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.

If you have invested in any of Payson Petroleum/Payson Operating’s private placements, including the 3 Well Programs, contact our securities lawyers for a free consultation. Our lawyers have recovered tens of millions of dollars for investor losses due to broker and brokerage firm misconduct, including losses incurred on risky private placements. We represent Payson Petroleum Investors nationwide on an individual bases through FINRA on a contingency fee. Call 888-760-6552 for a free consultation, we advance all costs.
Payson Petroleum and Payson Operating filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in June 2016. The bankruptcy was later converted to a chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to the bankruptcy trustee, neither Payson Petroleum nor Payson Operating will have the funds to pay its unsecured creditors after administrative expenses are paid.
According to an SEC complaint filed in November 2016, the amount of unsecured debt, which was primarily raised through Payson Petroleum private placements, is at least $23 million.
Payson Petroleum raised millions of dollars through various private placements, including filing Form Ds with the SEC for the following offerings:

The following brokerage firms may have served as underwriters and/or received compensation for at least one of the aforementioned deals by selling it to their customers:
CALL 888-760-6552 to talk to a Securities Lawyer not about how you may be able to recover your investment losses.
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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