Erez Law is currently investigating Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. broker Matthew Crafa (CRD# 3114277) who is alleged to have recommended unsuitable investments in GPB Capital Holdings. Crafa has been registered with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. in Garden City, New York since 2007.
According to public records, a former client of Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. filed a FINRA arbitration claim against the broker regarding unsuitable investment recommendations of GPB Capital Holdings notes. It is also alleged that Crafa solicited residents of Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida to invest in GPB Capital Holdings.
In August 2021, it was reported that a former client of Crafa filed a FINRA complaint seeking $5 million in damages due to losses suffered from investments in illiquid, speculative products as well as annuities. According to the claim, Crafa represented to his clients that the GPB Capital investments were low-risk and safe products that would help them to preserve their principal and provide quality income for years to come. Additionally, it is alleged that Crafa misled investors to believe their investment would double in just seven years.
GPB Capital Holdings is a New York-based investment firm that offers exempt, private-placement securities that inherently have a high degree of risk due to their nature as unregistered securities offerings (and without regulatory oversight). The firm manages the following nine private placements:
- GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP
- GPB Cold Storage LP
- GPB Holdings, LP
- GPB Holdings II, LP
- GPB Holdings III, LP
- GPB Holdings Qualified, LP
- GPB NYC Development, LP
- GPB Waste Management Fund, LP
The investment firm raised $1.8 billion from investors through private placements that invested in automotive dealerships, the waste management industry, and middle-market lending. These investments were high risk and high commission (nearly 8%) private placements.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and FINRA are investigating GPB Capital Holdings and the accuracy of disclosures made to investors, the performance of funds, and the distribution of capital to investors.
In February 2019, the FBI and officials from the New York City Business Integrity Commission entered the firm’s Manhattan offices.
In September 2018, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced an investigation into 63 broker-dealer firms that sold private placements from GPB.
In November 2018, Crowe LLP, the firm’s auditor, resigned.
According to public records, in August 2018, GPB Capital Holdings ceased raising capital from investors. GPB Capital Holdings missed sending the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) financial reports on April 30, 2018 and is now straightening out the accounting for two of its larger funds – GPB Holdings II and GPB Automotive Portfolio. It is reported that GPB Capital Holdings raised $600-$800 million from 4,000 investors through independent brokerage firms, and claims to have raised $1.5 billion in total.
GPB Capital Holdings was launched in 2013 with a focus on buying auto dealerships. According to the SEC, GPB Automotive Portfolio raised $622.1 million from wealthy investors since 2013, and the minimum investment in GPB Automotive Portfolio was $100,000. GPB Holdings II raised $645.8 million since 2015. GPB Holdings II and GPB Automotive Portfolio together have paid brokers $100.1 million in commissions at a rate of 7.9%.
It is alleged that brokerage firms that sold GPB Capital Holdings and their brokers who recommended GPB Capital Holdings to their clients may not have conducted appropriate due diligence on the funds.
Pursuant to FINRA Rules, member firms are responsible for supervising a broker’s activities during the time the broker is registered with the firm. Therefore, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. may be liable for investment or other losses suffered by Crafa’s customers.
Erez Law represents investors in the United States for claims against brokers and brokerage firms for wrongdoing. If you have experienced investment losses, please call us at 888-840-1571 or complete our contact form for a free consultation. Erez Law is a nationally recognized law firm representing individuals, trusts, corporations and institutions in claims against brokerage firms, banks and insurance companies on a contingency fee basis.
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