Securities Lawyer Blog | Victim of Fraud?

TAG | life settlements

Aug/12

7

FINRA Fines and Suspends Florida Rep

David Louis Bocchino (CRD #3168609, Registered Representative, Bradenton, Florida)

was fined $7,500, which includes disgorgement of $2,850 in commissions, and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for three months. Without admitting or denying the findings, Bocchino consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that he became licensed with a company that underwrites life settlement contracts and, while registered with his firm,sold a $30,000 unregistered security to an individual.

The FINRA findings stated that the customer was to use the funds to purchase issued life insurance policies, and upon the death of the insureds, receive a portion of the death benefit from each policy. The individual used
funds from his individual retirement account (IRA) at another firm to make the investment.

It was stated that Bocchino received $2,850 in commissions in connection with the transaction. The FINRA findings also stated that Bocchino failed to provide his firm with prior written notice and failed to obtain his firm’s written approval concerning the transaction although the firm’s WSPs
explicitly prohibited the sale of life settlements.

This suspension is in effect from May 21, 2012, through August 20, 2012. (FINRA Case #2010023743901)

This information was found on FINRA’s website under “Disciplinary and Other FINRA Actions, July, 2012.”

Securities Lawyer, Lars K. Soreide, of Soreide Law Group, PLLC, has represented clients nationwide. Call for a free consultation on how you could potentially recover your financial losses. To speak with an attorney call 888-760-6552, or visit our website at: http://www.securitieslawyer.com.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Jul/12

27

Agent Charged In Life Insurance Fraud

On July 25th., 2012, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Baton Rouge, La.,  charged Timothy R. Schlatre with mail fraud, money laundering and asset forfeiture for his alleged role in a life insurance scam.

Schlarte was an agent for New York Life Insurance Co. and Lincoln National Corp. He allegedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions by selling insurance policies based on phony representations and defrauded the insurance company by allegedly writing policies over $100 million.

According to the U.S. Attorney, Schlatre conspired with six other individuals to apply for life insurance coverage. The agent allegedly instructed the applicants to lie about their net worth and monthly income, which they then could receive greater amounts of coverage.

Schlatre allegedly provided the applicants with money to pay the premium costs —which is barred by the life insurers and by state law.  The agent allegedly deposited the money into the applicants’ accounts so that they appeared to be making the payments.

Schlarte is now facing a maximum of 30 years in prison, and fines of up to $500,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense  whichever is larger.

If you or a family member have become alleged victims of life insurance fraud, contact an insurance fraud attorney for a free consultation on how to recover your investment losses. To speak with an attorney, call 888-760-6552, or visit securitieslawyer.com. Lars K. Soreide will stand up and fight for the rights of consumers.

Soreide Law Group, PLLC, representing Insurance Fraud Victims in Federal Court, State Court and before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

In an InvestementNews.com article by Darla Mercado, she writes that a group of mostly elderly investors trapped in a $7 million scam involving so-called “private annuities” will be getting back only a sliver of their original investment.

The trustee overseeing the bankruptcy case of insurance agent John F. Langford of Amarillo, Texas, revealed that most of the clients in a fraud masterminded by the agent will be getting back only 2.8 cents for every dollar they had invested.

Langford is currently doing time — 15 years in prison — after pleading guilty last fall to 15 counts of securities fraud and other charges. The Texas State Securities Board said that he stole close to $7 million from dozens of clients through the sale of unregistered products, including phony “private annuities” and promissory notes that promised interest rates as high as 9%.

Ms. Mercado writes that after going through Mr. Langford’s assets, which included an $85,000 Jackson National Life Insurance Co. annuity and $2,600 in furs and jewelry, trustee Kent Ries was able to scrape up $212,126 from which to pay off unsecured creditors’ claims. The jailed insurance agent owes money to 111 individuals and companies.

