BETHESDA, MARYLAND Are you a former customer of financial advisor Courtney Smith from Bethesda, Maryland? The securities and investment fraud law firm of Israels & Neuman is reviewing allegations made against this advisor. She was fired by Spire Securities Financial Services in March 2024 after it was alleged that she transferred funds from at least one client’s account, without authorization, to one of her own accounts. Additionally, Ms. Smith is suspended by FINRA for refusing to respond to a FINRA investigation.

Courtney Smith had been with Spire Securities from March 2022 to March 2024. She also previously worked with Hightower Securities and worked in Bethesda, Maryland and McLean, Virginia.

Brokerage firms are required to have written supervisory and compliance procedures under securities rules and regulations. If the brokerage firm failed to reasonably supervise their advisor, it may be held liable for customer losses.

Our investment fraud firm has represented numerous investors throughout Maryland and have sued dozens of brokerage firms in the past.

View Brokercheck Report Here.

If you lost money with Courtney Smith or Spire Securities, please Contact Us at 206-795-5798 for a free evaluation of your case.

WEATHERFORD, TEXAS Did you invest with Debra Mae Carter in Weatherford, Texas? She previously worked with KMS Financial, and was recently sentenced to life in prison for her role in William “Doc” Gallagher’s Ponzi scheme. Over $30 million was stolen from victims in Gallagher’s scheme.

Debra Mae Carter was licensed in the securities industry from 1983 to April 2018 and worked in Weatherford, Texas. She was a representative of KMS Financial from April 2015 to April 2018.

KMS Financial was a securities brokerage firm based in Seattle and had obligations to reasonably supervise Ms. Carter’s conduct under FINRA rules. If they failed to do so, the brokerage firm can be liable for investor losses.

View BrokerCheck Report HERE.

If you lost money with Debra Mae Carter or KMS Financial, please Contact Us at 206-795-5798 for a free evaluation of your case.

TUCSON, ARIZONA Are you a former client of Ronald Diaz of Morgan Stanley in Tucson, Arizona? He was charged with wire fraud by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona and recently pleaded guilty to the charges. His sentencing hearing is set for September 27, 2024.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Diaz misappropriated $970,000 from an elderly customer between November 2020 and July 2022. Diaz represented that he was investing the money in an annuity, but instead used the money to pay for a Range Rover, credit card debt, his mortgage, and remodeling his swimming pool.

Ronald Diaz worked in Tucson, Arizona and was licensed with Morgan Stanley June 2019 to January 2023.

Morgan Stanley had obligations to reasonably supervise Mr. Diaz’s conduct. If the firm failed to do so, they can be liable for investor losses.

The U.S. Attorneys Office Press Release regarding Ronald Diaz can be found HERE.

BrokerCheck report can be found HERE.

If you lost money with Ronald Diaz or Morgan Stanley, please Contact Us at 206-795-5798 for a free evaluation of your case.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Are you a former customer of financial advisor Eric Anthony Dupre from San Antonio, Texas? The securities and investment fraud law firm of Israels & Neuman is reviewing allegations made against this advisor. He was fired by Ameriprise Financial Services in March 2024.

Ameriprise terminated Mr. Dupre in December 2023. According to BrokerCheck, he allegedly borrowed money from clients, which is generally not allowed under FINRA Rules. Additionally, he has been the subject of a $4 million customer complaint, in which the customer alleges that Dupre recommended to the customer to make cryptocurrency investments and other unsuitable investments.

Eric Anthony Dupre had been with Ameriprise from June 2020 to December 2023. He worked in a San Antonio, Texas branch office, and was previously with Raymond James.

Ameriprise is a FINRA member firm and must have written supervisory and compliance procedures, under securities rules and regulations. If the firm failed to reasonably supervise its financial advisors, it may be liable for customer losses.

Our firm has represented numerous investors throughout Texas and have sued many brokerage firms in the past.

View BrokerCheck report here.

If you lost money with Eric Anthony Dupre or Ameriprise, please Contact Us at 206-795-5798 for a free evaluation of your case.

