The Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada announced on Thursday that it has commenced disciplinary proceedings in respect of Paul Yoannou, a former mutual fund salesperson registered in Ontario with Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
Yoannou was registered with Investors Group from 1997 to 2011.
MFDA staff alleges that between at least February 2006 and July 2011, he misappropriated at least $7,221,398.97 from 40 clients and at least $4,358,500 from 15 other individuals.
The MFDA alleges that Yoannou led the clients and individuals to believe the funds would be invested on their behalf in various investments, including an Investors Group Credit Card Finance Program, a pre-construction loan program extended to condominium developers, the shares of a private corporation known as X Co. Ltd., and a diamond trading investment program.
Yoannou led the clients and individuals to believe that the investments were offered or approved by Investors Group, the MFDA says, when in fact they were not known to or approved by the firm.
“There is no evidence that the investment programs were legitimate investment opportunities,” the notice of hearing says.
Yoannou did not use any of the client funds to purchase investments for their accounts. Instead, the regulator alleges that he deposited the money into bank accounts under his control and for his benefit. To date, the clients and other individuals have been unable to recover any of their money.
The MFDA also says that Yoannou has failed to co-operate. He failed to attend an interview to provide a statement and to produce documents and records as requested by MFDA staff.
Yoannou was terminated by Investors Group in July 2011, after the firm received complaints from clients and other individuals and subsequently investigated his actions.
The MFDA has scheduled an appearance for Oct. 30 in Toronto, for the purpose of setting a hearing date for this case.