Active Investigations

Ongoing investigations into brokers, funds, and investment products where investors may have recovery claims. Search by status, category, or firm.

Tory A. Duggins

FINRA barred Tory A. Duggins after he failed to appear for testimony in an investigation of potential churning and excessive trading.

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Variable AnnuitiesFiled

FiledVariable Annuities

Centaurus Financial, Inc.

Patrick Michael Carroll

Centaurus Financial, Inc. (CRD #30833, Anaheim, California) and Patrick Michael Carroll (CRD #2676119, Cadillac, Michigan) July 15, 2026 – A Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) was issued in which the firm was censured, fined $475,000, and ordered to pay $634,488.56 in

FINRAAWCSuspensionFirm SanctionIndividual BrokerUnsuitableVariable AnnuityFailure to Supervise

September 17, 2026Read more

Private PlacementFiled

FiledPrivate Placement

World Choice Securities, Inc.

Robert Kenneth Cargin

World Choice Securities, Inc. (CRD #30933, Columbus, Ohio) and Robert Kenneth Cargin (CRD #1825995, Westerville, Ohio) July 15, 2026 – An AWC was issued in which the firm was censured and fined $28,000, and Cargin was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA mem

FINRAAWCSuspensionFirm SanctionIndividual BrokerMisrepresentationPrivate PlacementFailure to Supervise

September 17, 2026Read more

ChurningFiled

FiledChurning

Tory A. Duggins

(CRD #4556340, Bronx, New York) July 6, 2026 – An Office of Hearing Officers (OHO) decision became final in which Duggins was barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities. The sanction was based on the findings that Duggins failed to appear for on-the-record te

FINRABarredIndividual BrokerChurning

September 17, 2026Read more

Broker MisconductFiled

FiledBroker Misconduct

Kim Thien Tran

(CRD #5575725, Sugar Land, Texas) July 2, 2026 – An AWC was issued in which Tran was assessed a deferred fine of $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for nine months. Without admitting or denying the findings, Tran consented to the sanctio

FINRAAWCSuspensionIndividual Broker

September 17, 2026Read more

Broker MisconductFiled

FiledBroker Misconduct

Charles Scott Burford

(CRD #1658201, Dallas, Texas) July 20, 2026 – A judgment of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit became final after a formal mandate was issued in accordance with the court’s judgment issued April 28, 2026. The judgment denied Burford’s petition for review. Burford was

FINRASuspensionIndividual Broker

September 17, 2026Read more

Broker MisconductFiled

FiledBroker Misconduct

Theodore William Byrer

(CRD #2980696, Westfield, Indiana) July 23, 2026 – An AWC was issued in which Byrer was suspended from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for 14 months. In light of Byrer’s financial status, no monetary sanction has been imposed. Without admitting or denying the

FINRAAWCSuspensionIndividual BrokerMisrepresentation

September 17, 2026Read more

Private PlacementFiled

FiledPrivate Placement

Brian James Pavelko

(CRD #6347352, McAdoo, Pennsylvania) July 10, 2026 – Pavelko appealed an OHO decision to the NAC in which he was barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for failing to provide certain information and documents requested by FINRA. While investigating Pavelk

FINRABarredIndividual BrokerMisrepresentationPrivate Placement

September 17, 2026Read more

Unauthorized TradingFiled

FiledUnauthorized Trading

John Polemis

(CRD #4270012, San Diego, California) May 13, 2026 – John Polemis was named a respondent in a FINRA complaint alleging he made material misrepresentations to a customer, who was terminally-ill, to induce the customer to provide him with 20 loans, totaling $28,000. The complaint a

FINRAIndividual BrokerMisrepresentationUnauthorized Trading

September 17, 2026Read more

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