The InvestmentNews.com article said that among the largest claims Mr. Langford is facing: a $1.24 million claim from Hazel Carter, guardian of investor Ruth Alice Roach–Worak. Ms. Carter pursued Mr. Langford in federal bankruptcy court in Texas, arguing that Mr. Langford had made misrepresentations to Ms. Roach-Worak when selling “private annuities” to her between 2004 and 2006. Ms. Roach-Worak, who was over age 80 at the time, had chipped in about $950,000 in purchasing the phony investments, many of which weren’t expected to come due until she was over 90. Ms. Carter is expected to net only $35,765 out of her million dollar claim, according to trustee documents.

Mercado writes that a spokesman for the Texas State Securities Board, noted that in many fraud cases, victims manage to get only a few cents on the dollar. “There’s generally little recovery in fraud cases,” he said. “This fraud has gone on for a while, and Mr. Langford made a number of Ponzi-type payments. The money disappeared, and this is why it’s critically important for investors to check if the person and the investment are registered before making an investment.” He  also noted that often victims make the mistake of purchasing unregistered investments from insurance agents, assuming that “because they’re involved in the financial field, they’re authorized to sell securities.”

Securities Lawyer, Lars K. Soreide, of Soreide Law Group, PLLC, has represented clients nationwide. If you or a family member have sustained investment losses due to your stock broker or financial advisor’s recommendations, call for a free consultation on how to potentially recover your losses. To speak with an attorney call 888-760-6552, or visit our website at: www.securitieslawyer.com.

Soreide Law Group, PLLC., representing investors nationwide before FINRA the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Mar/12

7

Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. Ordered to Pay in Stoli Case

In an InvestmentNews.com article from March 6, 2012, Darla Mercado writes that the Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. will pay $5 million in death benefits  for a life insurance policy the insurer had contended was fraudulent.

The jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Friday found in favor of plaintiff Steven A. Sciarretta, a trustee of the Barton Cotton Irrevocable Trust and owner of a $5 million life insurance policy on the life of the late Mr. Cotton, in a case against Lincoln National.

Mercado writes that Mr. Sciarretta took the insurer to court last April because Lincoln would not pay the death benefit proceeds, even though Mr. Cotton had died after the two-year contestability period in which carriers can refute claims had expired. Lincoln countersued and alleged Mr. Cotton’s policy was void from the start because he had indicated falsely on the policy application that he had no intent to sell the coverage on the secondary market or to assign a beneficial interest in the policy to a trust.

Lincoln National, the insurer, claimed the policy was issued at the behest of so-called stoli promoters. Stoli, or stranger-originated life insurance, involves buyers’ purchasing life insurance coverage they don’t need for the express purpose of selling the death benefits to investors.

The InvestmentNews.com article goes on to say that the jury found the trust had indeed made false statements on the life insurance application. But the panel also stated that it believed Mr. Cotton had not intended at the moment of purchase to transfer the policy to another party with no insurable interest in his life. The jury also found that Lincoln itself was not harmed by these misrepresentations, according to the verdict.

Mercado adds that Mr. Sciarretta benefited from Florida’s insurable interest law, which contains an implicit “good faith” requirement, which requires the insurer to prove that the policy was purchased with the sole intent to sell it to a stranger who doesn’t have an insurable interest in the life of the insured person. In this situation, however, Mr. Cotton’s family members testified that he had intended for the insurance to benefit them. Because the policy was issued in good faith, the trust will end up collecting on the full $5 million.

If you or a family member have become alleged victims of life insurance fraud, contact an insurance fraud attorney for a free consultation on how to recover your investment losses. To speak with an attorney, call 888-760-6552, or visit securitieslawyer.com. Lars K. Soreide will stand up and fight for the rights of consumers.

Soreide Law Group, PLLC, representing Insurance Fraud Victims in Federal Court, State Court and before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Feb/12

7

FINRA Cracking Down on Risky REITs, VAs, Private Placements and on B-Ds’ Fees

In an article for InvestmentNews.com, on February 1st, 2012, Mark Schoeff Jr. writes that in a market defined by low interest rates, investors are searching for higher returns. But brokers better be careful how they try to deliver those results, according to their primary regulator.

