SEC Files Suit Against Illinois Investment Adviser Over Cherry-Picking Scheme

Posted on June 30th, 2021 at 12:28 PM
SEC Files Suit Against Illinois Investment Adviser Over Cherry-Picking Scheme

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Barrington Asset Management, Inc. and its chief operating officer Gregory Paris with executing a multi-year cherry-picking scheme that defrauded the firm’s clients. The SEC filed a complaint with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, which alleges that Paris fraudulently earned nearly $630,000 by cherry-picking trades over a four-year period. 

Allegedly, Paris traded securities in Barrington’s omnibus account and delayed assigning the securities to individual client accounts until trading hours had concluded. After reviewing the securities’ performance during the trading day, Paris allegedly distributed profitable trades to his personal account and transferred unprofitable trades to client accounts. The complaint further alleges that Barrington and Paris falsely informed clients that all trades would be allocated fairly and that the firm reviewed all personal trading conducted by employees. The SEC is seeking injunctive relief, disgorgement of fraudulent gains with prejudgment interest, and civil penalties. 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, sec, scheme

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Jim, Stephany and the whole team were a God send.  We felt like we were put into a situation where we had no advocate. Jim’s team came in with a strong, well laid out strategy on how to get our story heard. Where our outside compliance company had no ability to help, our Broker Dealer was impenitent, and the regulators were aggressive pursuing vague rules, Jim came like a barricade against an assault we did not understand. Though you pay member dues to be affiliated with FINRA and a B/D, you have no voice. The only thing that is truly heard in this un-level playing field is a bulldog’s bark like Jim’s. I would encourage anyone to call Jim and his team to find a real ally in the tough and complicated world of securities regulation. They are truly the best.

Greg P.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

April 16, 2024
Former Wells Fargo Advisor Accepts Industry Bar Amidst Misuse of Client Funds Allegations

A former advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network (FiNet) in Chicago, Jayson R. Pocius, has agreed to accept an industry bar rather than cooperate with a
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) investigation into allegations of misusing client funds.

April 15, 2024
Commonwealth Financial Network Faces Potential Damages Amid SEC Lawsuit

Commonwealth Financial Network is under fire, as it faces potential damages amounting to $111.5 million from a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) complaint filed nearly five years ago.

April 12, 2024
FINRA Penalizes Ex-Raymond James Advisor for Document Alterations

A former Raymond James financial advisor faced a $5,000 fine and a four-month suspension from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for allegedly falsifying 25 documents, as per a settlement letter released recently.