Goldstone Financial Group
We are investigating Goldstone Financial Group for allegedly attempting to conceal critical reviews and adverse news from Google by improperly submitting copyright takedown notices. This includes potential violations such as impersonation, fraud, and perjury.
PARTIES INVOLVED : Goldstone Financial Group
ALLEGATIONS : Perjury, Fraud, Impersonation
INCIDENT DATE : 28 Feb 2024
INVESTIGATED BY : Ethan Katz
TOOLS USED : Lumen, SecurityTrails
CASE NO : 9049/A/2024
CRIME TYPE : Intellectual Property Scam
PUBLISHED ON : 26 Nov 2024
Due Diligence
Is This About You?
What We Are Investigating?
Our firm is launching a comprehensive investigation into Goldstone Financial Group over allegations that it has been suppressing critical reviews and unfavorable Google search results by fraudulently misusing DMCA takedown notices. These actions, if proven, could constitute serious legal violations—including impersonation, fraud, and perjury.
We conducted comprehensive analyses of fraudulent copyright takedown requests, meritless legal complaints, and other unlawful efforts to suppress public access to critical information. Our reporting sheds light on the prevalence and modus operandi of a structured censorship network, often funded and used by criminal enterprises, oligarchs and criminal entities seeking to manipulate public perception and bypass AML checks conducted by financial organisations.
The fake DMCA notices in this investigation appears to have been strategically deployed to remove negative content from Google search results illegally. Based on this pattern, we have reasonable grounds to infer that Goldstone Financial Group - or an entity acting at its behest - is directly or indirectly complicit in this cyber crime.
In most such cases, such ops are executed by rogue, fly-by-night 'Online Reputation Management' agencies acting on behalf of their clients. If evidence establishes that the subject knowingly benefited from or facilitated this scam, it may be deemed an 'accomplice' or an 'accessory' to the crime.
What are they trying to censor
Goldstone Financial Group‘s founder Michael Pellegrino, has been embroiled in a series of controversies and regulatory actions that have significantly tarnished his reputation and that of his firm. These allegations range from investment fraud to regulatory violations, raising serious concerns about his professional conduct and the firm’s ethical standards.
Major Allegations and Red Flags
1. Involvement in the 1 Global Capital Scandal
Michael Pellegrino and Goldstone Financial Group were implicated in the 1 Global Capital Ponzi scheme, which defrauded investors of over $320 million. Pellegrino allegedly promoted unregistered securities issued by 1 Global Capital, earning $1.6 million in referral fees without disclosing this to clients. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) found that these actions violated fiduciary duties and regulatory standards, leading to Pellegrino being barred from the securities industry.
2. Misrepresentation and Unsuitable Investment Recommendations
Pellegrino faced multiple customer complaints between 2015 and 2019, including allegations of breaching fiduciary duty and recommending unsuitable investments, particularly in non-traded REITs and business development companies (BDCs). These high-risk, illiquid investments were marketed with misleading claims about returns, while risks and fees were inadequately disclosed.
3. Regulatory Penalties and Legal Actions
The SEC fined Pellegrino and Goldstone Financial Group $70,000 for their role in the 1 Global Capital fraud. Additionally, Pellegrino was censured and fined $30,000 for failing to disclose referral fees and engaging in unregistered securities transactions. These penalties highlight systemic compliance failures within the firm.
4. Lawsuit Over Unregistered Securities
In 2018, five investors sued Goldstone Financial Group, alleging they were misled into investing retirement savings in unregistered securities, resulting in significant losses. Although the lawsuit was later dismissed, it exposed the firm’s questionable practices and lack of transparency.
5. Attempts to Suppress Negative Information
Pellegrino has been accused of attempting to conceal critical reviews and adverse news by improperly submitting copyright takedown notices to Google. This behavior suggests a pattern of trying to control the narrative around his professional conduct, potentially violating laws related to impersonation, fraud, and perjury.
Reputational Damage and Motives for Suppression
The allegations against Pellegrino and Goldstone Financial Group have severely damaged their reputation. The involvement in a high-profile Ponzi scheme, coupled with regulatory penalties and lawsuits, has eroded trust among clients and the broader financial community. The firm’s failure to disclose conflicts of interest and its promotion of high-risk investments have further undermined its credibility.
Pellegrino’s attempts to suppress negative information, including through alleged cyber-related activities, indicate a desperate effort to salvage his reputation. By removing adverse news, he aims to minimize public scrutiny and regain client trust. However, such actions risk further legal consequences and reinforce perceptions of unethical behavior.
Conclusion
The allegations against Michael Pellegrino and Goldstone Financial Group paint a troubling picture of a financial advisor who prioritized personal gain over client welfare. The firm’s involvement in fraudulent schemes, regulatory violations, and attempts to suppress negative information highlight systemic ethical failures. These actions not only harm Pellegrino’s reputation but also serve as a cautionary tale for investors about the importance of due diligence and transparency in financial advisory relationships.
