Category Archives: Securities Fraud
South Florida Broker Barred for Taking Money From Elderly Investor
Earlier this year, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced that Jimmy Oswald Moscoso (CRD#: 2912265), a registered broker based in South Florida, has been permanently barred from the securities industry. Mr. Moscoso was accused of misusing the funds of a vulnerable, elderly investor. In this post, our experienced Miami investment fraud attorneys detail… Read More »
SEC Shuts Down $85 Million Ponzi Schemes; Investors Were Falsely Informed Land Was Being Purchased in Florida
On May 1st, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it had recently shut down an $85 million Ponzi scheme that had ties to the state of Florida. In a legal complaint that was unsealed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, the SEC alleges that Arthur Lamar… Read More »
Florida Executive Pleads Guilty to Orchestrating $150 Million Investment Fraud Scheme
On April 19th, 2018, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Antonio Carlos de Godoy Buzaneli, an executive from Coral Gables, Florida, has pleaded guilty to investment fraud charges related to his role in a $150 million investment fraud scheme. According to court documents, Mr. Buzaneli and several co-conspirators carried out the… Read More »
SEC Charges Two Florida Men in $32 Million ICO Scam
On April 2nd, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced investment fraud charges against two Florida men. In a complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the SEC alleges that Sorbah Sharma and Robert Farkas, the co-founders of a company named ‘Centra Tech’, concocted an… Read More »
FINRA Permanently Bars Miami Securities Broker Who Cost Morgan Stanley $2.5 Million
On March 19th, 2018, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced that it has permanently barred registered broker Thomas Alan Meier (CRD#: 1146044) from associating with any FINRA member, in any capacity. According to FINRA investigators, Mr. Meier made more than 1,2000 unauthorized trades on at least six different customer accounts. At the time… Read More »
SEC Charges Florida Man With Penny Stock Fraud
On March 9th, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil complaint against Brian Robert Sodi, a penny stock promoter based in South Florida. According to the SEC, Mr. Sodi engaged in a classic ‘pump and dump’ scheme, confidentially buying up shares of lightly traded securities, then dumping all of his holdings… Read More »
Broward County Brokerage Firm Fined $125,000 Inadequate Supervisory System
Recently, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued a $125,000 fine against TradeStation Securities, Inc. (CRD #39473), a brokerage firm headquartered in Plantation, Florida. This broker-dealer has been in business since 1995 and is licensed to operate in 51 American states and U.S. territories. According to FINRA investigators, TradeStation Securities executed extended hours trades… Read More »
Florida Investment Advisor Fined, Suspended for Unauthorized Transactions
On February 21st, 2018, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced sanctions against Heather Xanthe VanLandingham (CRD#: 5343446), a broker most recently located in Riverview, Florida. According to information provided by FINRA, Ms. VanLandingham was accused of conducting unauthorized transactions on a client’s account. The alleged misconduct in this case occurred in 2016, when… Read More »
Supreme Court Issues Important Ruling in SEC Whistleblower Case
On February 21st, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling in the case of Digital Realty Trust, Inc. v. Somers. In a unanimous decision, the nation’s highest court held that whistleblowers must report allegations of misconduct to the SEC in order to qualify for legal protections under Dodd-Frank. This is… Read More »
Palm Beach Gardens Brokerage Firm Fined for Overcharging Customers
On February 20th, 2018, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced sanctions against GWN Securities, Inc. (CRD#: 128929), a brokerage firm based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This broker-dealer employs more than 600 securities representatives nationwide and is licensed to operate in all 50 States. According to FINRA investigators, GWN Securities, Inc. failed to… Read More »
