A former Edward Jones broker has been indicted for allegedly defrauding several clients out of nearly $800,000 and then using some of the money to pay for "at least two vehicles," credit card balances, and his own and his in-laws' home mortgages, according to the indictment filed Nov. 15 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
The indictment against Ronald T. Molo, 61, of Shorewood, Illinois, was unsealed Tuesday, announced John R. Lausch Jr., U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and Emmerson Buie Jr., special agent-in-charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, in a news release.
Molo was charged with six counts of wire fraud, the indictment shows. "Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison," according to Lausch and Buie.
Molo became a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority-registered broker when he joined Edward Jones in May 2001, according to his report on FINRA's BrokerCheck website.
Edward Jones terminated Molo on June 15 after allegations that "clients transferred funds to an external account believed to be related to the registered representative," a disclosure on his BrokerCheck report shows. "The transfers were subsequent to the registered representative soliciting a purported investment," it said.
Clients 'Made Whole'
Asked to comment on Molo's indictment, an Edward Jones spokesperson told ThinkAdvisor Wednesday: "Upon identifying Ron Molo's misconduct, Edward Jones promptly terminated his employment and notified the proper authorities."
The spokesperson added: "We have fully supported and continue to cooperate with the law enforcement investigation that led to the indictment returned against Molo. The few Edward Jones clients impacted by Molo's misconduct have all been made whole and remain clients of our firm."
FINRA suspended Molo on Oct. 25 after he failed to respond to the industry self-regulator's request for information, his BrokerCheck report shows. The suspension is to remain in effect until Molo supplies the requested information to FINRA or the suspension converts to a bar, it said.
Travel, Lottery Tickets
According to the indictment, from 2018 to earlier this year, Molo falsely represented to clients that their investments with him would be income-producing and tax-free, and that they would receive regular, periodic interest payments.