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/39784767
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/39998189
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/48920625
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/50552853
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/50552854
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/50552635
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- https://www.deseret.com/2012/9/10/20434977/police-say-texas-teen-killed-to-keep-her-quiet/?_amp=true
- https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2016/03/murder_for_hire_a_look_into_th.html
- https://www.britannica.com/event/Japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-of-2011
- https://www.financescam.com/2024/10/18/investment-fraud-unmasked-the-anthony-pellegrino-and-goldstone-financial-story/
- https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/federal-judge-orders-jury-trial-on-claim-that-kentucky-exoneree-who-was-threatened-with-death-penalty-was-framed-for-murder
- https://www.perrytribune.com/news/true-crime-tv-show-revisits-2012-new-lex-murder/article_2156927a-86f5-11ee-a771-dfdebcf2718d.html
- https://www.wlky.com/article/louisville-man-pleads-guilty-to-fatally-shooting-15-year-old-boy-in-2012/38584116
- https://www.wealthmanagement.com/regulation-compliance/sec-bars-another-advisor-1-global-securities-scam
- https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/the-goldstone-defendants
- https://www.financescam.com/2024/11/30/anthony-pellegrino-and-goldstone-financial-a-case-of-investment-fraud/
- https://practicallaw.org/goldstone-financial-group-lawsuit/
- https://www.intelligenceline.com/r/Reports/75772/anthony-pellegrino-the-disgraced-financial-advisor-behind-goldstone-financial-groups-fraudulent-scheme/
Evidence Box
Evidence and relevant screenshots related to our investigation
Targeted Content and Red Flags
erezlaw.com
NorthStar Healthcare Income REIT Investment Losses with Taylor Capital Management Inc. Broker Michael Pellegrino?
- Red Flag
About the Author
The author is affiliated with TU Dresden and analyzes public databases such as Lumen Database and
Maltego to identify and expose online censorship. In his personal capacity, he and his
team have been actively investigating and reporting on organized crime related
to fraudulent copyright takedown schemes.
Additionally, his team provides
advisory services to major law firms and is frequently consulted on matters
pertaining to intellectual property law.
Escalate This Case
Learn All About Fake Copyright Takedown Scam
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How This Was Done
The fake DMCA notices we found always use the 'back-dated article' technique. With this technique, the wrongful notice sender (or copier) creates a copy of a 'true original' article and back-dates it, creating a 'fake original' article (a copy of the true original) that, at first glance, appears to have been published before the true original
What Happens Next?
Based on the feedback, information, and requests received from all relevant parties, our team will formally notify the affected party of the alleged infringement. Following a thorough review, we will submit a counter-notice to reinstate any link that has been removed by Google, in accordance with applicable legal provisions. Additionally, we will communicate with Google’s Legal Team to ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
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User Reviews
Average Ratings
1.5
Based on 2 ratings
by: Michael Jackson
So-called “financial experts” who are really just commission-hungry sharks. Goldstone feels more like a financial trap.
by: James Thomas
Heavily marketed as trusted advisors, yet they push confusing products that only benefit them, not the client.
by: Karen Anderson
They make promises of retirement safety and financial growth, but all you get is high-pressure sales tactics and sketchy advice.
by: Ember Pierce
they robbed retirees blind and tried to hide it with fake takedown notices? lol that’s just pathetic
by: Kai Dillard
Wow... just wow. It’s always the “trusted advisors” who end up ruining retirements. Disgusted.
by: Lila Northwood
Was with this firm a few years back. Always felt like something was off. Slick talkers but pushy with risky stuff I didn’t understand. Now I get why.
by: Carter Longford
How does someone get fined by the SEC twice and still walk around giving financial advice? Wild.
by: Ivy Wycliff
this guy stole from ppl tryna retire. that’s the lowest of the low.
by: Noah Kingswell
The fact that they promoted unsuitable investments to retirees is particularly cruel. These people were trusting Goldstone with their hard-earned retirement funds, only to be misled into buying risky, illiquid products. It’s financial exploitation, plain and simple.
by: Marissa Blackburn
So he was making millions in referral fees but didn’t bother telling his clients? Pure greed.
by: Noah Kingswell
This whole thing stinks of corruption. Scammers like Pellegrino should be in jail, not running financial firms.
by: Vanessa Worthington
The SEC fines and legal actions clearly demonstrate that this wasn’t a one-time mistake it was a pattern of deception. When you’re fined $70,000 for fraudulent activities and then censured for failing to disclose referral fees, it shows a systemic...
by: Logan Hensley
Yikes! Getting caught in a Ponzi scheme and then trying to erase the evidence? Talk about desperate.
by: Jessica Delaney
Wow, recommending non-traded REITs without disclosing the real risks? That’s a clear betrayal of client trust.
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