Hedge Funds - Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce

Jan 27, 2021

Buffalo, New York Securities Attorneys Handling Hedge Fund Investment Disputes

Did Timothy Dembski and Walter Grenda Jr Cause You Investment Losses? Timothy Dembski and Walter Grenda Jr. of Buffalo, New York were named Respondents in a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) complaint that alleges they fraudulently induced customers to invest in a hedge fund. The FINRA complaint alleges that the two led customers to believe the hedge fund known as Prestige Wealth Management Fund was based on a computer algorithm when in fact when in fact the fund was speculative and did not need to follow an algorithm. The fund lost 80% of its value in its last month making Mr. Dembski and Mr. Walter’s recommendations unsuitable especially given their clients financial condition. FINRA is currently seeking information that can lead to disciplinary action. Do You Need Securities Attorneys Handling Hedge Fund Investment Disputes? New York has thousands of stock brokerage firms and investment advisory offices. With so many stock brokerage firms and investment advisory offices, comes the potential for their stockbrokers, financial advisors, and other representatives to misrepresent and mislead investors about investing in Hedge Funds and engage in all kinds of stockbroker misconduct which violates Federal and New York securities laws and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and stock brokerage firms policies and procedures. Experienced Securities Attorney For Investors With Hedge Fund Claims In FINRA Arbitrations Throughout New York and Nationwide. Are you a New York investor who has suffered significant losses in your stock brokerage and investment accounts? Did your New York stockbroker or investment advisor misrepresent or mislead you about a Hedge Fund investment or make an unsuitable recommendation that you invest in a Hedge Fund or otherwise mismanage your investment account? If so, you need to hire an experienced, highly-rated and nationally recognized FINRA securities arbitration law attorney who understands these highly complex and risky Hedge Fund investments. You will also need an experienced lawyer who knows FINRA rules and procedures inside and out and how to handle these FINRA arbitration cases and other complex legal issues. By hiring a top rated and highly successful attorney like Robert Wayne Pearce with over 40 years of experience practicing securities law on both sides of the table in FINRA arbitration proceedings, you will clearly see that Attorney Pearce doesn’t just handle cases—he aggressively represents investors and is one of the best [attorneys/lawyers] to recover your investment losses in Hedge Funds and all types of stockbroker misconduct in FINRA arbitration proceedings! At The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., we represent investors in all kinds of Hedge Fund and securities law and investment disputes in FINRA arbitration and mediation proceedings. We handle a wide range of practice areas such as fraud and misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, failure to supervise, and unsuitable recommendations of Hedge Funds. Attorney Pearce and his staff represent investors throughout New York, and across the United States on a CONTINGENCY FEE basis, which means you pay nothing – NO FEES-NO COSTS – unless we put money in your pocket after receiving a settlement or FINRA arbitration award. Se habla español Free Initial Consultation With Experienced Hedge Fund Investment Lawyers Serving New York Residents In FINRA Arbitrations The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. are highly experienced lawyers who successfully handle Hedge Fund cases and other securities law matters and investment disputes in FINRA arbitration proceedings, and who work tirelessly to secure the best possible result for you and your case. For dedicated representation by an attorney with over 40 years of experience and success in Hedge Fund cases and all kinds of securities law and investment disputes serving New York citizens, contact the firm by phone at 561-338-0037, toll free at 800-732-2889 or via e-mail.

