Written by The White Law Group• July 27, 2020• 7:50 pm• Blog, Current Investigations

Mark Hopkins Allegedly Steals more than $1 M from Investors

Mark Hopkins, Former Michigan Advisor, Allegedly Steals more than $1 M from Investors, featured by top securities fraud attorneys, The White Law Group

SEC Reportedly Charges Mark Hopkins with Stealing $1.15 M from Clients

According to a press announcement on July 24, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says it has charged former broker Mark Hopkins of Grand Blanc, Michigan with allegedly stealing more than $1 million from clients.

In 2017 Hopkins allegedly raised at least $1.15 million from at least five clients for what he said was an investment program at a local credit union that would return 6% or 7% profit, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Instead, Hopkins allegedly deposited the clients’ funds into an account he controlled at the credit union and misappropriated the money, according to the SEC. To cover up his alleged fraud, Hopkins allegedly falsified account statements, according to the regulator.

The complaint does not include the name of the brokerage but states that it allegedly became aware in July 2018 that a check from a married couple’s brokerage account wasn’t sent directly to them but to the credit union, the SEC says. The brokerage allegedly told Hopkins to return the funds directly to the couple, according to the complaint. In August 2018, Hopkins allegedly presented the investors with a falsified cashier’s check for $400,000, telling them that the brokerage wanted him to return the money to them, but recommended that they keep it in the credit union, the regulator said.

The complaint further states that the investors allegedly agreed to keep the money in the purported program because they trusted Hopkins and reportedly signed a document that falsely stated that Hopkins had repaid them the money, according to the complaint.

When the investors eventually became suspicious, Hopkins allegedly quit responding to their requests and never returned the money, according to the regulator.

The SEC is reportedly seeking injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and prejudgment interest, and civil money penalties.

Hopkins was reportedly registered with American Portfolios Financial Services in Grand Blanc, Michigan from 2009 until 2018, when he was permitted to resign, after allegations, according to his FINRA BrokerCheck profile. Hopkins reportedly “accepted customer funds for an investment not on the books of the [broker-dealer] without obtaining pre-approval,” and purportedly failed “to update outside business activities and report judgment,” according to FINRA. FINRA reportedly barred Hopkins from working in the securities industry in May 2019 after he allegedly refused to provide information requested by FINRA.

Filing a Complaint against your Brokerage Firm

The White Law Group is investigating potential securities claims involving former financial advisor Mark Hopkins and the liability that his employers may have for failure to properly supervise him.

When brokers violate securities laws, such as making unsuitable investment recommendations or unauthorized trades, the brokerage firm they are working with may be liable for investment losses through FINRA Arbitration.

Brokerage firms that fail to monitor the business activities of their employees may be liable for investment losses due to negligent supervision for the misconduct of their employees.

The White Law Group is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, and investor protection law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Franklin, Tennessee.