Category Archives: Investment Fraud
Florida Broker Barred After Refusing to Cooperate With an Investigation Into Allegations of Improper Borrowing from Senior Investor
Jean Connell Hicks (CRD #1005922) is a former licensed securities broker. From May of 2005 until July of 2020, she served as a representative for Fortune Financial Services, Inc. During this time, she was located at a branch office in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ms. Connell Hicks also has more than two decades of previous… Read More »
FINRA Complaint: Fort Lauderdale Financial Advisor Accused of Churning, Unsuitable Investments
Bryan G. Mazliach (CRD No. 5518438) is a previously registered FINRA broker. From January of 2015 to September of 2017, Mr. Mazliach was a representative of Laidlaw & Company. Subsequently, he worked as a financial advisor for Westpark Capital. At both firms, Mr. Mazliach was based at a branch office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida…. Read More »
Securities and Exchange Commission Awards More than $2.5 Million to Joint Whistleblowers
On September 1st, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a public statement confirming that more than $2.5 million in compensation has been awarded to joint whistleblowers. The award is the 92nd in the history of the program. Approximately $510 million in whistleblower compensation has now been awarded by the agency. This whistleblower… Read More »
SEC Halts Florida’s Financial Advisor’s Fraudulent Securities Offering
On August 26th, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published a public announcement stating that emergency regulatory action against a South Florida financial advisor and his investment entity. According to allegations raised by the agency, Coral Gables Asset Management LLC and its owner David C. Coggins defrauded investors. Below, our South Florida securities… Read More »
SEC Charges a Florida Resident in Connection to $18.5 Million Securities Fraud Scheme
On July 24th, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced securities fraud charges against Trustify Inc. and its founder Daniel K. Boice. Mr. Boice currently resides in Nassau County Florida. According to federal regulators, the company raised more than $18.5 million from at least 90 different corporate and individual investors on false pretenses…. Read More »
SEC Files Investment Fraud Charges Against a Wind Company in South Florida Federal Court
On July 14th, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced investment fraud charges against Thunderbird Power Corp., an Arizona-headquartered wind power company. According to the allegations raised in the South Florida federal court, the company defrauded investors out of more than $1.9 million through the sale of unregistered securities. Here, our Miami investment… Read More »
SEC Awards Nearly $4 Million in Compensation to Whistleblower to Securities Industry Insider
On July 14th, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) confirmed that the agency has awarded $3.8 million to a whistleblower who helped by providing critically important information to federal regulators. The SEC notes that the whistleblower’s disclosures both disrupted an ongoing fraud scheme and helped bring enforcement action that recovered millions of dollars… Read More »
Brokerage Firm Failed to Establish Adequate Supervisory System, Improperly Used Unregistered ‘Finder’ in Florida
Silver Leaf Partners, LLC (CRD#: 126694/SEC#: 8-65902) is a New York-based brokerage firm that is licensed to operate in 50 U.S. states and territories, including in Florida. It first entered the securities industry in 2003. On June 29th, 2020, the National Adjudicatory Council (NAC) ruled that this firm failed to create and maintain an… Read More »
SEC Halts Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Offering—Operators Were Soliciting Funds from Investors in Florida
On June 19th, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced emergency action against Sean Hvizdzak and Shane Hvizdzak—two brothers from Central Pennsylvania. Federal regulators contend that the men raised money for private cryptocurrency-related funds by making false representations. The SEC also believes that investor money was misappropriated. Notably, the Hvizdzak brothers solicited money… Read More »
SEC Awards $50 Million to Securities Industry Whistleblower—A Record High Award
On June 4th, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a whistleblower award of nearly $50 million for an individual who provided detailed, first-hand information regarding serious corporate misconduct to federal regulators. As a result of the disclosure, authorities will be able to take enforcement action and recover money for investors. The award… Read More »
