Ex-Merrill adviser who threw smoothie wants probation

Ex-Merrill adviser who threw smoothie wants probation
James Iannazzo, who's facing three charges as a result of the incident in January, seeks to plead not guilty and be put on probation for up to two years.
MAR 10, 2022

James Iannazzo, the former Merrill Lynch broker who was fired after a disorderly incident in a Connecticut smoothie shop, applied for a pretrial probation program Wednesday, according to a report in the Connecticut Post.

Iannazzo, 48, was arrested after the incident in January and faces three charges, including intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the second degree, a felony. The other charges are second-degree breach of peace and first-degree criminal trespass.

Iannazzo's attorney, Eugene Riccio, on Thursday morning confirmed the Post's report and said his client was seeking accelerated rehabilitation. He made no further comment about the matter.

Under accelerated rehabilitation, a program for nonviolent offenders, Iannazzo would not plead guilty to the charges but could be placed on up to two years of probation, according to the report. If he commits no other crimes during that probation, the charges against him are dismissed.

A Superior Court Judge in Bridgeport, Nbidi Moses, continued the case until April 8.

Iannazzo was arrested Jan. 22 by the Fairfield, Connecticut, police after erupting at a Robeks smoothie store, throwing a drink at an employee, hitting them and demanding to know who made a smoothie that contained peanuts and caused his child to have a severe allergic reaction, according to the Fairfield police.

video of the incident, in which Iannazzo repeatedly uses profanity and calls one employee an “immigrant loser,” caused a firestorm at the time on social media platforms, including Twitter.

Iannazzo told officers that he was upset about his son having a severe allergic reaction and he went back to the store as a result, according to the police.

Iannazzo, a 25-year veteran at Merrill Lynch, isn't currently registered with a securities firm. The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. last month said it halted, at least for the short term, Iannazzo's use of its certification.

Latest News

Raymond James, Osaic laud new bank partnerships
Raymond James, Osaic laud new bank partnerships

A Texas-based bank selects Raymond James for a $605 million program, while an OSJ with Osaic lures a storied institution in Ohio from LPL.

Bessent backpedals after blowback on 'privatizing Social Security' comments
Bessent backpedals after blowback on 'privatizing Social Security' comments

The Treasury Secretary's suggestion that Trump Savings Accounts could be used as a "backdoor" drew sharp criticisms from AARP and Democratic lawmakers.

Alternative investment winners and losers in wake of OBBBA
Alternative investment winners and losers in wake of OBBBA

Changes in legislation or additional laws historically have created opportunities for the alternative investment marketplace to expand.

Financial advisors often see clients seeking to retire early; Here's what they tell them
Financial advisors often see clients seeking to retire early; Here's what they tell them

Wealth managers highlight strategies for clients trying to retire before 65 without running out of money.

Robinhood beats Q2 profit estimates as business goes beyond YOLO trading
Robinhood beats Q2 profit estimates as business goes beyond YOLO trading

Shares of the online brokerage jumped as it reported a surge in trading, counting crypto transactions, though analysts remained largely unmoved.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.