Rhonda Breard, a Kirkland, Wash., investment adviser who has been accused of stealing an estimated $8 million from at least 38 clients, has been permanently barred from the securities industry by Finra.

Ms. Breard neither admitted nor denied the charges, Finra said, but “consented to the entry of Finra’s findings.”

The former adviser who had been licensed to sell securities through ING Financial Partners Inc. since 2002, is facing federal charges, as well as civil lawsuits in her home state, where she had been a minor celebrity, promoting her investment expertise in television infomercials and radio spots.

An ING auditor in February discovered that she had been misappropriating client funds during a surprise trip to her offices.

According to government documents, Ms. Breard used the money on three expensive homes, travel, jewelry, and more than two dozen vehicles.

ING has settled with 16 of Ms. Breard’s victims, the Seattle Times reported, citing government documents, adding that the firm is currently in negotiations with other clients who lost money in Ms. Breard’s fraud scheme.

If you have questions about investments you made with Rhonda Breard or ING, The White Law Group may be able to help.  For a free consultation, call the firm at 312-238-9650.

The White Law Group, LLC is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and securities regulation/compliance law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Boca Raton, Florida. With over 30 years of securities law experience, including experience working at FINRA (f/k/a the NASD) and the SEC, The White Law Group has the expertise to help investors defrauded in securities, investment and financial business transactions.

For more information on The White Law Group, please visit our website at http://whitesecuritieslaw.com.