Financial Advisor Faces Prison for Defrauding Military Families
From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law
A former financial advisor, Caz Craffy, faces a 20-year prison sentence for defrauding families of deceased military servicemembers, raking in over $1 million in commissions along the way.
According to WealthManagement, Craffy pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud, securities fraud, and false statements, admitting to a scheme that preyed upon Gold Star families who had lost loved ones in military service. Craffy persuaded grieving families to invest their benefits in brokerage accounts, without disclosing his affiliations or the commissions he stood to gain.
In one egregious instance, Craffy squandered a significant portion of one family's investment on ill-advised stock trades, causing them substantial losses while profiting personally.
As a consequence of his actions, Gold Star families collectively lost over $3.7 million, while Craffy amassed over $1.4 million in commissions. FINRA has permanently barred him from the industry, and the SEC has pending charges against him.
Apart from the potential prison term, Craffy faces significant fines, highlighting the serious consequences of financial exploitation and the importance of upholding fiduciary duties, especially when dealing with vulnerable populations like military families.
Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.
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