Julie Darrah

Julie Darrah, a former broker for Mutual Securities and investment adviser for Wealth Enhancement Group, has been sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison following her guilty plea to wire fraud involving the theft of more than $2.25 million from clients—many of them elderly.

Between 2016 and 2023, Darrah allegedly exploited her position as a trusted financial adviser to misappropriate funds from at least nine senior clients, most of them women. According to the SEC, she liquidated securities and transferred client assets to her own accounts under the guise of managing their investments. Instead, she used the stolen funds to support a struggling restaurant business and finance personal real estate and luxury purchases.

Darrah was affiliated with Vivid Financial Management, which was later acquired by Wealth Enhancement Group, a firm that filed its own civil lawsuit against her in 2021. In 2023, the SEC brought formal charges alleging that Darrah misused her discretionary authority to drain accounts and co-mingled client funds with her own.

FINRA’s BrokerCheck notes that Darrah spent two decades in the securities industry. At least two of her former clients filed FINRA arbitration claims—one settled for $275,000 and another seeks over $749,000 in damages.

This case is a stark example of financial elder abuse, where a trusted advisor takes advantage of vulnerable seniors for personal gain. Firms that fail to detect or prevent such misconduct may also be held liable for inadequate supervision.

If you or a loved one invested with Julie Darrah and suspect wrongdoing, ChapmanAlbin is investigating this matter and can help you evaluate your recovery options.

Call 1-877-410-8172 or visit chapmanalbin.com to schedule a free consultation.