In a 16 page letter posted on its website, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc., (FINRA)  outlined its regulatory and examination priorities for 2012. At the top of the list: conduct and products meant to beat the market that instead are unsuitable for investors.

“FINRA is informing its examination priorities against the economic environment that investors have faced since 2008, as these circumstances have steadily contributed to conditions that foster an increased risk of aggressive yield chasing, inappropriate sales practices, unsuitable product offerings, and misappropriation and fraud,” the letter states.

“Given the low yields on Treasuries, we are concerned that investors may be inadvertently taking risks that they do not understand or that are inadequately disclosed as they chase yields,” the letter continues. Lack of liquidity and inadequate cash flow in investments also are red flags Finra is monitoring.

Shoeff writes that among the products that are on FINRA’s watch list for suitability problems: residential- and commercial-mortgage-backed securities, nontraded real estate investment trusts, municipal securities, exchange-traded funds using synthetic derivatives and significant leverage, variable annuities, structured products, private placements and life settlements.

FINRA said that it is undertaking a “broader data collection effort” and targeting its enforcement efforts on high-risk firms.  FINRA warned brokers not to enhance their balance sheets by taking on excessive debt or manipulating their assets and liabilities.

“FINRA is concerned about the additional risks that are being taken as a result of increased leverage, including market, credit and liquidity risk,” the letter states. “We will continue to monitor firms that employ a high degree of leverage, both on-balance-sheet and off-balance-sheet during the upcoming year.”

The InvestmentNews.com article goes on to say that FINRA also is zeroing in on fees.

“We remain concerned about firms’ charging retail investors hidden, mislabeled or excessive fees,” the letter states. “In 2011, FINRA brought cases against several broker-dealers that charged such excessive fees in the form of postage and handling charges that were unrelated to actual costs, and we will continue to investigate firms that appear to be taking advantage of investors through fee schemes.”

FINRA’s guidance on social media is less explicit. It said that it “is a topic on which we continue to receive many questions from firms.” FINRA reiterated that “core regulatory requirements apply to all communications with the public, irrespective of the medium or device used to communicate. Firms must be able to appropriately supervise business communications made using personal devices.”

Schoeff writes that high-frequency trading, and oversight of the creation and redemption of exchange-traded funds, also are listed among the agency’s many priorities. FINRA oversees about 4,460 broker-dealers and enforces the suitability standard, which requires brokers to sell products that fit their clients’ investment needs, timelines and risk appetites.

Other regulators are paying attention to FINRA’s priorities as   well.

“States look at these very highly,” said Steve Thomas, director of Lexington Compliance, a division of RIA in a Box LLC, and former South Dakota chief compliance examiner. “They make individual decisions on whether these items should be added to their state’s examinations.”

Securities Attorney, Lars Soreide, of Soreide Law Group, PLLC, has represented clients nationwide. If you or a family member have sustained investment losses due to your stock broker or financial advisor’s recommendations, call for a free consultation on how to potentially recover your losses. To speak with an attorney call 888-760-6552, or visit our website at: www.securitieslawyer.com.
 
Soreide Law Group, PLLC., representing investors nationwide before FINRA the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Feb/12

7

Deerfield Beach, Florida, Rep Fined and Suspended by FINRA

The following information was obtained on FINRA’s website’s ‘Disciplinary Actions, January 2012.”
 
Bradley John Delp (CRD #1701698, Registered Representative, Deerfield Beach, Florida)
 
submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was fined $25,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for two months. The fine must be paid either immediately upon Delp’s reassociation with a FINRA member firm following his suspension, or prior to the filing of any application or request for relief from any statutory disqualification, whichever is earlier.
 
Without admitting or denying the findings, Delp consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that he failed to provide prompt written notice to his member firm that he was employed by, or accepted compensation from, another person as a result of outside business activities. The findings stated that Delp was a shareholder and employee of an independent insurance agency who brokered fixed-term or whole life settlements for his insurance customers, and his insurance agency received a commission for most of the life settlement transactions it brokered.
 
