Have you lost money with financial advisor Thomas Laws of Silver City, New Mexico?

We are continuing to look into allegations made against Thomas Laws. FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) began an investigation in Thomas Laws regarding allegations that he engaged in outside business activities or private securities transactions without notifying his brokerage firm, HD Vest Investment Services. FINRA barred Laws from the securities industry after he failed to respond to an investigation.

In 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleged that Thomas H. Laws misappropriated funds from investors from a company called Santa Fe Gold, a public mining company based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The SEC alleged that Laws was the CEO of Santa Fe Gold, and that it raised nearly $7 million from unregistered securities. It was later found that Laws stole money that was investor funds. After this was discovered, he agreed to pay it back, but still owes over $700,000.

Thomas Laws was a financial advisor and registered representative of HD Vest Investment Services from 2006 to November 2017. He worked at offices in Silver City, New Mexico. Laws was also previously licensed as a CPA.

Brokerage firms like HD Vest Investment Services have a responsibility to adequately supervise all representatives who are registered through their firm. Brokerage firms also must take steps to ensure that their financial advisors follow all securities rules and regulations, as well as internal firm policies. When brokerage firms fail to adequately supervise their registered representatives, they may be liable for investment losses sustained by customers.

Israels & Neuman PLC is a securities and investment fraud law firm with offices in Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. We represent investors in FINRA arbitration proceedings in all 50 states, including investors in New Mexico. Our attorneys have represented over one thousand investors against many brokerage firms in the past, including HD Vest.

Click to view: Laws, Thomas BrokerCheck

Click to view: Laws, Thomas FINRA AWC

Click to view: Laws, Thomas SEC Complaint