The White Law Group, LLC » Georgia

Investigation Into Possible Securities Fraud Involving Oppenheimer Funds

CarterPA — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:11:49 +0000

The White Law Group is investigating possible securities fraud claims involving the Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund (OCHBX, OPCHX and OCHCX) and the Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund (OPIGX). Although marketed to investors as conservative investments, the Champion Fund and Core Bond Fund were extremely risky ventures, investing in illiquid derivatives and high risk credit default swaps.

As a result of misrepresentations regarding these funds, many investors who thought they were receiving a conservative high income fund have suffered extraordinary losses. The Oppenheimer Champion Fund dropped 55% in November of 2008 alone. The Core Bond Fund lost more than 35 percent of its value in 2008 and another 10 percent in the first three months of 2009.

The verbal representations made by financial advisors, the marketing material used by these stockbrokers, and even the prospectus issued by Oppenheimer, portrayed the Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund and Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund as no riskier than the average high income fund. As such, the funds were improperly marketed to many investors (including retirees) that could not afford the risk to which they were then subjected.

The losses incurred in the Champion fund appear to be the result of large bets in high risk derivatives in the form of mortgage backed securities and credit default swaps. These are highly illiquid, speculative and complex agreements between parties to exchange cash flows in the future based on how a set of securities performs. It appears that the Champion Fund was betting that top-rated commercial mortgage-backed securities would rally in 2008. The Fund took an extraordinary risk that was not in line with the objectives set forth in the Prospectus, and a risk that was not disclosed to the investing public.

Additionally, the Champion Fund was also concentrated in credit-default swaps (CDSs). CDSs are basically insurance contracts that protect investors against bond and loan defaults. As the market for commercial properties deteriorated amid the slowing economy, the Fund’s value dropped precipitously. It appears that the Fund was even selling CDSs on troubled companies like Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., American International Group Inc., General Motors Corp. and the Tribune Co. Many of those firms have since collapsed or filed for bankruptcy.

Investors from throughout the country have been affected by this Oppenheimer securities fraud, including investors in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, California, Washington, and New York. Many of the investors purchased the investment at the recommendation of their broker-dealer or financial advisor, and these entities have potential liability for failing to properly perform due diligence regarding the Oppenheimer funds prior to recommending them to their clients. Other investors purchased shares of the Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund through their 529 college savings plans, such as those in Oregon, Texas, Maine, Illinois and New Mexico, or through their retirement plans or annuities.

If you have any information that may assist The White Law Group in its investigation into these Oppenheimer funds, please contact our Chicago, Illinois office at 312-238-9650.

The White Law Group, LLC is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and securities regulation/compliance law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Boca Raton, Florida. With over 30 years of securities law experience, including experience working at FINRA (f/k/a the NASD) and the SEC, The White Law Group has the expertise to help investors defrauded in securities, investment and financial business transactions. The firm primarily handles these cases on a contingency fee. For more information on The White Law Group, please visit our website at http://www.whitesecuritieslaw.com.

Alvin Charles Ramsey (formerly of Proequities, Inc.) barred from securities industry.

CarterPA — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:10:04 +0000

FINRA recently announced that Alvin Charles Ramsey, formerly a registered representative with Proequities, Inc. (a FINRA registered broker-dealer based in Martinez, Georgia) has been barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. Without admitting or denying the findings, Ramsey consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he served as a registered representative for an elderly customer who executed a power of attorney, giving Ramsey broad authority over her financial affairs. The findings further stated that the customer asked Ramsey to invest $600,000 in a variable annuity, and then, without the customer’s knowledge or authorization, Ramsey used the power of attorney to obtain approximately $482,000 in withdrawals from the annuity, which, after taxes were deducted, totaled approximately $373,750. The findings also stated that checks for $373,750 were issued in the customer’s name and sent to Ramsey’s customer’s check account, but he converted some of the funds for his personal use without the customer’s knowledge or authorization. FINRA found that separately, Ramsey borrowed $275,000 from the customer and, in total, owes the customer approximately $500,000.

According to his FINRA Broker Report (CRD), prior to working at Proequities, Inc., Alvin Charles Ramsey was a registered representative with Investacorp, Inc., a broker-dealer based in Miami Lakes, Florida.

If you have questions regarding investments you made with Alvin Charles Ramsey, or if you believe that you have been the victim of a securities fraud, The White Law Group may be able to help. The White Law Group is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration and investor protection law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Boca Raton, Florida. The firm has over 30 years of experience reviewing securities fraud claims and handles matters throughout the country and Georgia, including reviewing securities fraud cases in Martinez, Augusta, Evans, North Augusta, and Aiken, South Carolina. To contact the firm, please call 312-238-9650 or 561-961-5411. Or, for more information on The White Law Group, please visit our website at http://www.whitesecuritieslaw.com.

