A federal judge has ordered the widower of a former Raymond James Financial advisor to return his wife’s company-issued laptop that he allegedly used to access information about clients, reports AdvisorHub.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Laurie J. Michelson followed a complaint filed by Raymond James against Pietro “Peter” Melia, the widower of Sarah E. Melia, who passed away in March 2025 at age 46. She had joined Raymond James from Wells Fargo in 2012.
The complaint alleged that Pietro Melia, who is not a licensed financial advisor, sent letters to multiple Raymond James clients encouraging them to transfer their assets to Wealthcare Management Services. His relationship with Wealthcare was not specified. Melia was accused of refusing to return the laptop unless a “hold harmless” provision was signed.
“Raymond James has legitimate concerns that Mr. Melia accessed confidential company information, and the facts contradict his explanation that he got contact information from ‘family and friends,’” Raymond James’ motion said. “Several of the individuals he solicited had no relationship with Mrs. Melia, some were deceased, and others had never been Raymond James customers but were instead found in the business contact book of Mrs. Melia and Mr. Marchand,” her partner.
Through his lawyer, Pietro Melia acknowledged the device was Raymond James property but said it might contain attorney-client privileged material belonging to his late wife and that he did not want to waive privilege by relinquishing it.
Earlier this month, Judge Michelson ordered Melia to give the laptop to Raymond James’ lawyers. He still faces an injunction hearing to determine whether he should be required to turn over certain confidential information that he is accused of accessing from the laptop, such as names and contact information stored by his wife,
In his response, Melia said he gave Raymond James’ counsel the laptop “to hold…until the parties agree upon a method of removing any privileged or [attorney] work product information” or further direction from the Court.
Melia added that he had not found any additional Raymond James documents to return and that he would return or destroy any documents he found in the future.
Melia said Raymond James is speculating that he accessed and misused proprietary information from the laptop. “RJA relies upon this speculation to claim access to a contact list that Peter has compiled in a business relationship with a separate advisory firm,” according to an affidavit which adds that the contact information he “compiled was from friends, family, and acquaintances and online sources or contacts made from individuals following the unexpected and sudden passing of Sarah Melia, who was very well-liked.”
The court dismissed a motion for expedited discovery by Raymond James aimed at determining how Melia identified Raymond James’ clients to solicit and how he obtained their contact information.
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