Jan 7, 2021

Fort Wayne, Indiana Securities Attorneys Handling Hedge Fund Investment Disputes

Did Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation Cause You Investment Losses? Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation of Fort Wayne, Indiana submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry National Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for allegedly failing to implement and enforce reasonable supervisory procedures related to the recommendation of private placement variable annuities. FINRA found representatives from two of LFA’s branch offices recommended customers to invest in a hedge fund that engaged in a complex option trading strategy. FINRA alleged that the complexity of the hedge fund exposed the LFA clients to a high degree of financial risk. LFA however approved the recommendations and 25 firm customers invested approximately $11.7 million in the hedge fund. In 2010, the hedge fund was shut down. Without admitting or denying the findings, Lincoln Financial Advisors agreed to the FINRA sanctions and was censured and ordered to pay a $150,000 fine. Do You Need a Securities Attorney Handling Hedge Fund Investment Disputes? Indiana has thousands of stock brokerage firms and investment advisory offices. With so many stock brokerage firms and investment advisory offices, comes the potential for their stockbrokers, financial advisors, and other representatives to misrepresent and mislead investors about investing in Hedge Funds and engage in all kinds of stockbroker misconduct which violates Federal and Indiana securities laws and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and stock brokerage firms policies and procedures. Experienced Securities Attorney For Investors With Hedge Fund Claims In FINRA Arbitrations Throughout Indiana and Nationwide. Are you an Indiana investor who has suffered significant losses in your stock brokerage and investment accounts? Did your Indiana stockbroker or investment advisor misrepresent or mislead you about a Hedge Fund investment or make an unsuitable recommendation that you invest in a Hedge Fund or otherwise mismanage your investment account? If so, you need to hire an experienced, highly-rated and nationally recognized FINRA securities arbitration law attorney who understands these highly complex and risky Hedge Fund investments. You will also need an experienced lawyer who knows FINRA rules and procedures inside and out and how to handle these FINRA arbitration cases and other complex legal issues. By hiring a top rated and highly successful attorney like Robert Wayne Pearce with over 40 years of experience practicing securities law on both sides of the table in FINRA arbitration proceedings, you will clearly see that Attorney Pearce doesn’t just handle cases—he aggressively represents investors and is one of the best [attorneys/lawyers] to recover your investment losses in Hedge Funds and all types of stockbroker misconduct in FINRA arbitration proceedings! At The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., we represent investors in all kinds of Hedge Fund and securities law and investment disputes in FINRA arbitration and mediation proceedings. We handle a wide range of practice areas such as fraud and misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, failure to supervise, and unsuitable recommendations of Hedge Funds. Attorney Pearce and his staff represent investors throughout Indiana, and across the United States on a CONTINGENCY FEE basis, which means you pay nothing – NO FEES-NO COSTS – unless we put money in your pocket after receiving a settlement or FINRA arbitration award. Se habla español Free Initial Consultation With Experienced Hedge Fund Investment Lawyers Serving Indiana Residents In FINRA Arbitrations The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. are highly experienced lawyers who successfully handle Hedge Fund cases and other securities law matters and investment disputes in FINRA arbitration proceedings, and who work tirelessly to secure the best possible result for you and your case. For dedicated representation by an attorney with over 40 years of experience and success in Hedge Fund cases and all kinds of securities law and investment disputes serving Indiana citizens, contact the firm by phone at 561-338-0037, toll free at 800-732-2889 or via e-mail.

Jun 22, 2020

FINRA Complaint Filed Against Former Huntington Investment Company Stockbroker William Joseph Kielczewski

William Joseph Kielczewski was named a respondent in a FINRA complaint alleging that he falsely attested to his firm compliance questionnaires, participated in private securities transactions and caused his firm to file five misleading form U4’s all in violation of NASD Rule 3040, Article V, Section 2 of FINRA’s By-Laws and FINRA Rules 3280, 2010 and 1122. In January 2014, William Joseph Kielczewski joined Huntington Investment Company (Huntington) as a general securities representative until his involuntary termination on April 26, 2017. According to the FINRA findings, Kielczewski was involved in an outside business activity, a hedge fund called Mariemont, promoting it to potential investors and participated in multiple private transactions through which four Firm customers invested over $10 million. The findings also stated that Kielczewski allegedly caused his member firm to submit five false U4 forms stating he was a silent minority partner, had a passive position with the company and described himself as a passive investor in which he was not. William Joseph Kielczewski is no longer registered or associated with a FINRA member and remains subject to FINRA’s jurisdiction.

Feb 8, 2019

Stockbroker Appeals for Investments in Athenian Hedge Fund

On July 30 Robert Russel Tweed of Glendale, California appealed an Office of Hearing Officers (OHO) decision to the National Adjudicatory Council (NAC) in which he was fined $50,000 and barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for allegedly in violating FINRA Rule 2010 and Sections 17(a)(2) and (3) of the securities act of 1933. The sanctions are not in effect, pending review of the OHO decision by the NAC.

Feb 4, 2019

Former GCS Stockbroker Suspended for Participating in Private Transactions

Kenny Danny Mezher a former registered stockbroker with Growth Capital Services, submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) in which he was assessed a deferred fine of $5,000 and suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for a period of two months for allegedly participating in private transactions. On April 22, 2016, Kenny Mezher joined Growth Capital Services (GCS) as a General Securities Representative. He remained associated with the Firm until his termination on April 11, 2017. According to FINRA, between January 2017 and March 2017, Mezher participated in four private securities transactions in violation of FINRA Rules 3280 and 2010. The findings stated that while with GCS, he was also employed by a now-defunct hedge fund called Crescent Ridge Capital Partners. Mezher allegedly sold four limited partnership interest totaling $179,500 to five investors of whom were his family and friends without providing notice or approval from his firm.