Savannah, Georgia Securities Fraud Attorney

CarterPA — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:27:19 +0000

The Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. is a South Florida securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and Chapter 7 bankruptcy law firm based in Boca Raton, Florida.

The Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. has its office in Boca Raton, Florida because of the obvious benefits of being located so close to FINRA Dispute Resolutions’ Southeast headquarters (FINRA’s Southeast office is located at Boca Center Tower 1, 5200 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, FL 33486- less than one mile from our office).

Having our office located so close to FINRA’s Southeast headquarters has its advantages, particularly since all cases filed in the southeast portion of the United States are administered out of FINRA’s Boca Raton, Florida Dispute Resolution office. In fact, any securities fraud cases filed with FINRA on behalf of a customer living in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. will likely be assigned to FINRA’s Southeast Region office and administered out of the Boca Raton, Florida office.

Although located in Boca Raton, Florida, the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. handles securities fraud cases throughout the country and Georgia, including reviewing and handling securities fraud cases in Atlanta, Marietta, Athens, Augusta, Macon, Albany, Savannah, and Valdosta.

It should be noted, that in addition to Boca Raton, Florida, FINRA Dispute Resolution’s Southeast Region has hearing locations for investor claims/securities fraud cases in Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham, Alabama; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Jackson, Mississippi; Jacksonville, Florida; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Miami, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Norfolk, Virginia; Orlando, Florida; Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tampa, Florida; Washington, DC; and Wilmington, Delaware. Accordingly, just because a case filed in the Southeast portion of the country is administered by FINRA’s Boca Raton, Florida office, does not mean that a customer’s case will be heard in Boca Raton. Generally speaking, FINRA will select the hearing location closest to the investor’s residence. The Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. is set up to handle securities fraud cases at any of FINRA’s hearing locations.

To contact the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A., please call 561-750-6999, or email us at contact@carterpa.com. For more information about the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. or securities fraud, you can also visit our website at http://www.carterpa.com.

Atlanta, Georgia Securities Fraud Lawyer

CarterPA — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:35:12 +0000

The Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. is a South Florida securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and Chapter 7 bankruptcy law firm based in Boca Raton, Florida.

Vincent Joseph Farrugia, Jr. of Lawrenceville , Georgia fined and censured by FINRA for securities fraud violations.

CarterPA — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:27:59 +0000

FINRA recently announced that Vincent Joseph Farrugia, Jr. of Lawrenceville , Georgia (formerly a financial advisor with Next Financial Group, Inc.) has been fined $15,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for four months. Without admitting or denying the findings, Farrugia consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that he exercised discretion in effecting transactions in a customer’s account without the customer’s prior written authorization and his member firm’s prior written acceptance. The findings further stated that Farrugia made unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer to invest in penny stocks and other speculative securities without a reasonable basis, given the customer’s financial condition and investment objectives.

Prior to working as a stockbroker at Next Financial Group, Inc., Vincent Farrugia was registered as a financial advisor with Delta Equity Services, Corporation (a registered broker-dealer based in Alpharetta, Georgia) and Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC (a registered broker-dealer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

According to his FINRA Broker Report (CRD), FINRA’s investigation is not the first time Farrugia has been named in a claim related to securities fraud. Farrugia has also been named in at least one customer complaint. In that instance, the customer made allegations of churning and unsuitable trading (related to the purchase of penny stocks) and claimed damages of approximately $80,000.

If you have questions about investments you made with Vincent Joseph Farrugia, or if you believe that you have been the victim of a securities fraud, the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. may be able to help. David A. Carter is a securities lawyer based in Boca Raton, Florida. He reviews securities fraud cases throughout the country and Georgia, including reviewing securities fraud cases in Atlanta, Marietta, Athens, Smyrna, Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Savannah, and Albany. For more information on the firm’s securities fraud practice, please visit http://www.carterpa.com. To contact the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A., please call 561-750-6999 or email us at contact@carterpa.com.

Robyn Lynn O’Hara, formerly of WFG Investments, Inc. in Snellville, Georgia, has been barred from FINRA for securities violations.

CarterPA — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:34:37 +0000

FINRA recently announced that Robyn Lynn O’Hara, formerly of WFG Investments, Inc. in Snellville, George, has been barred from FINRA for securities violations. Without admitting or denying the findings, O’Hara consented to the findings that she engaged in multiple trades in customers’ accounts at her member firms without the customers’ authorization and consent. The findings further stated that O’Hara continued unauthorized trading in one account even after the customer instructed her to cease all trading in the accounts.

According to Robyn Lynn O’Hara’s FINRA Broker Report (CRD), FINRA’s findings are not the first time that O’Hara has been involved in an investigation related to securities fraud. O’Hara’s CRD indicates that she has been involved in at least 5 regulatory events related to securities violations, and has been named in at least 2 customer complaints related to securities fraud. Prior to working in Snellville, Georgia for WFG Investments, Inc. (a Dallas, Texas based broker-dealer, Robyn O’Hara worked as a financial advisor at Colby & White, LP, a registered broker-dealer based in Bedford, Texas, and Regal Securities, Inc., a registered broker-dealer based in Glenview, Illinois.

