Enforcement Actions

The CFTC Division of Enforcement investigates and prosecutes alleged violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and Commission regulations. The CFTC takes enforcement actions against individuals and firms registered with the Commission, those who are engaged in commodity futures and option trading on designated domestic exchanges, and those who improperly market futures and options contracts.

View Dispositions
View Opinions and Adjudicatory Orders

Enforcement Advisory: Updated Advisory on Self Reporting and Full Cooperation

Enforcement Advisory: Cooperation Factors in Enforcement Division Sanction Recommendations for Individuals

Enforcement Advisory: Cooperation Factors in Enforcement Division Sanction Recommendations for Companies

Enforcement Advisory: Advisory on Self Reporting and Cooperation for CEA Violations Involving Foreign Corrupt Practices

See CFTC Press Release 7518-17 (January 19, 2017) and
Speech of James McDonald, Director of the Division of Enforcement Commodity Futures Trading Commission Regarding Perspectives on Enforcement: Self-Reporting and Cooperation at the CFTC (September 25, 2017)

Date ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
CFTC Charges California Resident Scott Bottolfson with Operating a $14 Million Commodity Pool Ponzi Scheme
Utah Resident Darren L. Shanks and His Firm, Forex Auto Profits, LLC, Ordered to Pay More than $2.9 Million in Fines and Restitution for Fraud and Misappropriation in Foreign Currency Scheme
California Federal Court Orders Paul Abad and His Companies to Pay More than $860,000 in Restitution and a Civil Monetary Penalty to Settle Commodity Pool Fraud Action
CFTC Orders Registered Floor Broker Thomas Carroll and Trader R. Scott Hopkins to Pay Civil Monetary Totaling $700,000 for Engaging in a Fraudulent Trade Allocation Scheme
CFTC Charges California Man Ryan Nassbridges and His Companies, American Bullion Exchange ABEX Corp. and American Bullion Exchange LLC, with Fraud in $5.5 Million Precious Metals Scheme
Texas Federal Court Orders Patrick Dailey and Strongbow Investments GP, LLC, to Pay More than $2.8 Million in Restitution and Civil Monetary Penalties in Connection with Multi-Million Dollar Commodity Pool Fraud
CFTC Charges New York Man Vincent Patrick McCrudden and His Two Companies with Registration Violations
CFTC Charges Kent R.E. Whitney with Options Fraud by Making False and Misleading Statements to the CME, Futures Commission Merchants and Others
CFTC Charges MXBK Group S.A. de C.V., a Mexican Financial Services Company, and its Forex Trading Division, MBFX S.A., with Defrauding Hundreds of U.S. Customers
Oklahoma Federal Court Orders More than $26 Million in Customer Restitution and Civil Monetary Penalties Against Prestige Ventures Corporation, Federated Management Group, Inc., Kenneth W. Lee and Simon Yang, Defendants in CFTC Ponzi Scheme Action