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Jordan Gibson in Firm Edward Jones

September 2, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Jordan Gibson (Gibson), currently associated with Edward Jones, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Gibson recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on May 17, 2023.

The client’s POA alleges that the financial advisor misrepresented the Death Benefit payout on the client’s variable annuity.

Broker Charles Lewis Iii in Realta Equities, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

September 2, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Charles Lewis Iii (Lewis Iii), currently associated with Realta Equities, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Lewis Iii recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $100,000.00 on May 17, 2023.

[REDACTED] alleges that the unsolicited investment he made in March, 2021 into Strategic Energy Assets VIII Access Fund, which has provided tax benefits and distributions, was inappropriate.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Mark Richardson in Firm Lightpath Capital, Inc

September 2, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

Previously financial advisor Mark Richardson (Richardson), previously employed by brokerage firm Lightpath Capital, Inc has been subject to at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $696,494.19 on May 19, 2023.

Claimants collectively invested $697,474.19 in real estate private placement between November 2019 and February 2020 which failed due to the due to the unforeseen and unprecedented impact of the COVID pandemic on the student housing sector and the sponsor’s failure to repay the bridge equity it borrowed to acquire the property, which was discovered in December 2021, and ultimately resulted in a forced sale of the property. Claimants filed an arbitration alleging violation of federal securities laws, violation of California securities laws, California unfair, unlawful, and fraudulent business practices, breach of contract, common law fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence and gross negligence. The firm denies all allegations. Additionally, the firm aggressively facilitated litigation for the benefit of investors to recover losses for investors which resulted in a favorable settlement with the sponsor and a jury award against the bridge equity lender and investors have already received a partial return of their initial investment.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Sacha Mackels in Firm Cetera Wealth Services, LLC

September 2, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Sacha Mackels (Mackels), currently associated with Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Mackels recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $10,900.00 on May 18, 2023.

Client alleges the variable life policy that was sold to him on 03/11/2021 is not a suitable investment for him.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Juan Rascon in Firm Cetera Investment Services LLC

September 2, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Juan Rascon (Rascon), currently associated with Cetera Investment Services LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Rascon recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $1,000,000.00 on May 18, 2023.

Claimant inherited her father’s self-directed brokerage account. In 2015, claimant moved account to firm and pledged the assets to secure a line of credit with firm’s former affiliate bank. Said line of credit was in the name of claimant and her husband (who she has since divorced). Brokerage account was claimant’s sole property under Texas law. Claimant asserts that firm breached its fiduciary duty and failed to make suitable recommendations in allowing claimant to pledge her sole property assets against the joint debt and by allowing her to make equity investments in a self-directed account.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Rick Jackson in Firm Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation

September 2, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Rick Jackson (Jackson), previously associated with Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Jackson recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on May 17, 2023.

Claimants allege the RR concentrated their retirement savings in risky investments that did not match their risk profile or investment objectives.