FINRA Bars Former ING Financial Broker Michael J. Dimare From Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida for Running a Ponzi Scheme

FINRA anounced yesterday that it permanantly barred former ING Financial broker, Michael Dimare, from Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida for scamming approximately 22 victims out of approximately $2 million between 2001 and 2008.

FINRA’s investigation uncovered that between 2001 and 2008, Dimare persuaded his clients to invest in fictitious investments. Between 2001 and 2006, Dimare was a sales manager for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. During that time period, victims wrote checks made payable to John Hancock believing that the money would be invested. In reality, Dimare deposited the funds into his own bank account.

Between 2006 and 2008, Dimare was a registered representative of ING Financial Partners. During this time period, it appears that Dimare continued to encourage his clients to write checks made payable to John Hancock and then deposited the funds into his bank account.

Victims who lost money prior to 2006 likely have legal claims that can be brought against John Hancock for failure to supervise as well as the depositary bank who accepted the checks for deposit for conversion. Victims who lost money between 2006 and 2008 likely have claims against ING Financial Partners and the depositary bank.

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