Former Securities America Advisor Charged with Misappropriating $260,000

Posted on November 8th, 2022 at 1:20 PM
Former Securities America Advisor Charged with Misappropriating $260,000

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred a former Securities America advisor who allegedly misappropriated $260,000 from clients.

The former Securities America advisor, Jaime Westenbarger, additionally has been charged with seven criminal felony counts, including one court of conducting a criminal enterprise, three counts of embezzlement, and three counts of using computers to commit a crime. Each of the crimes occurred in 2018, according to the website for Kent County’s 63rd District Court in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

According to sources, Westenbarger used the misappropriated funds to “pay off credit cards, gamble at various casinos in Michigan, Las Vegas and New Orleans, as well as buy items for himself and his girlfriend.” Westenbarger spent time with six FINRA-registered firms since joining the industry in 2003, including Securities America, which he joined in May 2016, according to BrokerCheck.

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, advisors, law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

You guys are good!

Mike L.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

November 7, 2025
FINRA Suspends Former Wells Fargo Broker Over Unapproved Real Estate Venture

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) suspended former Wells Fargo broker George J. Cairnes for four months and fined him $25,000 for engaging in unapproved real estate outside business activity, according to a settlement letter issued.

November 6, 2025
Former Ameriprise Broker Ordered to Pay $2.2 Million for Elder Exploitation

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has ordered Eric A. Dupre to pay nearly $2.2 million in damages to his former firm and two customers following allegations of theft and elder exploitation.

November 5, 2025
Former Wells Fargo Representative Suspended for Unauthorized Texting and Obstruction

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended former Wells Fargo representative Eyan M. Townsend for one year and fined him $10,000 for using personal text messages to conduct business and attempting to obstruct an internal investigation by deleting those communications.