John Stapleton: $200K Complaint Against Spartan Capital Advisor

Garden City, New York financial advisor John Stapleton (CRD# 2791194) allegedly made unauthorized and unsuitable trades, according to a recent investor complaint. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he is registered as a broker with Spartan Capital Securities.

Mr. Stapleton’s BrokerCheck report discloses multiple investor complaints. The most recent, filed in June 2025, alleges that as a representative of Spartan Capital Securities, he made unsuitable trades, executed unauthorized transactions, and generated excessive commissions. The pending complaint alleges damages of $200,000. In a statement included with the complaint’s disclosure, Mr. Stapleton wrote that the allegations are “wholly” meritless and that he “intends to defend the matter vigorously and expects to prevail.”

A second investor complaint, filed in 2024, alleges that as a Spartan Capital Securities representative, he recommended unsuitable investments, misrepresented and omitted material facts, negligently failed in his supervisory responsibilities, and committed fraud in connection with private placement investments. The pending complaint alleges damages of $375,000.

A third investor complaint, filed in 2020, alleged that he misrepresented and recommended unsuitable investments as a Spartan Capital representative. In 2022 the complaint reached a settlement of $10,000.

A fourth disclosure on his BrokerCheck report concerns a FINRA investigation against him. Filed in February 2025, it states that reached a preliminary determination to recommend disciplinary action against him. The action would allege that he churned investments, made excessive and unsuitable trades, and willfully violated the Best Interest Obligation. “All alleged allegation stem from a FINRA Exam that was conducted 8 years ago,” Mr. Stapleton wrote in a comment regarding the disclosure. “I categorically deny any wrongdoing. The allegations are false.”

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, John Stapleton holds 28 years of securities industry experience. Based in Garden City, New York, he has been registered as a broker with Spartan Capital Securities since 2015. His past registrations include Craig Scott Capital, Rockwell Global Capital, JHS Capital Advisors, Great Eastern Securities, Gunnallen Financial, LH Ross & Company, and Continental Broker-Dealer Corporation. His credentials include the passage of three securities industry qualifying exams: the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, or Series 63; the Securities Industry Essentials Examination, or SIE; and the General Securities Representative Examination, or Series 7. He holds 19 state licenses. (Information current as of August 31, 2025.)

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