March 27, 2012

FEDERAL COURT IMPOSES $2.5 MILLION CIVIL PENALTY AGAINST INVESTMENT ADVISER ROBERT GLENN BARD AND VISION SPECIALIST GROUP, LLC

The following article appeared on the SEC's website:

"The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that on February 2, 2012, United States District Judge William C. Caldwell of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania entered an order imposing a $2,500,000 civil penalty jointly and severally against defendants Robert Glenn Bard and Vision Specialist Group, LLC. In an earlier order on November 10, 2011, the Court found that defendants made false statements to thirty-three of their investment advisory clients on 146 separate occasions about what type of securities and holdings they had, where the assets were, and the value of the assets, and that they charged at least one client excessive fees. In assessing the penalty, the Court found that the egregiousness of defendants’ behavior, the recurrent nature of the conduct, the lack of cooperation with authorities, defendants’ degree of scienter, and the risk of loss created by defendants’ actions all weighed in favor of imposing a substantial penalty.

This case arises out of allegations by the Commission in a complaint filed on July 30, 2009, that defendant Bard, an investment adviser, and his solely-owned company Vision Specialist Group, LLC, had violated the federal securities laws through fraudulent misrepresentations regarding client investments, account performance and advisory fees, the creation of false client account statements, and forgery of client documents. On November 10, 2011, the Court granted the Commission’s motion for summary judgment. The Court found Bard and Vision Specialist liable for violations of § 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, § 10(b) of the Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and §§ 206(1) and 206(2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. In that order, the Court also entered permanent injunctions against the defendants for violations of those provisions, and held the defendants jointly and severally liable for disgorgement of $450,000, plus prejudgment interest in an amount to be determined."

THIS ENDS THE SEC’S ARTICLE.

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.

Recent Posts

March 28, 2024
Al Lovelace In Investor Disputes Over Annuity Misrepresentation

Soreide Law Group is investigating potential investor claims of sales practice violations possibly committed by securities broker Al Stephen Lovelace [CRD: 2393766, Rutherfordton, North Carolina], given the disclosures on FINRA BrokerCheck. Evidently, Lovelace has worked for Equitable Advisors LLC since December 27, 2016, and worked previously at AXA Advisors LLC from October 2, 2008, to […]

March 28, 2024
KAREN CHUNG of WESTERN INTERNATIONAL

Soreide Law Group is conducting an investigation into WESTERN INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES, INC. of Pasadena, California, financial advisor, KAREN TRAN CHUNG (KAREN CHUNG). According to FINRA’s  BrokerCheck, KAREN CHUNG, has been in the securities industry for 20 years and has been listed with 4 firms.  She is currently listed with, WESTERN INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES, INC., 70 S. […]

March 26, 2024
Stifel Fined $400K by FINRA

According to a recent article in Wealth Management, Stifel will pay over $400,000 to settle FINRA disciplinary charges that the firm allegedly did not properly supervise one of their registered representatives who misappropriated over $100,000 from an elderly client. Stifel agreed to the penalties without admitting or denying FINRA’s findings. In addition to a $400,000 penalty, Stifel […]

Contact us Nationwide USA
2401 E. Atlantic Blvd., Suite 305, Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Helping clients recover money across the USA
search
Copyright © 2022 Soreide Law Group, PLLC  |  All Rights Reserved
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram