Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

SEC Charges Chicago Advisor Who Allegedly Misappropriated $683,000 of Investor Funds

Posted on October 7th, 2022 at 1:08 PM
SEC Charges Chicago Advisor Who Allegedly Misappropriated $683,000 of Investor Funds

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged a Chicago-based advisor who allegedly misappropriated $683,000 of investor funds.

The advisor, David Wells, allegedly transferred the funds to a shell company he had created before making some risky options investments, which resulted in a loss of nearly all the funds. Wells confessed to his misconduct in a resignation letter to the registered investment advisory firm that employed him, according to the SEC.

The SEC’s complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seeks a permanent bar, disgorgement, and civil penalties. According to the SEC, Wells specifically misappropriated funds from three clients, including two clients in their seventies, one of which had dementia. While the SEC did not identify the advisory firm that employed Wells, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) noted that he worked for Fifth Third Securities when FINRA recently barred him from joining any member firms.

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, advisors, law, sec

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

If the regulators are after you, and are trying to make a case against you, and you are going to contest their allegations against you, make sure you have the best securities industry defense lawyers, Eccleston Law Firm. My case was spun into a combination of penalties including fines, cash settlements, CE courses and suspension. They were the best I have seen in action. When all was said and done, they had done their magic, my situation was negotiated and settled with a simple "letter of caution" and a case closed without action. It is the most important legal business decision you will ever make, make it Eccleston Law.

Rick R.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1789752835 Law
September 18, 2026
SEC Sanctions Investment Adviser and Executive for Disproportionate Trade Allocations

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has determined that the conduct of registered investment advisory firm Barrington Asset Management, and its executive vice-president and chief compliance officer, Gregory Paris, disadvantaged clients and breached their fiduciary duties owed to clients.

1789665543 Law
September 17, 2026
SEC Charges 38 Entities Over Allegedly Fraudulent Adviser Filings

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged 38 entities with allegedly making material misrepresentations in Forms ADV filed with the SEC between 2025 and 2026.

1789589290 Law
September 16, 2026
Edelman Financial Engines Secures TRO Against Advisor Who Joined RFG Advisory

Edelman Financial Engines recently secured a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Chad A.