The wirehouse filed a suit against Gregory Chevrier, claiming he was draining revenue going to the widow of a Morgan Stanley advisor by luring clients away.
Ahluwalia, an executive at Hightower's private equity investor Thomas H. Lee Partners, will serve as president, while Bob Oros continues in his role as chairman and CEO of the company.
Christopher Turean used the money he embezzled from an unnamed client to gamble and pay down a home equity loan, according to the Department of Justice.