A National Securities Arbitration & Investment Fraud Law Firm

$70 MILLION Recovery for Investment Fraud
$44 MILLION Recovery for Ponzi Scheme Victims
$25 MILLION Recovery Against National Brokerage Firm
$9.1 MILLION FINRA Arbitration Award Against Brokerage Firm
$7.9 MILLION Securities Arbitration Award Against Stockbroker
$1 MILLION Securities Arbitration Award for Elder Financial Fraud
American Association for Jusice
Florida Legal Elite 2011
Legal Leaders
5th Annual Most Effective Lawyers 2009
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Super-Lawyers
SFLG
Top 100
Public Justice

|

Silver Law Group founder Scott Silver has spoken with multiple Harbor City investors who were allegedly defrauded by the company. In a recent article in Mother Jones, Mr. Silver said that George Santos and other employees should have noticed the red flags. “Any person from the financial services industry, who went to work for a company like Harbor City, should immediately have recognized that Harbor City wasn’t properly registered as a financial services company,” Mr. Silver said. “Even if you didn’t know the company was operating as a fraud or a Ponzi scheme, a sophisticated person affiliated with the company should have known they weren’t licensed to do what they claimed to be doing.”George Santos, the recently elected Latino Republican Representative from New York, continues to make headlines, but not for the right reasons. After a damning report in the New York Times questioning Santos’ claims and credibility, he has begun to speak on it. These reports with apologies about his fabricated background, which includes multiple false and unsubstantiated claims. Continue reading ›

|

Dusty Sternadel (Dusty Lynn Sternadel CRD# 5872600) is a former broker and investment advisor who was last registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (CRD#:6363) of Wichita Falls, TX. Her previous employers were Morgan Stanley (CRD#:149777) and Edward Jones (CRD#:250), also of Wichita Falls. She has been in the industry since 2011. Ameriprise Financial Services terminated her employment on 7/29/2022. In the Form U5 submitted to FINRA following her discharge, the company stated, “The registered representative was terminated for violation of company policies related to misappropriation of client funds.” Although Sternadel is no longer employed by a FINRA broker dealer, she is still subject to jurisdiction under Article V, Section 4 of FINRA’s Bylaws. FINRA has this jurisdiction for two years after separation of employment.  Dusty Sternadel (Dusty Lynn Sternadel CRD# 5872600) is a former broker and investment advisor who was last registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (CRD#:6363) of Wichita Falls, TX. Her previous employers were Morgan Stanley (CRD#:149777) and Edward Jones (CRD#:250), also of Wichita Falls. She has been in the industry since 2011. Continue reading ›

|

In a recent press release, the Commodities Futures Trading Division (CFTC) has announced that a Federal Court has ordered a California-based precious metals trading firm to return more than $38 million in fraudulently obtained funds to their company’s customers, and sanctioned it for fraud and violations. The CFTC has entered consent order for permanent injunction, monetary sanctions, and equitable relief against five defendants: Monex Deposit Company  Monex Credit Company  Newport Services Corporation Owner Louis Carabini  Owner Michael Carabini, son of owner Louis Carabini According to the CFTC allegations, from July 16, 2011, through August 31, 2021, Louis and Michael Carabini operated their own over-the-counter retail trading platform under the three companies collectively called “Monex Entity Defendants.” Their trading platform, known as “Atlas,” in which customers could speculate on the prices of precious metals. Atlas was not a regulated exchange as they claimed, and Monex was involved in nearly every transaction.In a recent press release, the Commodities Futures Trading Division (CFTC) has announced that a Federal Court has ordered a California-based precious metals trading firm to return more than $38 million in fraudulently obtained funds to their company’s customers, and sanctioned it for fraud and violations. Continue reading ›

|

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for December 2022, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA for failing to comply with a FINRA arbitration award or settlement agreement pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME FORMER EMPLOYERS
  Christ Baltas   Worden Capital Management LLC
  Wilmington Capital Securities, LLC
  Matthew Beaver   Grit Wealth Management, LLC
  Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
  Seymour Cohen   Wilmington Capital Securities, LLC
  Clark Dodge & Co., Inc.
  James Kirschner   Cetera Advisors LLC
  Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
  Justin Iowe   Broadview International LLC
  Keith Wakefield   IFS Securities
  IFS Capital Markets, LLC
  Jamie Worden   Worden Capital Management LLC
  Salomon Whitney LLC

