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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on January 17, 2025.

The controversy pertains to releases the SEC feels are misleading. These releases were not created, approved or disseminated by me or the firm.

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating claims that Broker Donald Wright (Wright) 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 Wright was employed by Silver Oak Securities, Incorporated at the time of the activity.  If you have been a victim of Wright’s alleged misconduct our firm may be able to assist you in recovering funds.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on January 22, 2025.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (‘Commission’) deems it appropriate and in the public interest that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted against Donald Anthony Wright (‘Wright’ or ‘Respondent’). In anticipation of the institution of these proceedings, Respondent has submitted an Offer of Settlement which the Commission has determined to accept. The commission finds that On December 17, 2024, a judgment was entered by consent against Wright and Retirement Specialty Group, permanently enjoining them from future violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (‘Securities Act’), Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘Exchange Act’) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Advisers Act, and permanently enjoining Wright from directly or indirectly participating in the issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of any security, subject to certain exceptions, as set forth in the judgment entered in the civil action entitled Securities and Exchange Commission v. Donald Anthony Wright, et al., Civil Action Number 2:24-CV-00065, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Northeastern Division. The Commission’s complaint alleged that Wright and Retirement Specialty Group misused and misappropriated investor funds obtained from clients and at least one non-client through the fraudulent offer, recommendation, and sale of fraudulent promissory notes. In selling the notes, Wright and Retirement Specialty Group made material misrepresentations and omissions concerning the nature and safety of the investments, the planned use of proceeds, and his relationships with the issuers. Wright also failed to disclose multiple conflicts of interest and misappropriated client assets. After defrauding his clients, Wright repeatedly misled them about the status of their investments and repayments.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on January 17, 2025.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Hayes consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that she refused to produce information requested by FINRA in connection with its examination into whether she changed customers’ investment objectives without their consent, mismarked transactions as unsolicited, and accepted trading instructions from unauthorized individuals.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on January 17, 2025.

Jeff Larson violated Exchange Act Sections 15(a) and 10(b) [15 U.S.C, 78o(a) and 78j(b)] and Rule 10b-5 thereunder [17 C.F.R. 275.10b-5]; violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (‘Securities Act’) [15 U.S.C. 77q(a)]; violated Advisers Act Sections 206(1) and 206(2) [15, U.S.C.  80b-6(1) and 80b-6(2)] or, in the alternative, aided and abetted, Arete Advisors’ violations of Advisers Act Sections 206(1) and 206(2) [15 U.S.C.  80b-6(1) and 80b-6(2)]; and aided and abetted Arete Wealth’s violations of Exchange Act Section 17(a) [15 U.S.C. 78q(a)] and Rule 17a-4, thereunder [17 C.F.R. 240.17a-4].

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker David Geake (Geake), previously associated with American Trust Investment Services, Inc., has at least 25 disclosable events. These events include 23 customer complaints, 2 tax liens, alleging that Geake 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 $200,000.00 on January 21, 2025.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Suitability; Misrepresentation; FINRA Rules 2010, IM-2310-2 & 2020; Failure to Supervise; Breach of Contract

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker John Mickelson (Mickelson), currently associated with Creativeone Securities, LLC, has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. Several of those complaints against Mickelson  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on January 21, 2025.

The Statement of Claim alleges RR recommended speculative alternative investments. Claimants allege RR recommended these investments for the purpose of generating high commissions and fees.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on January 17, 2025.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Pagel consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he made recommendations to three customers that that were not suitable, and he willfully violated Rule 15l-1(a)(1) of the Exchange Act (Reg BI) by making recommendations to another customer that was not in his best interest. The findings stated that when opening their accounts with Pagel, each of the three customers instructed him to invest the money conservatively and informed him that they planned to use the money for anticipated upcoming expenses, such as a home down payment or a child’s college tuition. At Pagel’s recommendation, the three customers invested all, or a significant portion of, their assets at Pagel’s member firm in low-priced stocks or other speculative securities. The trading activity in these accounts was inconsistent with the customers’ investment profiles and resulted in losses and customer complaints from all three customers. In connection with two of the complaints, Pagel and the firm made payments totaling $26,000. In addition, the other customer informed Pagel that he wanted to make only safe investments. However, Pagel recommended that the other customer purchase positions in low-priced stocks and other speculative securities inconsistent with his investment profile. The findings also stated that Pagel exercised discretion when effecting trades in customer accounts without obtaining written authorization from the customers and from his firm to treat the accounts as discretionary. The findings also included that Pagel mismarked solicited trades as unsolicited in customer accounts, including the accounts in which he exercised discretion without authorization.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $400,000.00 on January 22, 2025.

Client alleges former RR made unsuitable recommendations involving his Equitable life insurance policy and seeks losses with respect to an unapproved private investment sold by the RR and away from the firm.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on January 16, 2025.

Claimant alleges that on or about 2021, the financial advisor made unsuitable trades into speculative preferred stocks.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Chuck Roberts (Roberts), currently associated with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Roberts 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 $5,000,000.00 on January 16, 2025.

Claimants alleges violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act, violation of Regulation Best Interest, and breach of fiduciary duty.

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