On July 21, 2014, California officials said a $20.4 million judgment was obtained against Synergy Oil LLC, a Newport Beach firm, and company manager, Robert Falco, for fraudulently marketing oil and gas investments. The judgment was ordered in late June in Orange County Superior Court. The judge ordered the defendants to return the money clients […]

The Fort Lauderdale-based Soreide Law Group, (888) 760-6552, obtained the following summary of information from FINRA’s website, under “Disciplinary and Other FINRA Actions, July, 2014.” Ann Maria Ferrao (CRD #4481123, Miami, Florida) was barred by FINRA for refusing to appear before FINRA and testify in an investigation into allegations that she misappropriated funds from her […]

Fort Lauderdale-based Soreide Law Group, (888) 760-6552, has obtained the following summation of information from FINRA’s website, under “Disciplinary and Other FINRA Actions, July, 2014.” John Warren DuBrule (CRD #1223724, Orlando, Florida) was barred by FINRA for allegedly engaging in securities fraud by the distribution of quarterly statements containing false information about the valuation of […]

Soreide Law Group has already filed three FINRA arbitration claims against financial advisor, Matthew A. Bell and have been contacted by multiple investors looking to also pursue claims. Matthew A. Bell, Craig L. Josephberg, and other financial advisors, were allegedly involved in a 'pump-and-dump' scheme involving shares of Cubed, Inc., The Staffing Group Ltd., CodeSmart, […]

Michigan's Attorney General charged MARY A. FAHER (CRD# 2852644) of Stevensville, Michigan, who worked as an investment advisor with The Diversified Group Advisory Firm, beginning in 2011, with running a Ponzi Scheme that defrauded senior citizens out of millions of dollars. Faher was arraigned on four counts of Securities Fraud. Multiple charges have also been […]

Dean Mustaphalli, a former Sterne Agee Financial Services Inc. broker, has been charged by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc.(FINRA) for allegedly operating a $6 million hedge fund, Mustaphalli Capital Partners, and receiving commissions without informing his firm. Mustaphalli began his fund in 2011 and may be expelled by FINRA for allegedly operating the hedge […]

Last week Puerto Rico passed a restructuring law that caused an immediate downgrade to it's debt from all three of the major rating services. Moody's Investors Service cut the Puerto Rican bonds three notches from a Ba2 to a B2. This leaves the bonds five notches below investment grade. The bonds which are backed by […]

Kenneth Doyle Brownlee (CRD #1277737, Spartanburg, South Carolina) was fined $7,500 and suspended by FINRA because he allegedly, on 13 occasions, contacted an annuity company and impersonated three of his customers. Brownlee did this in order to effect distributions, which had been authorized by the customer, from their annuity contracts. This totaled $35,500. According to […]

Fort Lauderdale-based Soreide Law Group, (888) 760-6552, obtained the following summation of information from FINRA’s website, under “Disciplinary and Other FINRA Actions, June, 2014.” Shondeep Sajan Balchandani (CRD #5165930, West Palm Beach, Florida) was barred by FINRA for allegedly churning and excessively trading, engaging in unauthorized trading in non¬discretionary customer accounts, and recommending unsuitable investments […]