Continue reading ›

|

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for December 2022, the following individuals were barred from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME FORMER EMPLOYERS
  Jay Dougall   Principal Securities, Inc.
  Waddell & Reed
  Beth Landwehr   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
  Jamie Lemon
  Linda Leong   Valic Financial Advisors, Inc.
  National Planning Corporation
  Michael Richie   Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  Edward Von Der Schmidt   Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
  RBC Capital Markets, LLC
  Cedric Wade   LPL Financial LLC
  National Planning Corporation

Continue reading ›

|

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for December 2022, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules. However, these individuals remain bound by the securities arbitration agreement to arbitrate any disputes between themselves and their former customers:

NAME FORMER EMPLOYERS
  Albert Aviles   Reid & Rudiger LLC
  Spartan Capital Securities, LLC
  Ruth Chambers   Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
  Mutual Trust Co. of America Securities
  Seymour Cohen   Wilmington Capital Securities, LLC
  Clark Dodge & Co., Inc.
  Anthony DiLullo   LPL Financial LLC
  ING Financial Partners, Inc.
  John Fabiano   LPL Financial LLC
  JD Financial Services Inc.
  Samuel Heavrin   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Austin Lazarus   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  J.P. Morgan Secvurities LLC
  Jason Long   State Farm VP Management Corp.
  Pamelia Owensby   UBS Financial Services Inc.
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  Alexandra Smith   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

Continue reading ›

|

scott-silverIt’s not uncommon for employees of nearly any type of business to branch off and form their own company. When that company is a new broker dealer firm and a competitor for the former employer, things get complicated. Especially if that employer is Wells Fargo Advisors.  Continue reading ›

|

Darien Bonney (Darien Euclid Bonney CRD# 4899007) is a former registered broker last employed with MML Investors Services, LLC (CRD#:10409) of Scottsdale, AZ. He was previously employed with NY Life Securities INC. (CRD#:5167), also of Scottsdale. He has been in the industry since 2005. Bonney has two similar customer disputes in the disclosures in his record. The first was filed on 7/12/2022, alleging that in late 2020, Bonney solicited the client to invest in “Spyglass Financial Strategies,” an entity Bonney himself owned. The client was led to believe that the investment would have no risks as it was related to oil. Bonney also drafted the promissory note himself. As of the filing date, the terms of that note have not yet been met, and the client has suffered losses. The client has requested damages of $1,053,250.00, and the case is currently pending. The second disclosure was filed on 9/16/2022 and alleges that Bonney recommended an investment to them “without a reasonable basis.” The claimants allege that Bonney indicated that there were no risks involved despite being unregistered. They have requested that Bonney return their investment but have only received a portion of that money. The clients are requesting damages of $49,000.00, and the case is currently pending.Darien Bonney (Darien Euclid Bonney CRD# 4899007) is a former registered broker last employed with MML Investors Services, LLC (CRD#:10409) of Scottsdale, AZ. He was previously employed with NY Life Securities INC. (CRD#:5167), also of Scottsdale. He has been in the industry since 2005. Continue reading ›

|

Back in 2019, we blogged about broker Michael Venturino (CRD #5872439), the subject of multiple customer disputes totaling $1.6 million. Since then, he has additional disclosures, including two judgements, a bankruptcy discharge, and of course, more customer disputes. At this writing, Venturino is still registered and employed with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC (CRD#: 146251) of Garden City, NY. He began his broker career in 2010. In the disciplinary action, FINRA’s investigation found that Venturino exercised de facto control over the accounts of eleven clients while at Aegis and made unauthorized trades in a total of twelve accounts. He made recommendations to the clients of what they should buy and sell as well as unauthorized trading.Back in 2019, we blogged about broker Michael Venturino (CRD #5872439), the subject of multiple customer disputes totaling $1.6 million. Since then, he has additional disclosures, including two judgements, a bankruptcy discharge, and of course, more customer disputes. Continue reading ›

Contact Information
Main Office
11780 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, FL 33065
Phone: (954) 755-4799Fax: (954) 755-4684
New York Office
229 W 36th St 8th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 377-5227
Florida Office
4755 Technology Way #205
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: (561) 665-8613
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING

Visit our Florida Securities Whistleblower Website

We serve clients nationwide including, but not limited to, those in the following localities: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas–Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Bernardino-Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa–St. Petersburg, and Washington, D.C. View More

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2024, Silver Law Group
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design