If you have questions about investments you made with Robyn Lynn O’Hara or WFG Investments, Inc., or if you believe that you have been the victim of a securities fraud, the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. may be able to help. The Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. is a South Florida securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and Chapter 7 bankruptcy law firm based in Boca Raton. David Carter is a securities attorney that reviews securities fraud cases throughout the country and Georgia, including securities fraud cases in Atlanta, Stone Mountain, Decatur, Marietta, Smyrna, Athens, Augusta, Aiken, Greenville, and Macon. To contact the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A., please call 561-750-6999, or email us at contact@carterpa.com. For more information about the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A., you can also visit our website at www.carterpa.com.

Stephanie Murch Haggerty, formerly of Register Financial Associates, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, fined and suspended from FINRA for violating securities laws related to research reports.

CarterPA — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:15:16 +0000

According to a recent FINRA announcement, Stephanie Murch Haggerty, formerly of Register Financial Associates, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, has been fined $10,000 and suspended from associating with any FINRA member firm for 30 days. Without admitting or denying the findings, Haggerty consented to the findings that she did not have the required Series 86 or 87 licenses required for research analysts when she was the principal author of or contributor to the “Stock Pick” sections of her member firm’ (presumably Register Financial Associates) newsletter. The findings further stated that Haggerty failed to disclose her ownership of securities that she profiled as “Stock Picks” because she did not treat the section as a research report. Finally, the FINRA findings state that Haggerty purchased a security for her own account within 30 days prior to the security being featured as a “Stock Pick,” and before her firm’s legal or compliance officers pre-approved the “Stock Pick” section of the newsletter.

Haggerty was previously employed as a broker by Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation and First Southeastern Securities Group, Incorporated.

If you have questions about investments you made with Stephanie Murch Haggerty or Register Financial Associates, or if you believe that you have been the victim of a securities fraud, the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. may be able to help. The Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. is a South Florida securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and Chapter 7 bankruptcy law firm based in Boca Raton. David Carter is a securities attorney that reviews securities fraud cases throughout the country and Georgia, including reviewing securities fraud cases in Augusta, Macon, Athens, Marietta, Buckhead, Columbus, Albany, and Valdosta. To contact the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A., please call 561-750-6999, or email us at contact@carterpa.com. For more information about the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A., you can also visit our website at www.carterpa.com.

Securities Fraud Claims involving Atlanta based brokerage firm J.P. Turner & Company

CarterPA — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:50:31 +0000

The Atlanta Business Chronicle recently touted J.P. Turner & Company, LLC as one of Atlanta ’s Top 10 Brokerage Firms. The survey, which ranked firms by the number of brokers in Atlanta, positions J.P. Turner alongside industry leaders like Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, UBS Financial Services, Edward Jones and Raymond James Financial.

The article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle goes on to discuss how J.P. Turner & Company, LLC has achieved this position despite having only been founded in 1997 (J.P. Turner & Company, LLC was founded in 1997 by Tim McAfee and Bill Mello) and states that J.P. Turner & Company, LLC has a network of some 160 independent branch offices and more than 530 financial advisor representatives across the country.

Although J.P. Turner & Company is a relatively new firm, it has not avoided the usual securities fraud pitfalls that are seen at most of the industries brokerage firms. Nor has J.P. Turner & Company avoided the scrutiny of regulators.

According to J.P. Turner & Company’s FINRA broker report, the firm has been named in numerous regulatory and customer complaints. As of August 12, 2009, J.P. Turner & Company had been named in 21 arbitrations and was the subject of 15 “regulatory events.” The most recent regulatory event included a fine in June 2009 of $525,000 and findings that J.P. Turner & Company failed to establish and implement policies and procedures reasonable designed to detect and cause the reporting of suspicious activity as if related to the activities of one former broker. It further found that J.P. Turner & Company failed to obtain required customer information.

The customer complaints against J.P. Turner & Company vary but they include allegations of securities fraud regarding claims of unsuitability, churning, margin, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty.

If you have questions about investments you made at J.P. Turner & Company, or if you believe that you have been the victim of a securities fraud, the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. may be able to help. The Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A. is a South Florida securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and Chapter 7 bankruptcy law firm based in Boca Raton. David Carter is a securities attorney that reviews securities fraud cases throughout the country, including securities cases in Atlanta, Augusta, Athens, Columbus, Macon, Buckhead, Albany, and Marietta. To contact the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A., please call 561-750-6999, or email us at contact@carterpa.com. For more information about the Law Offices of David A. Carter, P.A., you can also visit our website at www.carterpa.com.