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SEC Charges Goldman Sachs With Improper Securities Lending Practices

According to the SEC’s order instituting a settled administrative proceeding, broker-dealers such as Goldman Sachs are regularly asked by customers to locate stock for short selling.  Granting a “locate” represents that a firm has borrowed, arranged to borrow, or reasonably believes it could borrow the security to settle the short sale.  The SEC finds that […]

SEC Announces Fraud Charges Against Investment Adviser

The SEC alleges that Atlantic Asset Management LLC (AAM) invested more than $43 million of client funds in illiquid bonds issued by a Native American tribal corporation without disclosing the conflict of interest that the bond sales generated a private placement fee for the broker-dealer, whose parent company partially owns AAM. “As alleged, Atlantic violated […]

Citigroup Affiliates to Pay $180 Million to Settle Hedge Fund Fraud Charges — The ASTA/Mat Aftermath

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that two Citigroup affiliates have agreed to pay nearly $180 million to settle charges that they defrauded investors in two hedge funds by claiming they were safe, low-risk, and suitable for traditional bond investors. The funds later crumbled and eventually collapsed during the financial crisis. Citigroup Global Markets […]

FINRA Files Cease and Desist Order Against Avenir Financial Group, CEO Michael Clements, and Registered Representative Karim Ibrahim for Fraud Against Elderly Investors

Registered Representative Cesar Rodriguez Barred for Fraud and Improper Use of Customer Funds WASHINGTON — The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced today that Avenir Financial Group, its CEO Michael Clements, and registered representative Karim Ibrahim aka Chris Allen consented to an order halting further fraudulent sales of equity interests in the firm and promissory […]

FINRA Board Rules Against Charles Schwab in Class Action Waiver Dispute

The Board of Governors of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued a decision today finding Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. violated FINRA rules when the firm attempted to keep investors from participating in judicial class actions by adding waiver language to customer account agreements. The ruling by the Board affirms in part and reverses […]