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

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

Respondent Valenzuela failed to comply with an arbitration award or settlement agreement or to satisfactorily respond to a FINRA request to provide information concerning the status of compliance.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on June 27, 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 German Nino (‘Nino’ or ‘Respondent’). The Commission finds that on May 31, 2022, a judgment was entered by consent against Nino permanently enjoining him from future violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (‘Securities Act’), Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Advisers Act, in the civil action entitled Securities and Exchange Commission v. German Nino, Civil Action Number 0:22-cv-60162, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The Commission’s complaint alleged, among other things, that from approximately May 2014 to February 2020, Nino misappropriated approximately $5.8 million from one of his long-standing advisory clients. Nino represented that he would invest all of the client’s funds in securities, but instead used some of the funds for personal expenses, namely for gifts and travel and living expenses for women with whom he had romantic relationships. He also used a portion of the client’s funds to fully repay another client from whom he had previously misappropriated funds. To conceal his fraud, Nino created and provided the client with fictitious account statements purporting to show the client’s investment portfolio and related balances. Nino also manipulated UBS’s records to ensure that the client did not receive notifications for wire transfers out of one of the client’s accounts. In order to effectuate larger fraudulent transfers, Nino forged the client’s signature on letters of authorization.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Ernest Frerking (Frerking), previously associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, one regulatory event, alleging that Frerking recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on August 02, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Frerking consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to appear for on-the-record testimony requested by FINRA. The findings stated that this matter originated from a FINRA Rule 4530 filing by Frerking’s member firm.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on June 07, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Sonville consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he loaned money to a customer without disclosing it to his member firm or seeking the firm’s written approval. The findings stated that Sonville loaned $65,000 to a firm customer to assist the customer in paying personal expenses. At the time of the loan, the firm’s procedures prohibited representatives from loaning money to customers. In addition, Sonville completed and submitted to the firm a compliance questionnaire in which he falsely stated that he had not loaned money to any customers.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on June 01, 2022.

Respondent Molskness failed to respond to FINRA requests for information.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on May 27, 2022.

Respondent Williams failed to comply with an arbitration award or settlement agreement or to satisfactorily respond to a FINRA request to provide information concerning the status of compliance.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker David Karandos (Karandos), previously associated with Dinosaur Financial Group, L.l.c, has at least 4 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints, one regulatory event, alleging that Karandos recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on July 07, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Karandos consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to appear for on-the-record testimony requested by FINRA.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on June 21, 2022.

Respondent Shefer failed to comply with an arbitration award or settlement agreement or to satisfactorily respond to a FINRA request to provide information concerning the status of compliance.

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.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker John Gatto (Gatto), currently associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, one regulatory event, alleging that Gatto recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on August 01, 2022.

Pursuant to NY State Insurance Law Section 2110(i), representative failed to disclose an administrative action from the UT Insurance Department.

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