SEC charges Chicago Financial Adviser with $1.7 Million Fraud

Posted on August 30th, 2019 at 3:57 PM
SEC charges Chicago Financial Adviser with $1.7 Million Fraud

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law LLC:

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") charges Marcus Boggs, a former Chicago investment adviser at the Chicago office of Merrill Lynch, with stealing over $1.7 million from at least three of his clients.

According to the SEC's complaint, between 2016 and 2018, Boggs made more than 200 illegal transfers from three advisory clients' accounts to pay for his personal and massive credit card purchases. The complaint alleges that Boggs misappropriated his clients' money by selling securities in their advisory accounts without his clients' knowledge. He then transferred the proceeds to his credit card account. During the period of the scheme, Boggs vacationed in Europe, South Africa, Canada, and the Caribbean, staying in luxury hotels, according to the complaint. He stole over $1.7 million and made hundreds of unauthorized payments to his credit card account.

According to Boggs's BrokerCheck profile, he worked at Merrill Lynch between March 2006 and December 2018. In that role, Boggs managed over $40 million in assets held by more than 70 clients and presented himself to Chicago's wealthy philanthropic community as a successful financial services professional.

According to the BrokerCheck, Boggs has five disclosures listed on his profile, including three customer disputes that he settled. Also, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") barred Boggs from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with a broker-dealer firm. Boggs also faces criminal charges of wire fraud.

The attorneys of Eccleston Law LLC represent investors and advisors nationwide in securities and employment matters. The securities lawyers at Eccleston Law also practice a variety of other areas of practice for financial investors and advisors including Securities FraudCompliance ProtectionBreach of Fiduciary DutyFINRA Matters, and much more. Our attorneys draw on a combined experience of nearly 65 years in delivering the highest quality legal services. If you are in need of legal services, contact us to schedule a one-on-one consultation today.

Related Attorneys: James J. Eccleston

Tags: james eccleston, eccleston law, eccleston law llc, eccleston, sec, fraud, merrill lynch, marcus boggs, brokercheck

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

I am grateful to have found an outstanding law firm that specializes in securities matters. My lawyers were extremely knowledgeable, diligent, and are skilled litigators. No stone was left upturned. As a result of their experience and tenacity, the arbitration proceeding was dismissed in my favor.

Michael E.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

March 12, 2025
GPB Capital Investors May Receive Some Compensation Under Proposed Distribution Plan

GPB Capital Holdings investors have not received returns on their investments since 2018. According to InvestmentNews, after years of litigation, a court-appointed receiver has submitted a plan to return funds to the 17,000 investors who purchased $1.8 billion in GPB limited partnerships.

March 11, 2025
Former CNBC Analyst Pleads Guilty to $2.7 Million Securities Fraud Scheme

James Arthur McDonald Jr., a former financial advisor and frequent CNBC guest analyst, has agreed to plead guilty to securities fraud, admitting to defrauding investors out of at least $2.7 million, as reported by ThinkAdvisor. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

March 10, 2025
Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch Settle SEC Charges Over Cash Sweep Program Policies

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced settlements with Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC, Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated over allegations that they failed to implement proper policies and procedures for their cash sweep programs.