NORTH OAKS, MINNESOTA Have you lost money investing with Randy Birkinbine of Ausdal Financial Partners in North Oaks, Minnesota? According to Brokercheck, Ausdal Financial Partners has been named as a party in three cases filed in 2024, and Mr. Birkinbine was the subject of those complaints. It was alleged that he made unsuitable investment recommendations in GWG, as well as oil and gas investments, REITs (real estate investment trusts), and UITs (unit investment trusts).

Randy Birkinbine has been affiliated with Ausdal Financial Partners from June 2011 to the present. He worked in a North Oaks, Minnesota office. In addition to the three customer complaints mentioned above, he has been the subject of five other customer complaints since 2013, and has also had five tax liens since 2009.

FINRA Rule 2111 discusses suitability: advisors must make suitable investment recommendations to customers in accordance with the investors’ risk tolerance, investment objectives, net worth, age, and other factors. If the advisor violates Rule 2111, the advisor and/or the brokerage firm can be liable for investor losses.

Israels & Neuman PLC handles a number of cases in FINRA arbitration. We have previously represented numerous investors in Minnesota and the Twin City area.

View BrokerCheck report HERE.

If you lost money with Randy Birkinbine or Ausdal Financial Partners, please Contact Us at 720-599-3505 for a free evaluation of your case.

Have you lost money with financial advisor Lina Garcia of Miami, Florida? We are looking into allegations made by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Lina Maria Garcia. The SEC alleged that Garcia and her firm, UCB Financial Advisors, allocated profitable trades to themselves while allocating unprofitable trades to clients. Ramiro Sugranes was also named in the complaint. Sugranes and Garcia were alleged to have operated UCB Financial Advisors and were alleged to have engaged in “cherry picking”.

Lina Garcia was a financial advisor and registered representative of Insigneo Securities from 2010 to September 2021. She worked at a branch office in Miami, Florida.

Brokerage firms like Insigneo Securities have a responsibility to adequately supervise all representatives who are registered through their firm. Brokerage firms also must take steps to ensure that their financial advisors follow all securities rules and regulations, as well as internal firm policies. When brokerage firms fail to adequately supervise their registered representatives, they may be liable for investment losses sustained by customers.

Israels & Neuman PLC is a securities and investment fraud law firm with offices in Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Phoenix, Arizona; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. We represent investors in FINRA arbitration proceedings in all 50 states, including investors in Florida. Attorney David Neuman is licensed to practice law in Florida. Our attorneys have represented over one thousand investors against many brokerage firms in the past.

View L. Garcia BrokerCheck Report View R. Sugranes BrokerCheck Report

If you lost money with Lina Garcia or Insigneo Securities, please Contact Us at 720-599-3505 for a free evaluation of your case.

Have you lost money with financial advisor Chad M. Mackland of Council Bluffs, Iowa? We are continuing to look into allegations made against Mackland. The SEC recently barred Mackland from the securities industry in any capacity. Mackland was charged with multiple felonies related to insurance sales practices.

In March 2021, FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority barred Mackland from the securities brokerage industry. Mackland was charged with fraud in Pottawattamie County, Iowa for theft.

Chad Mackland was a financial advisor and registered representative of Northwestern Mutual from 2005 to August 2016. He was also with MML Investors Services from March 2017 to September 2018 and with Lion Street Financial from December 2018 to February 2020. He worked at branch offices in Council Bluffs, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. Mackland was also discharged by MassMutual and allowed to resign by Northwestern Mutual.

Brokerage firms like Northwestern Mutual, MML Investors Services, and Lion Street Financial have a responsibility to adequately supervise all representatives who are registered through their firm. Brokerage firms also must take steps to ensure that their financial advisors follow all securities rules and regulations, as well as internal firm policies. When brokerage firms fail to adequately supervise their registered representatives, they may be liable for investment losses sustained by customers.

Israels & Neuman PLC is a securities and investment fraud law firm with offices in Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Phoenix, Arizona; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. We represent investors in FINRA arbitration proceedings in all 50 states, including investors throughout Iowa and Nebraska. Our attorneys have represented over one thousand investors against many brokerage firms in the past, including against MML Investors Services.

