Recent Blog Posts
FINRA Bars Securities Broker in Florida For Declining to Cooperate With Investigation into Alleged Outside Business Activities
Jeffrey Max Cohen (CRD #2528929) is a formerly registered securities broker and investment adviser. FINRA lists Mr. Cohen as a resident of Panama City Beach, Florida. Most recently, this broker was associated with Moloney Securities Co., Inc. (2015 to 2021). In June of 2023, FINRA barred Jeffrey Max Cohen from the securities industry for… Read More »
SEC Grants $18 Million to Whistleblower Award
On August 26th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that a whistleblower has been awarded approximately $18 million. The whistleblower—whose identity will not be released to the public—voluntarily came forward and provided the federal agency with information that aided in enforcement action that put a stop to securities fraud. Here, our Florida… Read More »
Broker Barred for Failure to Cooperate With FINRA Investigation
Scott Jay Matalon (CRD #4637378) is a previously registered securities broker and investment adviser. Most recently, Mr. Matalon was a representative for RBC Capital Markets, LLC (2019 to 2021). Prior to that, he served as a registered representative for Ameriprise Financial Services (2013 to 2019). FINRA lists him as a resident of Boynton Beach,… Read More »
SEC Charge Central Florida Man in $100 Million Unregistered Securities Offering
On August 11th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced investment fraud charges against Ashraf Mufareh of Central Florida. Notably, the company that Mr. Mufareh owned and controlled (ONPASSIVE LLC) was also named as a defendant. Federal authorities contend that Mr. Mufareh fraudulently raised at least $100 million from more than 800,000 different… Read More »
SEC Awards More than $100 Million in Compensation to Seven Whistleblowers
On August 4th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the award of $104 million in whistleblower compensation to seven individuals who voluntarily provided original information that helped the agency take enforcement action to stop securities fraud. The whistleblowers helped the SEC secure financial relief for affected investors. Here, our Miami SEC whistleblower… Read More »
Florida Resident Charges With Ponzi Scheme Targeted at Church Members
On July 27th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced securities fraud charges against a Florida resident. Brent Seaman stands accused of perpetrating a $35 million Ponzi scheme. Notably, the investment fraud scheme was targeted at members of church congregations. This type of investment fraud is sometimes referred to as “affinity fraud.” In… Read More »
SEC Charges Convicted Investment Fraud Artist in Real Estate Ponzi Scheme
On June 23rd, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced securities fraud charges against Wilson Baston—a man previously convicted of investment fraud—for his role in an alleged real estate Ponzi scheme. A number of different investors were affected, including investors in Florida. In this article, our Miami Ponzi scheme attorney discusses the charges… Read More »
Nearly $10 Million Awarded to SEC Whistleblower
On July 12th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officially confirmed a whistleblower award of more than $9 million to an anonymous person who provided “significant and detailed information” that helped federal regulators take enforcement action in a securities fraud case. In this article, our Florida securities law whistleblower lawyer provides a more… Read More »
SEC Filed Partial Settlement in Charges Former Broker-Dealer Representative in Florida Who Stands Accused of Defrauding Senior Citizen Investors
On July 12th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a partial settlement in a senior citizen investment fraud case. A former registered representative of a broker-dealer in Florida—Joseph Michael Todd of Panama City—stands accused of using two separate entities (Todd Financial Services, LLC and TFS Insurance Services LLC) to defraud vulnerable investors…. Read More »
SEC Issues Largest Ever Whistleblower Award—More Than Double the Previous Top Award
In May of 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officially announced the largest whistleblower award in the history of the program. At $279 million, the SEC whistleblower award is more than twice as high as the previous record, which was in October of 2020. Here, our Florida securities law whistleblower attorney explains what… Read More »