Dec 16, 2015

Lincoln Financial Advisors Fined for Supervisory System Failures

Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation (LFA) of Fort Wayne, Indiana submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Department of Enforcement of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for allegedly failing to implement and enforce reasonable supervisory procedures related to the recommendation of private placement variable annuities (PPVA). LFA has been a FINRA member since 1969 and has nearly 2,500 registered representatives and over 500 branch offices. FINRA found that between October 2008 and April 2009, representatives from two of LFA’s branch offices recommended customers to invest in a hedge fund that engaged in a complex option trading strategy. FINRA alleged that the complexity of the hedge fund exposed the LFA clients to a high degree of financial risk. LFA however approved the recommendations and 25 firm customers invested approximately $11.7 million in the hedge fund. In 2010, the hedge fund was shut down.

Jul 8, 2015

Carrollton Texas REIT Viatical Brokerage Expelled From FINRA

Fox Financial Management Corporation (Fox Financial) of Carrollton, Texas, Brian Murphy of Frisco, Texas and James Rooney of Carrolton, Texas were all fined and suspended by the Department of Enforcement for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority for allegedly failing to supervise a registered representative and for failing to establish, maintain and enforce written supervisory procedures. Fox Financial’s primary business was selling private placements in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and life insurance settlement funds (viaticals) issued by a Fox Financial affiliate. Rooney and Murphy were both General Securities Principals and General Securities Representatives. Rooney was the firm’s President from 2005 until Fox Financial ceased to be a FINRA member. Murphy was Fox Financial’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) from 2008 until Fox Financial ceased to be a FINRA member. Rooney and Murphy shared supervisory responsibilities for Fox Financial registered representatives.

Feb 27, 2015

Two Former Mid Atlantic Capital Brokers Named in FINRA Complaint Alleging Hedge Fund Fraud

Timothy Dembski, of Lancaster, New York, and Walter Grenda Jr., of Buffalo, New York, were named in a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) complaint alleging that they fraudulently induced customers to invest in a hedge fund, the Prestige Wealth Management Fund, LP. The FINRA complaint alleges that Timothy Dembski and Walter Grenda Jr. led investors to believe that the Prestige Wealth Management Fund (Prestige Fund) was a growth fund and was based on a computer algorithm, which included risk protections and stop-losses, to limit investor losses in the hedge fund. However, FINRA alleged that the Prestige Fund was a speculative, aggressive investment, was not obligated to follow the computer algorithm, and lost over 80% of its value in its last full month! Mr. Dembski and Mr. Grenda allegedly recommended the Prestige Fund to investors with limited investment experience, who had never invested in hedge funds before, and who used their retirement assets to invest in the fund.

Jul 17, 2014

John Warren DuBrule Barred by FINRA for Misrepresenting Hedge Fund Values to Investors

John Warren DuBrule, a former Orlando, Florida registered principal employed by Altamonte Springs, Florida-based Merrimac Corporate Securities, Inc., submitted an Offer of Settlement in which he consented to, but did not admit to or deny, the entry of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA) findings that he engaged in securities fraud by knowingly causing the distribution of summary quarterly statements that contained false information about the valuation of a hedge fund in willful violation of industry rules and regulations. FINRA found that Mr. DuBrule allegedly inflated the value of the fund’s assets on its quarterly statements by including the face value and promised interest of defaulted promissory notes as assets of the fund. FINRA found that the quarterly statements falsely inflated the value of investors’ interests in the fund. Further, that the summary quarterly statements contained false and misleading statements that the fund utilized the services of an independent firm to prepare statements and tax reports, and that they were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). According to FINRA, Mr. DuBrule allegedly failed to disclose that the valuation of the fund was also based on defaulted and cancelled promissory notes. Mr. DuBrule allegedly misappropriated investor funds by withdrawing the funds despite knowing that the promissory notes had been cancelled and the fund’s value had decreased substantially. Mr. DuBrule allegedly made materially false and misleading statements and omissions to customers to entice them to invest $3.8 million into the fund. Consequently, John DuBrule was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity.

Jul 15, 2014

Weston Capital Asset Management and Albert Hallac Named in SEC Complaint for Misusing Investor Funds

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged hedge fund advisory firm Weston Capital Asset Management LLC (Weston Capital), of West Palm Beach, FL, and its founder and president, Albert Hallac, for allegedly shifting money from one investment to another without informing investors and investing contrary to the hedge fund’s stated investment strategy. The SEC complaint states that Albert Hallac, with the assistance of Weston Capital’s former general counsel Keith Wellner, allegedly drained over $17 million from a hedge fund they managed, Wimbledon Fund SPC Class TT Segregated Portfolio (TT Portfolio) and transferred the funds to Swartz IP Services Group, Inc. (Swartz IP), a consulting and investment firm.