The findings also stated that many years after Delp joined the firm and disclosed his outside business activity, the firm revised its WSPs to prohibit its registered representatives from participating in life settlements unless processed through the firm
and limited to products the firm offered through approved firm sponsors. Delp’s outside
business insurance company facilitated insurance company customers’ sales of fixed-term or whole life insurance policies to third-party companies. The life settlements were not brokered through the firm and most were not brokered with approved firm sponsors as required by the firm’s revised procedures. The findings also included that Delp formed a company in which he owned a half-interest. The company’s business was to negotiate, on behalf of Delp and other participating individual insurance brokers, commission rates from life insurance companies for insurance policies that they brokered.
 
FINRA found that Delp’s administrative assistant completed online Firm Element continuing education (CE) training courses for him. FINRA also found that Delp used, or directed his staff to use, copies of signature transparencies for customers to generate third-party checks, wire transfers and to journal money from related customer accounts although the customers had orally authorized the transactions.
 
The suspension is in effect from December 5, 2011, through February 4, 2012.
(FINRA Case #2009018233803)
 
The information from FINRA’s website has ended.
 
Securities Attorney, Lars Soreide, of Soreide Law Group, PLLC, has represented clients nationwide. If you or a family member have sustained investment losses through Bradley John Delp of Deerfield Beach, FL, or losses due to your stock broker or financial advisor’s recommendations, call for a free consultation on how to potentially recover your losses. To speak with an attorney call 888-760-6552, or visit our website at: www.securitieslawyer.com.
 
Soreide Law Group, PLLC., representing investors nationwide before FINRA the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Oct/11

20

Clyde Benninghoff, Amelia Island, FL, Barred by FINRA

Clyde Allen Benninghoff (CRD #18463, Registered Principal, Amelia Island, Florida)
 
submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. Without admitting or denying the
findings, Benninghoff consented to the described sanction and to the entry of findings
that he facilitated securities investments away from his member firm.
 
These findings stated that individuals, who were not customers of Benninghoff’s firm, invested a total of $1,560,531.80 in a secured premium finance plan, which purported to promise a 12 percent return on an accompanying promissory note. The findings also stated that the secured premium finance plan was marketed as an investment that included financing for premiums on life insurance policies. The findings also included that Benninghoff wrote the life insurance policies through his firm’s life insurance company affiliate. FINRA found that the investments were not made through Benninghoff’s firm and were unknown to the firm.
 
Also, FINRA found that Benninghoff did not provide written notice to, or obtain
approval from, his firm prior to facilitating the investments. In addition, FINRA determined that Benninghoff failed to appear for a FINRA on-the-record interview. (FINRA Case #2009019487201)
 
This article was obtained on FINRA’s website listed under ‘Disciplinary Actions’ October, 2011.
 If you or a family member have become alleged victims of life insurance fraud, contact an insurance fraud attorney for a free consultation on how to recover your investment losses.  To speak with an attorney, call 888-760-6552, or visit securitieslawyer.comWe stand up and fight for the rights of consumers. Soreide Law Group, PLLC, representing Insurance Fraud Victims in Federal Court, State Court and before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Oct/11

17

Insured’s “Intent” Is Not an Issue in Pa. Life Settlements Case

It was announced that a federal court decision in Pennsylvania has given a win for life settlement investors, deflating carriers’ argument that it is permissible for an insured person to apply for a life settlement with the express intent to sell it to a third party, writes Darla Mercado in an InvestmenNews.com article from October 12, 2011.

This suit filed by Principal Life Insurance Co. against brothers Matthew and Mark DeRose, trustees of their mother’s family trust, Judge Christopher C. Conner of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg ruled that under state statute, insurable interest is determined solely based on the relationship between the insured person and the policy beneficiary.

