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Are you an investor who worked with financial advisor Jesse Julian Griffin Jr.? Has your investment portfolio suffered unexpected losses? Our investment fraud attorneys are investigating complaints against this broker and can help you understand your legal options for recovery.
Who is Jesse Julian Griffin Jr.?
Jesse Julian Griffin Jr. (CRD# 1165095) is a financial advisor currently registered with Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC in Palm City, Florida. According to his FINRA BrokerCheck report, Griffin has been the subject of six customer disputes, many involving allegations of unsuitable investment recommendations, breach of fiduciary duty, and securities law violations.
Griffin has been in the securities industry since 1983 and holds several professional licenses, including Series 24 (General Securities Principal), Series 7 (General Securities Representative), and Series 6 (Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts). He also holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.
Red Flags in Griffin’s Regulatory History
FINRA’s BrokerCheck report reveals concerning patterns in Griffin’s professional history that investors should be aware of:
Multiple Customer Complaints with Substantial Settlements
- $250,000 Settlement (2012): Client alleged violations of securities laws, fraud, misrepresentation, and breach of fiduciary duty
- $92,500 Settlement (2015): Allegations included breach of fiduciary duty and violation of Arizona securities laws
- $52,000 Settlement (2015): Clients claimed unsuitable investment recommendations between 2006-2008
- $77,500 Settlement (2013): Similar allegations of breach of fiduciary duty and securities law violations
Pattern of Problematic Investment Recommendations
The customer complaints consistently involve similar investment types:
- Direct Participation Programs (DPPs) and Limited Partnerships
- Oil & Gas investments
- Real Estate Securities
- Promissory Notes
These alternative investments typically feature high commissions for brokers, limited liquidity for investors, and significantly higher risk profiles than traditional investments like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
Personal Financial Contributions to Settlements
In several cases, Griffin personally contributed significant amounts toward settlements:
- $10,000 contribution to a $52,000 settlement
- $10,000 contribution to a $92,500 settlement
- $5,000 contribution to a $250,000 settlement
This personal financial involvement suggests the seriousness of the allegations, as brokers often only contribute personally when there are significant concerns about their conduct.
Common Allegations Against Griffin
1. Unsuitable Investment Recommendations
Financial advisors have a duty to recommend investments that align with their clients’ financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Multiple clients have alleged that Griffin recommended high-risk alternative investments that were inappropriate for their circumstances.
Potential red flags for unsuitable recommendations include:
- Concentration in illiquid investments
- Recommendations inconsistent with stated investment objectives
- Excessive risk relative to the client’s risk tolerance
- Age-inappropriate investment strategies
2. Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Investment advisors must put their clients’ interests ahead of their own. Allegations against Griffin include failures to:
- Adequately disclose risks and conflicts of interest
- Recommend investments based on clients’ best interests rather than commission potential
- Provide ongoing monitoring and management of investments when required
- Maintain transparency about compensation arrangements
3. Misrepresentations and Omissions
Several complaints suggest Griffin may have:
- Downplayed investment risks
- Overstated potential returns
- Failed to disclose material facts about investments
- Presented overly optimistic scenarios while minimizing downside potential
Problematic Investment Types in Griffin’s Complaint History
Direct Participation Programs (DPPs) and Limited Partnerships
These investments often involve:
- High upfront fees (sometimes 10-15% of invested capital)
- Limited or no secondary markets, making early liquidation difficult or impossible
- Complex tax implications
- Multi-year investment lockup periods
- Significant conflicts of interest between sponsors and investors
Oil & Gas Investments
Oil and gas offerings frequently appear in investment fraud cases because they:
- Are subject to extreme commodity price volatility
- May involve misleading projections about production potential
- Often have complex and opaque operating expenses
- Frequently underperform promises made during the sales process
- May involve multi-level fee structures that benefit promoters over investors
Real Estate Securities
Non-traded REITs and similar real estate offerings can pose special challenges:
- Lack of transparent valuation
- High commission structures (often 7-10%)
- Extended illiquidity periods
- Redemption programs that can be suspended at the sponsor’s discretion
- Potential conflicts in property acquisition and management
Promissory Notes
Private promissory notes are often vehicles for fraud because they:
- May lack proper registration with securities regulators
- Often promise unrealistic “guaranteed” returns
- Frequently lack collateral or have inadequate security
- May be used to fund Ponzi schemes
- Typically have minimal disclosure requirements
Current Employment and Registration Information
Jesse Julian Griffin Jr. is currently employed by Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC, having joined the firm in April 2019. He is registered in multiple states:
- Alabama (since 02/23/2024)
- Arkansas (since 07/24/2023)
- California (since 04/16/2019)
- Florida (since 04/16/2019)
- Georgia (since 04/17/2019)
- Maryland (since 04/16/2019)
- New Jersey (since 04/16/2019)
- New York (since 04/16/2019)
- Oregon (since 04/16/2019)
- South Carolina (since 04/16/2019)
- Texas (since 08/11/2020)
Griffin previously worked with:
