James Joseph Lukezic

(CRD #4284800, North Miami Beach, Florida)

May 15, 2026 – James Joseph Lukezic appealed an OHO decision to the NAC. Lukezic was barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for placing mutual fund exchanges in customer accounts without the customers’ authorization or consent. In light of the bar imposed for Lukezic’s unauthorized trading, the OHO does not impose further sanctions for providing false or misleading information to FINRA in response to two written Rule 8210 requests and at his OTR. The sanction was based on the findings that all of the accounts owned shares of mutual funds that were distributed by a FINRA member firm and held at its non-member affiliate transfer agent. A member firm that Lukezic acquired became the dealer of record for the accounts. To reverse the exchanges, the firm’s affiliated transfer agent had to repurchase the shares of the mutual funds that the customers originally held in their accounts. Because the price of those shares had gone up since the date of the exchanges, reversing the exchanges cost the transfer agent approximately $44,500. The transfer agent bore the amount of that loss and there were no losses incurred by the customers. In addition to confirming that the customers had not authorized the mutual fund exchanges in their accounts, the transfer agent also sought as part of its investigation to determine how the exchanges were made. Because all six of the mutual fund exchanges were processed on the transfer agent’s trading platform using Lukezic’s login credentials, it tried on multiple occasions to discuss the exchanges with Lukezic and determine whether the exchanges were the result of fraudulent activity.

Not once during these conversations did Lukezic suggest that anyone else at his firm could have placed the trades. Nor did he do any investigation into whether the transactions were the result of
any security breach at his firm. Instead, Lukezic denied responsibility for the transactions, he tried to shift the blame to the transfer agent, and he threatened it with legal action. The transfer agent ultimately terminated the selling agreement and FINRA started to investigate. While responding to requests for information from FINRA, the transfer agent discovered the recording of a telephone call Lukezic made to the transfer agent the day after the exchanges. In the call, Lukezic asked how his firm would be paid on the mutual fund exchanges. The transfer agent representative informed Lukezic that the mutual fund exchanges were ineligible for commissions. The findings also stated that Lukezic provided false and misleading written statements to FINRA in response to requests in connection with its investigation into this matter. Lukezic falsely stated that his firm did not have the ability to execute trades on the transfer agent’s platform. In later written responses to FINRA, Lukezic falsely stated that he was not involved in placing any trades. The findings also included that Lukezic provided false and misleading on-the-record testimony to FINRA as he denied executing the mutual fund exchanges for the customers.

The sanction is not in effect pending review. (FINRA Case #2022073425001)

If you have suffered losses as a result of James Joseph Lukezic’s act and/or actions, we would like to hear from you. We are currently investigating claims on behalf of clients who have suffered significant losses in their portfolios that are managed by James Joseph Lukezic. The Schwartz Law Firm represents investors in claims against financial advisors and their firms. If you have questions about your potential claim or need assistance from an investment fraud lawyer, please contact us at 866-330-6707 or email Matthew Schwartz directly at mschwartz@tslfirm.com.