Finding on “intent” is similar to recent rulings made in Delaware State Supreme Court (PHL Variable Insurance Co. v. Price Dawe 2006 Insurance Trust) and in the New York Court of Appeals (Alice Kramer vs. Phoenix Life Insurance Co., Lincoln Life & Annuity Co. of New York). State laws don’t refer to the “intent of the parties” at the time coverage begins, nor does it require that the transfer of a policy must be in “good faith,” the judge wrote in his Oct. 5 ruling.

Mercado goes on to say that the fact that several courts have already rejected the “intent” argument could shape the outcome of other stranger-originated-life-insurance lawsuits filed by carriers which claim that an insured person applied for a policy with a plan to sell it to an investor in the secondary market, lawyers say.

The article points out that the Principal-DeRose case concerns JoAnn DeRose, who in 2006 applied for three policies with a total of $35 million in death benefits. The JoAnn DeRose Family Trust was the intended owner and beneficiary of the policy, and Ms. DeRose’s sons Matthew and Mark were beneficiaries of the trust, according to court documents. The policies were funded through non-recourse premium financing provided by First Priority Bank, and the $1.51 million loan to cover the premiums was secured by the policies.

The credit approval memorandum from First Priority stated that the principal source of repayment for the loan is “the sale of the three assigned life insurance policies in the secondary market, via a life settlement transaction,” according to court documents.

The InvestmentNews.com article points out that Principal subsequently filed an instant declaratory judgment action against the DeRose brothers, claiming they bought the policies as part of a Stoli scheme and hid their use of non-recourse financing on the application for the policies. The insurer sought to have the policies voided because they lacked insurable interest at inception and the application documents had material misrepresentations. Principal also sought to retain the premiums to offset its expenses.

Then Judge Conner set aside the DeRoses’ alleged intent to sell the policies in the secondary market, and instead based insurable interest on the fact that Ms. DeRose’s sons were the beneficiaries of the trust, which in turn was the beneficiary of the insurance policies. Indeed, a parent-child relationship forms the basis for insurable interest, he wrote.

Judge Conner is allowing Principal to move forward with claims aiming to void the policies based on misrepresentations on the application. He is also permitting the carrier to seek retention of the premiums to offset the costs related to issuing the policies.

“While we can’t comment on pending litigation, The Principal does not support any form of investor-initiated life insurance where individuals or investors purchase insurance solely to bet on the early demise of an insured,” spokeswoman Joelle Kirchoff wrote in an e-mail. “We closely monitor our business for these types of policies. In policies where investor-initiated life insurance is suspected, lawsuits have been filed.”

If you or a family member have become alleged victims of life insurance fraud, contact an insurance fraud attorney for a free consultation on how to recover your investment losses.  To speak with an attorney, call 888-760-6552, or visit securitieslawyer.com

We stand up and fight for the rights of consumers. Soreide Law Group, PLLC, representing Insurance Fraud Victims in Federal Court, State Court and before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Oct/11

10

Life Settlements Fraud Get Long Jail Sentences For Two Scammers

Two men from Houston, Texas, have been sentenced to spend more than 45 years in prison for their role in a massive life settlements fraud scheme writes Darla Mercado in an October 7, 2011, article in InvestmentNews.com.

Christian Allmendinger, the co-founder and vice president of A&O Resource Management Ltd., and Adley H. Abdulwahab, a hedge fund manager and part owner of A&O, were sentenced to 45 years and 60 years in federal prison, respectively, on Sept. 27 and 28 in the U.S. District Court in Richmond, Va. The charges against the two also includes conspiracy to commit money laundering, securities fraud and mail fraud.

This case dates back to 2004, when Mr. Allmendinger and another man founded A&O, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Richmond and the Justice Department.

Ms. Mercado writes that the firm offered individual investors whole and fractionalized interests in so-called bonded life settlements, which were supposedly backed against longevity risk with a reinsurance bond. These bonds were positioned as fixed-maturity investments with a term of four to seven years and marketed as providing a guaranteed minimum compounded annual rate of return of 10% to 12%.