- Portsmouth-SmartLife Financial Group, LLC (2019-2021)
- Newbridge Securities Corporation (2016-2019)
- VSR Financial Services (2006-2016)
- ProEquities, Inc. (2000-2006)
- Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. (1989-2000)
Legal Options for Investors Who Have Suffered Losses
If you invested with Jesse Julian Griffin Jr. and experienced unexpected losses, particularly in alternative investments, you may have legal options for recovery. These typically include:
1. FINRA Arbitration
Most investment disputes are resolved through FINRA’s arbitration process:
- Generally faster and less expensive than traditional litigation
- Typically completed within 12-18 months
- Binding decisions
- No public courtroom proceedings
- Limited discovery requirements
- Six-year eligibility window for most claims
2. Securities Class Action
In some cases, investors may band together in a class action lawsuit if:
- Multiple investors suffered similar losses from the same misconduct
- Individual claim amounts might not justify separate legal actions
- The same misrepresentations or omissions affected many investors
3. Regulatory Complaints
While not directly resulting in financial recovery, filing complaints with regulators can:
- Alert authorities to potential misconduct
- Create an official record of your concerns
- Potentially lead to regulatory actions that may support private recovery efforts
- Help protect other investors from similar experiences
Potential Claims in Investment Loss Cases
Our investment fraud attorneys evaluate several potential legal claims when assessing cases involving financial advisors like Jesse Griffin:
Unsuitability
We investigate whether recommended investments matched your:
- Risk tolerance
- Investment objectives
- Financial situation
- Time horizon
- Liquidity needs
- Tax status
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
We examine whether your advisor:
- Put your interests first
- Disclosed all material facts and conflicts
- Charged reasonable fees
- Provided appropriate ongoing management
- Implemented proper diversification strategies
Negligence and Gross Negligence
We assess whether your advisor failed to:
- Conduct adequate due diligence on investments
- Monitor investments appropriately
- Follow industry standards and firm procedures
- Exercise reasonable care in managing your assets
Failure to Supervise
We investigate whether the brokerage firm:
- Properly vetted investment products before allowing their sale
- Monitored advisor recommendations for suitability
- Responded appropriately to red flags
- Implemented required compliance procedures
- Performed necessary due diligence on complex products
Warning Signs of Investment Fraud
Protect yourself by being alert to these common warning signs:
Promises of Guaranteed Returns
- Investment returns are never guaranteed
- Higher returns inherently come with higher risks
- Be skeptical of “can’t lose” opportunities
Pressure to Act Quickly
- Legitimate investments rarely require immediate decisions
- “Limited time offers” are often designed to prevent proper due diligence
- Take your time to thoroughly research any investment opportunity
Lack of Transparency
- If you don’t understand an investment, don’t purchase it
- Request prospectuses and offering documents before investing
- Verify all claims independently
Excessive Concentration
- Proper diversification is fundamental to risk management
- Be cautious if your advisor recommends placing a large percentage of your portfolio in a single investment type
- Question recommendations to concentrate in illiquid alternatives
How Our Investment Fraud Attorneys Can Help
Our experienced securities attorneys have recovered millions for investors who have suffered losses due to broker misconduct. When you work with us:
We Provide a Free Case Evaluation
- No-obligation assessment of your potential claims
- Expert analysis of your investment losses
- Clear explanation of your legal options
- Transparent discussion of potential recovery avenues
We Handle All Aspects of Your Claim
- Comprehensive investigation of your investment history
- Expert analysis of account statements and transaction records
- Identification of all potential legal claims
- Management of all procedural requirements
- Strategic negotiation with opposing counsel
We Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
- No recovery, no fee
- Aligned interests to maximize your potential recovery
- No upfront costs or hourly fees
- Transparent fee structure established at the beginning of representation
Time Limitations for Investment Loss Claims
Don’t delay seeking legal advice if you suspect misconduct in your investment accounts. Strict time limitations apply:
- FINRA arbitration claims must generally be filed within six years
- State securities law claims typically have 2-5 year statutes of limitations
- Certain fraud claims may have discovery rules that extend filing deadlines
- Evidence becomes more difficult to gather as time passes
Take Action to Protect Your Financial Future
If you invested with Jesse Julian Griffin Jr. and experienced unexpected losses, particularly in alternative investments like DPPs, oil and gas, real estate securities, or promissory notes, contact our investment fraud attorneys today.
Our experienced legal team has recovered millions for investors nationwide who have suffered losses due to broker misconduct, unsuitable investment recommendations, and securities fraud. We understand the devastating impact investment losses can have on your financial security and retirement plans.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to take action. Strict time limitations apply to investment fraud claims, and delaying could permanently forfeit your right to recovery.
Call 800-950-6553 or complete our online form to schedule your no-obligation case evaluation.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information about Jesse Julian Griffin Jr. comes from publicly available FINRA BrokerCheck records. Past settlements do not necessarily indicate future results, and each investor’s situation is unique. This communication may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions.
