Haselkorn & Thibaut, P.A., operating as Investment Fraud Lawyers, is tracking the federal guilty plea of Lazaven Mitchell CRD 7549756. The U.S. Department of Justice announced on November 2, 2026, that Mitchell pleaded guilty to one felony count. The charge is false impersonation of a federal officer or employee under 18 U.S.C. § 912.
The charge stems from conduct between April 2024 and June 2024. Mitchell posed as a U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) representative to solicit retirement-plan administration business. Senior U.S. District Judge David Stewart Cercone scheduled sentencing for March 25, 2027. The primary sources do not report any investor losses, restitution, securities-fraud charges, or actual plan transfers.
Who is Lazaven Mitchell?
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Lazaven Mitchell is a Pittsburgh-based financial advisor and loan officer. He is 38 years old. His Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Central Registration Depository number is 7549756.
He was most recently registered with PFS Investments Inc. from May 2022 through December 2025. We do not allege that PFS Investments participated in the conduct described by the DOJ.
What the DOJ says happened
According to the DOJ press release, Mitchell contacted local businesses and identified himself as an EBSA employee. He requested to review the businesses’ retirement plans for compliance. After reviewing a plan, he allegedly identified a compliance issue and recommended that the business terminate its current advisor.
Mitchell then proposed transferring plan administration to him. He provided draft termination letters for business owners to sign. He sent correspondence bearing the DOL seal and the EBSA mailing address in Washington, D.C.
In text messages, he referenced having “a final determination from the DOL.” He also said he would retrieve “the documents for the Department of Labor inquiry.”
In addition, he sent a fictitious business card. The card listed his name with the title “Employee Benefit Advisor” and an address for a suite inside the William S. Moorhead Federal Building.
Court, charge, and sentencing date
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Plea date | November 2, 2026 |
| Defendant | Lazaven Mitchell, 38, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania |
| Judge | Senior U.S. District Judge David Stewart Cercone |
| Prosecutor | Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. McKenna |
| Charge | One felony count of false impersonation of a federal officer or employee, 18 U.S.C. § 912 |
| Conduct period | April 2024 through June 2024 |
| Sentencing date | March 25, 2027 |
| Maximum prison term | Up to 3 years |
| Maximum fine | Greater of $250,000 or twice Mitchell’s gross pecuniary gain |
The maximum penalties listed above are statutory limits, not the actual sentence Judge Cercone will impose. The government has not stated whether any business transferred plan assets or advisory authority to Mitchell.
BrokerCheck registration and exam history
Mitchell’s FINRA BrokerCheck summary, accessed on November 11, 2026, states that he is not currently registered. He passed four industry exams and was previously registered with PFS Investments Inc.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| CRD number | 7549756 |
| Current registration status | Not currently registered |
| Last registered firm | PFS Investments Inc. (CRD 10111) |
| Branch | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Registration dates | May 2022 through December 2025 |
| Exams passed | SIE, Series 6TO, Series 63, Series 65 |
| Disclosures | One final regulatory event; one criminal event |
Disclosure events on BrokerCheck
BrokerCheck lists two disclosure events. The first is a 2013 suspension by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.
The regulator alleged that Mitchell failed to appear at scheduled domestic relations proceedings. The suspension lasted 16 months and was not based on fraud, manipulation, or deception. It involved an insurance license, not a securities registration.
The second disclosure is the criminal charge for false impersonation. BrokerCheck accessed on November 11, 2026, still lists the charge as pending with a not-guilty plea. That conflicts with the November 2, 2026 DOJ announcement that Mitchell pleaded guilty. The DOJ release is the more recent primary source. BrokerCheck may not yet reflect the guilty plea.
What investors should know
The DOJ case is about false impersonation used to solicit retirement-plan business. It is not an investment-fraud or securities-fraud charge. The primary sources do not report investor losses, restitution, the number of businesses contacted, or whether any plan transfers actually occurred. No customer complaints or arbitrations appear on BrokerCheck.
Investors can protect themselves by verifying an advisor’s registration on FINRA BrokerCheck before sharing account information. Our financial advisor fraud overview explains common warning signs and recovery paths.
Be cautious when anyone claims to represent a government agency and requests access to plan records. Confirm the representative’s identity through official agency channels. If you suspect misconduct, preserve all records and speak with a securities attorney before contacting the advisor directly. Our broker misconduct resource describes the violations we most often see in FINRA arbitration.
Our firm reviews investor cases nationwide at no upfront cost. You can reach us at 1-888-885-7162 for a confidential consultation. If you are evaluating whether to sue your financial advisor, our guide covers FINRA arbitration deadlines and what you must prove.
Frequently asked questions
What did Lazaven Mitchell plead guilty to?
Mitchell pleaded guilty to one felony count of false impersonation of a federal officer or employee under 18 U.S.C. § 912.
When is Lazaven Mitchell’s sentencing?
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for March 25, 2027.
Is Lazaven Mitchell still registered as a broker?
No. BrokerCheck accessed on November 11, 2026, lists him as not currently registered. His last registration with PFS Investments Inc. ended in December 2025.
Did the DOJ report any investor losses in the Mitchell case?
No. The DOJ and DOL OIG releases do not state that any investor or business lost money or transferred plan assets. They also do not mention a restitution order.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice, USAO-WDPA — Pittsburgh Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Falsely Impersonating Department of Labor Employee, November 2, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General — Pittsburgh Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Falsely Impersonating Department of Labor Employee, November 2, 2026.
- FINRA BrokerCheck summary for Lazaven Mitchell, CRD 7549756, accessed November 11, 2026.
- FINRA BrokerCheck individual report PDF for Lazaven Mitchell, CRD 7549756, accessed November 11, 2026.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Each case depends on its own facts, and no representation is made that similar results will be achieved.