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

Fantastic news!!!!  Your professionalism, support and expertise were greatly appreciated.  You made a difficult situation much more bearable.

Marci M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1785249991 Law
July 28, 2026
Merrill Lynch Fined by FINRA for Failing to Report More Than 1,600 Customer Complaints

Merrill Lynch has agreed to pay a $225,000 fine and accept a censure to resolve allegations that it failed to properly identify and report more than 1,600 customer complaints submitted through post-call surveys, according to a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Acceptance, Waiver and Consent letter ("AWC").

1784905692 Law
July 24, 2026
Independent Review Recommends Sweeping Changes to FINRA's Enforcement Program

An independent review commissioned by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recommends significant changes to the regulator's enforcement program, including adopting a statute of limitations, expanding due process protections, and providing greater credit to firms that cooperate during investigations, according to AdvisorHub.

1784829196 Law
July 23, 2026
Cresset Sues Former Advisor Over Alleged Client Solicitation and Competing RIA Launch

Cresset Capital Management has filed a lawsuit in Illinois state court against a former advisor, alleging that he began building a competing registered investment advisory firm and soliciting clients while still employed by the Chicago-based wealth management firm.