A former Fort Lauderdale Ameriprise investment advisor, Shawn Sapp, was fined $25,000 by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation on Nov. 19, 2013, for taking loans from clients and not disclosing his criminal past. Sapp is banned from registering as a financial professional in the state of Florida for three years. Sapp was employed by Ameriprise from August, 2007 until his resignation on Jan. 29, 2013. Ameriprise has a policy against borrowing money from a client.
It was alleged that Sapp deposited a check from his client into Sapp's own personal brokerage account at Ameriprise, instead of the client’s account, in November, 2012. Sapp made several ATM withdrawals from that account and used a check from the same client to put funds into the Ameriprise account of another client.
Also, Sapp did not make Ameriprise aware of his arrest on felony charges on June 21, 2009. Sapp filed an application on Jan. 26 to became an investment adviser for another firm, also without disclosing his felony arrest. His application was denied.
Soreide Law Group is located in Fort Lauderdale and represents investors nationwide before FINRA. Soreide Law Group can be reached (954) 760-6552.