Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker David Melilli in Cambridge Investment Research, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 12, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker David Melilli (Melilli), previously associated with Cambridge Investment Research, INC., has at least 5 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, 3 regulatory events, alleging that Melilli recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on November 28, 2022.

MELILLI IS THE SUBJECT OF AN ORDER OF A SELF-REGULATORY ORGANIZATION EXPELLING HIM FROM A SELF-REGULATORY ORGANIZATION.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Jeffrey Basford in Firm David Lerner Associates, INC.

January 12, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Jeffrey Basford (Basford), previously associated with David Lerner Associates, INC., has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, one regulatory event, alleging that Basford recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on August 15, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Basford consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he declined to appear for on-the-record testimony requested by FINRA during the course of its investigation into his potential unsuitable sales of proprietary energy products to customers at his member firm.

Broker Kevin Mcneil in Sw Financial Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 12, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on August 25, 2022.

Respondent McNeil 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.

Broker James Daughtry in Kestra Investment Services, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 12, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker James Daughtry (Daughtry), previously associated with Kestra Investment Services, LLC, has at least 7 disclosable events. These events include 5 customer complaints, 2 regulatory events, alleging that Daughtry recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on September 29, 2022.

On 9/28/22 an Order to Bar (OB-2022-0023) was issued against the Respondent by Alabama Securities Commission. OB issued due to Respondent failed to make full & complete disclosure that clients’ accounts were being sold, moved to Graysail & lack of respondent’s involvement with their accounts. For more info contact the Alabama Securities Commission at 334-242-2984

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Conrad Branson in Firm Kingswood Capital Partners, LLC

January 12, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on August 23, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Branson consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he engaged in unauthorized trading in customer accounts held by the same family. The findings stated that Branson effected unauthorized transactions in the accounts without the family’s prior authorization, knowledge, or consent for the trades. Branson’s member firm has compensated the family $78,919 for losses resulting from the unauthorized transactions. The findings also stated that Branson exercised discretionary authority in some of the family’s accounts without obtaining prior written authorization from the family and without having the accounts accepted as discretionary accounts by the firm. Branson also exercised discretionary authority in two other customers’ accounts without obtaining prior written authorization from the customers and without having the accounts accepted as discretionary accounts by the firm.

Broker Daniel Lauletta in IBN Financial Services, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 12, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Daniel Lauletta (Lauletta), previously associated with IBN Financial Services, INC., has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, one regulatory event, alleging that Lauletta recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

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

Arkansas Securities Commissioner J. Campbell McLaurin entered consent order number S-20-0046-22-OR02 in the matter of Daniel J. Lauletta (CRD# 2659123) on September 1, 2022, based upon Lauletta’s activity as an investment adviser representative with two Arkansas clients. Lauletta breached his fiduciary duty to two Arkansas clients by advising them to liquidate securities invested for retirement to purchase unsuitable insurance products and annuities. Lauletta did not have reasonable grounds for believing the advice and recommendations at issue were suitable for the Arkansas clients. Lauletta also failed disclose certain risks and information to the Arkansas clients when effecting the above-referenced activity. Lauletta’s activity constituted fraudulent, deceptive, dishonest, or unethical practices of an investment adviser, in violation of the Arkansas Securities Act (‘Act’), Ark. Code. Ann. \\u00a7\\u00a7 23-42-307(a)(3), 23-42-308(a)(2)(B) and (G), and 23-42-507(2), and Rules of the Arkansas Securities Commissioner (‘Rules’) 308.02(a) and 308.02(aa). Without admitting or denying the findings of fact and conclusions of law, Lauletta consented to the following: 1) cease and desist from further violations of the Act and Rules; 2) revocation of his broker-dealer agent registration in Arkansas as of April 12, 2022, the last date on which Lauletta’s registration was effective in Arkansas; 3) not to reapply for registration with the Arkansas Securities Department (‘Department’) in any capacity for a minimum of five years on or after the entry of the consent order; and 4) payment of a fine to the Department in the amount of $10,000.00 immediately upon entry of the consent order.

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.

Broker Paul Vizanko in Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 12, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Paul Vizanko (Vizanko), previously associated with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, 2 regulatory events, alleging that Vizanko recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on November 11, 2022.

Respondent Vizanko 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.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Christ Baltas in Firm Worden Capital Management LLC

January 12, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Christ Baltas (Baltas), previously associated with Worden Capital Management LLC, has at least 6 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints, 3 regulatory events, alleging that Baltas recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

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

Respondent Baltas 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.

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.