Click here to view C. Mackland BrokerCheck Report

If you lost money with Chad Mackland, Northwestern Mutual, MML Investors Services, or Lion Street Financial please Contact Us at 720-599-3505 or 206-795-5798 for a free evaluation of your case.

Robert Lax was a registered representative of Park Avenue Securities from 1999 to May 2021. He has worked at branch offices in Paramus, New Jersey. Lax was affiliated with a number of businesses, including R&L Financial Services, Affordable Storage Solutions, Integrity Properties, and others.

Brokerage firms like Park Avenue Securities have a responsibility to adequately supervise all representatives who are registered through their firm. Brokerage firms also must take steps to ensure that their financial advisors follow all securities rules and regulations, as well as internal firm policies. When brokerage firms fail to adequately supervise their registered representatives, they may be liable for investment losses sustained by customers.

Israels & Neuman PLC is a securities and investment fraud law firm with offices in Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Phoenix, Arizona; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. We represent investors in FINRA arbitration proceedings in all 50 states, including investors in New Jersey. Our attorneys have represented over one thousand investors against many brokerage firms in the past, including against Park Avenue Securities.

View BrokerCheck: Lax, Robert BrokerCheck 6.23.21

If you lost money with Robert Lax or Park Avenue Securities, contact the law firm of ISRAELS & NEUMAN at (720) 599-3505 or (206) 795-5798 for a Free evaluation of your case.

Jim Noack was also terminated by Commonwealth Financial Network in 2021. It was alleged that Noack engaged in private securities transactions without approval from Commonwealth.

James Noack was a registered representative of Madison Avenue Securities from 2009 to May 2019. Noack was also with Commonwealth Financial Network from May 2019 to May 2021. He has worked at branch offices in San Ramon and Walnut Creek, California.

Brokerage firms like Madison Avenue Securities and Commonwealth Financial Network have a responsibility to adequately supervise all representatives who are registered through their firm. Brokerage firms also must take steps to ensure that their financial advisors follow all securities rules and regulations, as well as internal firm policies. When brokerage firms fail to adequately supervise their registered representatives, they may be liable for investment losses sustained by customers.

Israels & Neuman PLC is a securities and investment fraud law firm with offices in Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Phoenix, Arizona; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. We represent investors in FINRA arbitration proceedings in all 50 states, including investors in California. Our attorneys have represented over one thousand investors against many brokerage firms in the past, including against Madison Avenue Securities and Commonwealth Financial Network.

Click to view BrokerCheck: Noack, James BrokerCheck 6.18.21

If you lost money with James Noack, Commonwealth Financial Network, or Madison Avenue Securities, contact the law firm of ISRAELS & NEUMAN at (720) 599-3505 or (206) 795-5798 for a Free evaluation of your case.

Craig Hauger was a registered representative of Questar Capital from September 2014 to March 2019. Hauger has also been with Woodbury Financial from March 2019 to the present. He has worked at branch offices in Goodyear, Arizona.

Brokerage firms like Questar Capital and Woodbury Financial have a responsibility to adequately supervise all representatives who are registered through their firm. Brokerage firms also must take steps to ensure that their financial advisors follow all securities rules and regulations, as well as internal firm policies. When brokerage firms fail to adequately supervise their registered representatives, they may be liable for investment losses sustained by customers.

Israels & Neuman PLC is a securities and investment fraud law firm with offices in Phoenix, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. We represent investors in FINRA arbitration proceedings in all 50 states, including investors in Arizona. Attorney Aaron Israels is licensed to practice law in Arizona. Our attorneys have represented over one thousand investors against many brokerage firms in the past.

Click to view BrokerCheck: Hauger, Craig BrokerCheck 6.17.21

If you lost money with Craig Hauger, Woodbury Financial, or Questar Capital, contact the law firm of ISRAELS & NEUMAN at (720) 599-3505 or (206) 795-5798 for a Free evaluation of your case.