As many as 800 investors, most of them elderly, bought up the investments, and A&O raked in some $100 million in clients’ dollars.

It was reported in the InvestmentNews.com article that Mr. Abdulwahab, who eventually became a partial owner of A&O, entered the picture when his marketing company, CA Houston Investment Center, or HIC, and independent insurance agents who weren’t securities licensed began selling the investments, according to the suit. A&O paid HIC and the agents a commission of 10% of each bonded life settlement purchase, authorities said.

Concerned that the firm was offering unregistered securities, securities and insurance regulators became suspicious in 2006. Federal enforcement agencies said the men set up a phony series of sales of A&O itself in 2007 to place greater distance between themselves and regulators’ scrutiny of the firm. The transactions ended Mr. Allmendinger’s and Mr. Abdulwahab’s ownership interests in A&O, according to law enforcement agencies.

It was reported that A&O went into bankruptcy in September 2009, due to failure to pay down the premiums on its underlying insurance policies.

Mr. Abdulwahab filed an appeal of the sentence last week, and Mr. Allmendinger also will appeal the sentence.

If you or a family member have become alleged victims of life settlement fraud, contact an insurance fraud attorney for a free consultation on how to recover your investment losses.  To speak with an attorney, call 888-760-6552, or visit securitieslawyer.com

We stand up and fight for the rights of consumers. Soreide Law Group, PLLC, representing Insurance Fraud Victims in Federal Court, State Court and before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Sep/11

1

Texas Reps Could Lose Securities Licenses for Selling Life Settlement Notes

In an InvestmentNews.com article, Darla Mercado writes that two registered representatives with Planmember Securities Corp. could lose their securities licenses in Texas and face fines of $100,000 each for the improper sale of life settlement notes.

The brokers, Jimmy Wayne Freeman Jr. and Kris Bradford Rhoden, were due to appear at the State Office of Administrative Hearings on Aug. 4 for a proceeding that will determine whether the men lose their securities registrations and have to pay the fines, according to the Texas State Securities Board.

The article says that the state regulators claim that between June 2008 and February 2009, Mr. Freeman and Mr. Rhoden sold note agreements that were supposedly backed by life insurance policies and guaranteed a 10% simple-interest return for five years.

The two reps allegedly also sold a so-called Immediate Income Investment Plan, which involved a five-year note that was purportedly backed by life insurance policies, plus a five-year, fixed biweekly income account.

The InvestmentNews.com article points out that both products were issued by National Life Settlements LLC, a now-defunct firm that was shut down by Texas securities cops in 2009 after selling $30 million in unregistered investments — phony promissory notes that were supposedly backed by life settlements — to teachers and state retirees.

Ms. Mercado writes that the men also failed to get permission from Planmember to perform an outside business activity before receiving an undisclosed amount in commissions for selling away, according to the brokers’ hearing notices. State regulators also charge that when Mr. Freeman and Mr. Rhoden sold the life settlement notes, they told Planmember on their compliance questionnaire that they did not offer or sell such products.

Mr. Freeman and Mr. Rhoden allegedly failed to comply with Planmember’s supervisory procedures, which barred private-securities transactions and required them to get prior written approval from the broker-dealer before participating in a securities transaction outside of the regular course of business, Texas securities regulators claim.

Finally, it was reported that the men failed to make a timely update of their U-4 forms to show that they were marketing the life settlement notes, and both used their personal e-mail accounts to communicate with Planmember clients about the investments, according to the hearing notices.

If you or a family member have become alleged victims of life insurance fraud, contact an insurance fraud attorney for a free consultation on how to recover your investment losses.  To speak with an attorney, call 888-760-6552, or visit securitieslawyer.com

We stand up and fight for the rights of consumers. Soreide Law Group, PLLC, representing Insurance Fraud Victims in Federal Court, State Court and before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Older posts >>

Theme Design by devolux.nh2.me