Category Archives: Securities Fraud
SEC Charges Florida Investment Fraud With Securities Law Violations
On October 2nd, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced securities fraud charges against several Florida-based investment entities, including Pisces Income Fund, LLC and Pisces Income Fund Parallel, LLC. Two individuals—Shannon Westhead and Alec Vagnozzi—were named as the principal operators of the funds. Notably, the securities fraud charges are related to the Par… Read More »
Florida Broker-Dealer Fined, Censured for Inadequate Supervisory System
OCP Capital, LLC (CRD #143381) is a brokerage firm based in Wellington, Florida. The broker-dealer is licensed to operate in both Florida and New York. In 2023, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced that OCP Capital, LLC is facing a censure and a $75,000 fine for its failure to develop and implement an… Read More »
SEC Files Complaint Against Alleged Unregistered Brokers in South Florida
On September 18th, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Rondini, et al). The SEC names Wilson Rondini III and two investment entities that he controlled—Falcon Capital LLP and Falcon Capital Partners Limited—as defendants in the case. The federal… 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 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 »
SEC Charges Florida Man As Part Of $60 Million Investment Fraud Case
On May 23rd, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officially announced the shutdown of a company called “WeedGenics”—a $60 million cannabis-related securities offering. Securities fraud charges have been filed against the company—and its owners Rolf Max Hirschmann and Patrick Earl Williams—for allegations of a “Ponzi-like” investment fraud scheme. In this post, our Miami… Read More »
Florida Broker Barred For Failure To Cooperate With FINRA’s Investigation Into Complaint By Investor
Hans Patrick Kulicke Eveillard (CRD #7190141) is a previously registered securities broker. From September of 2020 to July of 2021, Mr. Eveillard was a representative of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services in Sarasota, Florida. Recently, he was suspended from the securities industry by FINRA for failure to cooperate with an investigation into an ongoing customer… Read More »
Miami Beach, FL Broker Barred For Failure To Cooperate Into Investigation Into Private Securities Transactions
Candido Jose Viyella (CRD #1829255) is a formerly registered securities broker and financial professional. From June of 2009 through December of 2020, Mr. Viyella was a registered representative of Morgan Stanley in Miami, Florida. In May of 2021, this broker was barred from the securities industry after declining to cooperate with a FINRA inquiry… Read More »
Federal Regulators Halt South Florida Investment Scheme
On February 26th, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced investment fraud charges and an asset freeze against two Florida men and one Florida company. The defendants include: Jonathon Turner (aka Jon Barri Brothers) of South Florida; Norman Strell of South Florida; and Castleberry Financial Services Group, LLC, a Wellington, FL-based investment company…. Read More »
FINRA Complaint: Florida Brokers Exploited Elderly Investor
On December 21st, 2018, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) filed a complaint against two south Florida brokers: Ami Kathryn Forte (CRD No. 2457536) and Charles Joseph Lawrence (CRD No. 3131566). Both Ms. Forte and Mr. Lawrence served as representatives of Morgan Stanley in Palm Harbor, Florida from 2009 to 2016. During their time… Read More »
