John Alex (CRD: 2020710) settled customer disputes at Morgan Stanley and UBS Financial Services between 2011 and 2025, according to BrokerCheck, which lists him as John L. Alex.
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) BrokerCheck reveals disclosures about securities broker Robert Joseph Earls Jr. [CRD: 1369915, Roanoke, Virginia]. Earls was previously registered as both a broker and an investment adviser, most recently working for LPL Financial LLC from June 2011 to February 2024. Recent disclosures detail multiple customer disputes, allegations of misappropriation, and an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.
On February 7, 2024, a client alleged that from 2015 through 2024, Earls misappropriated funds. This complaint was settled for $1,300,000. Similarly, on March 12, 2024, another client accused Earls of misappropriating funds, leading to a settlement of $20,000. Additional complaints include a March 22, 2024, dispute in which a client claimed that Earls failed to follow instructions regarding stock sales. This was resolved with a $21,139.08 settlement.
On May 3, 2024, a client alleged that funds were misappropriated between June 2017 and December 2020, following the advisor’s passing. LPL Financial settled this claim for $32,339.00. Another significant case remains pending: a March 18, 2024, claim where a client alleges that from June 2010 through February 2023, she provided funds to Earls for investment, but no accounts existed at LPL. The damages requested total $1,100,000.
Another ongoing dispute was filed on March 8, 2024, in which a customer alleged that they had worked with Earls since October 2021 and experienced an issue with withdrawn funds that were not returned in October 2023. The alleged damages in this case amount to $20,000.
Also, several other disputes remain unresolved. On June 25, 2024, a complaint was filed regarding the purchase of unsuitable mutual funds under Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI). Additionally, a May 2, 2024, case involving an investment made in 2014 alleges that the investment did not align with the client’s risk tolerance and objectives. This claim is being reviewed under FINRA arbitration case number 24-00611.
Evidently, one of the more serious allegations concerns a grand jury investigation initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice for the Western District of Virginia. Announced on February 28, 2024, this investigation pertains to claims of misappropriation in clients' accounts.
Looking for more information about Robert Earls? If so, reach out to Soreide Law Group online or call (888) 760-6552 to consult with a securities attorney. Soreide Law Group works on a contingency basis and advances all costs. The firm assists clients throughout the United States with recovering losses from sales practice misconduct. Earls and the firms he worked for deny accusations of sales practice violations.
John Alex (CRD: 2020710) settled customer disputes at Morgan Stanley and UBS Financial Services between 2011 and 2025, according to BrokerCheck, which lists him as John L. Alex.
Sam Bhushan (CRD: 4884717) is named in several pending customer complaints and one settled dispute, according to his BrokerCheck report.
Sterling Louviere (CRD: 2021328), listed on BrokerCheck as Sterling Vaughn Louviere, is named in a pending customer claim over Reg D private placements, with Cabin Securities as the firm named.
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