The Idaho Finance Department has filed suit against Fitzgerald, DeArman & Roberts Inc., Tulsa, Okla., and four salesman in its Salt Lake office.
The five-count complaint, filed Thursday in 4th District Court, alleges the defendants sold unregistered stock to Idaho residents, and the broker and salesmen were not licensed to sell stocks in Idaho.
The complaint says the defendants engaged in fraudulent practices and furnished false information to the Finance Department during its investigation, department Director Belton J. Patty said.
The salesmen named in the lawsuit are Kent Smith Broadhead, Craig A. Broadhead, Harry Niehus and Randy Carlson, all of Salt Lake City.
The complaint contends the defendants also engaged in fraud by agreeing to refund customers' money only after the customers signed an agreement to not cooperate with any investigation or litigation by the department or others.
The lawsuit contends the defendants also failed to tell customers that they were not licensed in Idaho.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction preventing any future violations, fines of $5,000 per violation, restrictions on certain future activities in Idaho by the defendants and reimbursement to Idaho investors.