Investor Lawyers Blog

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced on August 9, 2011, its decision to fine Citigroup Global Markets Inc. for failing to supervise one of its former registered sales assistants, Tamara Moon. Moon was employed at Citigroup’s Palo Alto, California, office and misappropriated a total of $749,978 over 8 years. In addition, she engaged in…

Securities arbitration ended with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announcement on July 26 that SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc. and SunTrust Investment Services Inc. will pay a total of $5 million for “violations related to the sale of auction rate securities (ARS).” $400,000 of the $5 million fine will be paid by SunTrust IS for…

Recent Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration resulted in the order for units of Merrill Lynch to pay compensatory damages to Staton Family Investments Inc. totaling $8.1 million for breach of fiduciary duty. Staton Family Investments and Daniel Staton accused Merrill Lynch of securities fraud, negligence, breach of contract and common stock theft. According…

This July, a jury found Sky Capital founder Ross Mandell and ex-broker Adam Harrington guilty of securities fraud and conspiracy. Allegedly topping $140 million, the stock broker fraud occurred between 1998 and 2006, according to prosecutors. Preet Bharara, Manhattan U.S. attorney, stated that Mandell and Harrington are, “masters of deception who had no qualms about…

Shane Selewach, a former Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. broker, has been convicted of stealing nearly $335,000 from clients and sentenced to 8-12 years in prison for broker misconduct. Selewach’s misconduct includes six counts of larceny, six counts of securities fraud and conducting business as an unregistered broker dealer. Selewach was employed with Ameriprise from September…

Janney Montgomery Scott, a broker-dealer from Philadelphia, and his firm, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, will pay $850,000 in his settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for not taking proper precautions to prevent insider trading. According to securities regulators, Janney didn’t establish proper policies and, in some cases, didn’t enforce what policies were in place,…

William Bailey, a former broker for NEXT Financial Group Inc., was suspended for two years in Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration. Bailey’s official cause for suspension, according to FINRA, was “unsuitable and excessive trading of mutual funds and variable annuities.” In addition, Bailey was charged with discretionary trading without prior written approval. Bailey’s…

A jury in the New York State Supreme Court found James W. Margulies guilty of conspiracy, grand larceny, falsifying business records, scheming to defraud and violation of general business law. The date currently scheduled for sentencing is August 9; Margulies could receive up to 25 years in prison. Margulies served both as the CEO and…

Jennifer Kim, an ex-Morgan Stanley trader, will pay $25,000 and is barred from broker-dealer association for three years in her settlement with the SEC regarding its claim that she concealed trades and falsified books. The firm’s risk limits were exceeded by the proprietary trades she concealed, intending to cancel the swap orders almost immediately. This…

Securities arbitration ended this month for a claim made by three clients against Neuberger Berman. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) panel ruled on July 15th that Neuberger Berman must pay $5 million in damages, $450,000 in (3 percent annual) interest and $7,500 in legal fees. Investment attorneys stated that the financial award covered the…