Ernesto Chavez (CRD: 4315877) faces a new pending claim on BrokerCheck over an investment made in 2018. The customer alleges $180,000 in damages, and no arbitrator has ruled on the claim.
Christopher James Butler (CRD #: 1894450, Woodland Hills, California) is presently a Morgan Stanley registered representative. According to Christopher James Butler’s Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) BrokerCheck Report, his activities have caused customers of Morgan Stanley and Prudential Securities to lodge disputes with their respective firms referencing his alleged sales practice violations.
On May 16, 2017, a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney customer filed FINRA Arbitration #17-01267. The customer claimed that Butler sold the customer corporate bond investments from 2012 and 2016 that were inappropriate. Apparently, those investments were not supported by the customer’s investment objectives or financial circumstances. Additionally, records show that the customer alleged other sales practice violations to have been committed by him; however, Butler declined to state exactly what those violations were. Either way, the arbitration is pending a resolution.
On December 12, 2016, a customer of Morgan Stanley filed FINRA Arbitration #16-01880 in regard to Butler’s alleged mishaps. According to the customer, Butler put the customer in over-the-counter equities and corporate debt investments that were unsuitable. Also, the customer claimed that the unsuitable trades occurred between April 2015 and June 2016, causing the customer to suffer harm. All things considered, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney opted to settle the customer’s allegations by paying the customer $90,000.00 on October 31, 2017.
Records show that another Morgan Stanley Smith Barney customer filed FINRA Arbitration #16-02658 on September 15, 2016. In that arbitration, the customer contended that Butler unreasonably advised the customer to buy energy bonds. Because of the alleged unsuitable energy bond trades, on December 22, 2016, Morgan Stanley settled the arbitration by providing the customer $95,000.00.
A Morgan Stanley Smith Barney customer brought FINRA Arbitration #16-02492 on February 14, 2017. That customer, like the one in FINRA Arbitration #16-02658, contended that Butler made unsuitable recommendations regarding energy bonds. Apparently, the unsuitable corporate debt investments led the customer to sustain losses. As a result, Morgan Stanley paid the customer $80,000.00 to remedy the issue, even though it did not admit to have been liable.
FINRA Arbitration #15-02349 was filed by another Morgan Stanley Smith Barney customer on September 16, 2015. The customer contended that Butler made misrepresentations in regard to the terms and conditions of the customer’s corporate debt and over-the-counter equity investments. Apparently, the alleged misrepresentation, among other sales practice violations, occurred between June 2011 and October 2014. Because of this, on September 27, 2016, Morgan Stanley paid the customer $23,000.00 to resolve the customer’s allegations.
On June 8, 2009, FINRA Arbitration #09-03244 had been filed by a Wachovia Securities, LLC customer, who alleged omissions, misrepresentation, fraud, negligence, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and suitability. The customer alleged that the sales practice violations and fraudulent conduct concerned investments that had been purchased for the customer’s account. Accordingly, Wachovia Securities, LLC settled the customer’s fraud allegations on November 18, 2010 by paying the customer $40,000.00.
Butler was registered with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC from July 1, 2003 to January 19, 2010. He has been with Morgan Stanley since January 15, 2010.
Investors who have suffered losses by Butler’s activities or from the inappropriate conduct of another Morgan Stanley registered representative are encouraged to contact Soreide Law Group at (888) 760-6552 to speak with an attorney about the possibility of recovering investment losses. We represent clients nationwide against brokers and brokerage firms, and only charge a fee if successful in recovering for you.
Ernesto Chavez (CRD: 4315877) faces a new pending claim on BrokerCheck over an investment made in 2018. The customer alleges $180,000 in damages, and no arbitrator has ruled on the claim.
William Tunink (CRD: 2738224) settled a customer claim for $299,000 on August 11, 2026, according to his BrokerCheck report. The customer alleged that he obtained loans from the customer, and that some of the money went into an investment.
Tony Barouti (CRD: 3031995) faces a pending $230,400 customer claim, according to his BrokerCheck report. He says the allegations in it are false. His report also lists SEC administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings from August 2025.
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