GERALD J. COCUZZO Pleads Guilty in ForceField Energy Fraud

GERALD J. COCUZZO (CRD# 4047511) Alternate Names: JERRY COCUZZO,
38 year old broker, formerly with New Bridge Securities and IAA Financial, both of Boca Raton, Florida, pleaded guilty recently to securities fraud in connection with the fraudulent market manipulation of ForceField Energy Inc. (FNRG), causing a loss of $131 million to the investors.
According to court findings, between January 2009 and April 2015, Cocuzzo, and others, engaged in a scheme to defraud investors in ForceField, a distributor and provider of LED lighting products. It was reported that Cocuzzo artificially controlled the price and volume of traded shares of ForceField through, according to the US Attorney’s Office, (1) using nominees to purchase and sell ForceField stock without disclosing this information to investors and potential investors; (2) orchestrating the trading of ForceField stock to create the appearance of genuine trading volume and interest in FNRG; and (3) concealing the payments to stock promoters and broker/dealers who promoted and sold ForceField stock to investors while claiming to be independent of the company.
Between January 2015 and April 2015, a ForceField executive paid kickbacks to Cocuzzo in exchange for his purchase of ForceField stock in his clients’ brokerage accounts.  Cocuzzo did not disclose to his clients the kickbacks he was receiving for purchasing ForceField stock.  Cocuzzo concealed his participation in the fraud by using prepaid cell phones and encrypted, content-expiring messaging apps to communicate with each other, and by paying kickbacks in cash.
According to FINRA’s BrokerCheck, GERALD J. COCUZZO was registered in the securities industry for 14 years and the following firms are his most recent:
12/2014 - 05/2016 NEWBRIDGE SECURITIES CORPORATION - BOCA RATON, FL
09/2009 - 01/2015 IAA FINANCIAL LLC - Boca Raton, FL
11/2008 - 10/2009 GUNNALLEN FINANCIAL, INC - BOCA RATON, FL
If you were a client of the former Boca Raton, Florida broker, GERALD J. COCUZZO or any other broker, who due to their actions or recommendations in the stock, FNRG, caused you financial losses, contact the conveniently located Pompano Beach, Florida-based Soreide Law Group for a no-cost consultation regarding the possibility of recovering your investment losses at:  888-760-6552.
Soreide Law Group operates on a contingency fee and we represent our clients nationwide.
Other stock brokers associated with the sale of Forcefield Energy:
1) PRANAV PATEL - Licensed see link - Dawson James Securities - In Boca Raton
Age: 35
Tamarac, Florida
2) MAROOF MIYANA --- Legend Securities - In Pompano beach
Age: 35
Boca Raton, Florida
3) NAVEED KHAN - MEYERS ASSOCIATES, L.P.
Age: 33
Staten Island, New York