Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker Derek Copeland in LPL Financial LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

August 25, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on March 24, 2025.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Copeland consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he participated in 74 private securities transactions without providing prior written notice to his member firm. The findings stated that the transactions involved 19 different securities and 27 individuals, including 22 who were customers of Copeland’s firm, who collectively invested nearly $11 million. Copeland received at least $173,000 in compensation, including through management, consulting, and recommendation fees. The findings also stated that Copeland communicated about securities-related business, including securities offered through his firm and private securities transactions, using communication channels not approved, captured, or maintained by his firm. Copeland falsely attested on firm compliance questionnaires that he only used approved and captured communication channels for communications relating to securities-related business. Nonetheless, Copeland exchanged over 2,250 communications with his firm colleagues, firm customers, other investors, and offering company partners using his private email addresses, text messages sent and received through his private mobile phone, and messages sent and received through online platform that his firm did not capture or maintain causing it to maintain incomplete books and records.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Ariel Rivero in Firm Insigneo Securities, LLC

August 25, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on May 02, 2025.

Respondent Rivero failed to pay fines and/or costs of $9,802.99 in FINRA Case #2021072830601.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Michael Mooney in Firm Oppenheimer & CO. INC.

August 25, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on June 05, 2024.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (‘Commission’) deems it appropriate and in the public interest that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Michael Mooney (‘Mooney’ or ‘Respondent’). In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondent has submitted an Offer of Settlement (the ‘Offer’) which the Commission has determined to accept. The Commission finds that o March 18, 2024, a judgment was entered by consent against Mooney, 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, as set forth in the judgment entered in the civil action entitled Securities and Exchange Commission v. Mooney, et al., Civil Action Number 1:22-CV02320, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The Commission’s complaint alleged that Mooney, in connection with the sale of interests in Horizon Private Equity, III, LLC and while working at Southport Capital, made false statements to investors and otherwise engaged in conduct which operated as a fraud and deceit on investors.

Broker Philippe Crane in Morgan Stanley Firm Has Customer Complaint

August 25, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on April 23, 2025.

CLIENT ALLEGED THAT COVERED CALL OPTION STRATEGY RECOMMENDED TO HIM WAS NOT IN HIS BEST INTERESTS. 2024

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Eduardo Leon in Firm Global Financial Services, L.l.c.

August 25, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on May 08, 2025.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Leon consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he recommended that retail and non-retail customers purchase and hold a volatility-linked exchange-traded note without having a sufficient understanding of its risks and features. The findings stated that Leon willfully violated Rule 15l-1(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Reg BI) by recommending investments that were not in the best interests of his retail customers. In addition, Leon recommended that the customers purchase a foreign currency denominated corporate bond that was not in the best interests of the retail customers and was not suitable for the non-retail customers, and in amounts that resulted in concentration levels that were inconsistent with the customers’ investment profiles.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Anthony Saab in Firm Sunbelt Securities, INC.

August 25, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on May 01, 2025.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Saab consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to provide documents and information requested by FINRA as part of its investigation into his sale of alternative investments.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Zachary Werner in Firm UBS Financial Services INC.

August 24, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Zachary Werner (Werner), currently associated with UBS Financial Services INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Werner 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 $3,233,690.00 on May 23, 2025.

Time frame: 2016 to 2021\, Allegations: Claimant’s Counsel alleges (Team) fail to identify and escalate red flag issues associated with financial exploitation and made trades in the account that were not in the best interest of the claimant.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Nicholas Schlagheck in Firm Cape Securities INC.

August 24, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Nicholas Schlagheck (Schlagheck), previously associated with Cape Securities INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Schlagheck 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 $263,307.00 on May 20, 2025.

Customer alleges that the CLO Interval Mutual Fund investment was highly concentrated and unsuitable. The investments occurred between June 15, 2023 and July 16, 2024.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Lin Han in Firm Landolt Securities, INC.

August 24, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor Lin Han (Han), currently employed by brokerage firm Landolt Securities, INC. 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 with a damage request of $180,890.98 on May 27, 2025.

Client alleges negligent misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty with regard to two private placements they purchased in 2018, over six years ago.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Kyle Adams in Firm Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

August 24, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on May 26, 2025.

Customer alleges registered representative failed to invest cash held in managed accounts, and customer claims registered representative provided inaccurate explanations regarding timing of investment and advisory fees.