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
U.S. DISTRICT COURT GRANTS SUMMARY JUDGMENT TO CFTC IN FRAUD ACTION AGAINST FLORIDA RESIDENTS, Genady Spivack A.K.A. George Spivak, Ellison Kent Morris, AND World-Wide Currency Services, Corp.; defendants Ordered to Pay Over One Million Dollars in Restitution and Are Permanently Banned from Commodity Related Trading or Solicitation
COURT FINDS THAT FLORIDA RESIDENT AND TWO COMPANIES DEFRAUDED CUSTOMERS IN FOREIGN CURRENCY OPTIONS SCAM: Michael Dippolito, MAD Financial, Inc., and CTU, Inc. Agree to Pay Civil Penalty for Defrauding Investors
CFTC CHARGES TEXAS-BASED COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR NEXGEN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS, INC., AND OWNER JOHN P. NOVAK WITH COMMODITIES FRAUD; Defendants Allegedly Solicited Customers to Purchase their Advisory Services Using False Claims; Nexgen and Novak also Failed to Register as Commodity Trading Advisors
Illinois District Court Judge Orders Chicago Broker Keith W. Krysinski to Pay More Than $400,000 in CFTC Anti-Fraud Case, While Banning the Defendant from the Futures Industry For at Least Five Years
FEDERAL COURT ENJOINS VISALIA, CALIFORNIA COMMODITIES TRADER AND HIS COMPANY FROM VIOLATING THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT; Consent Order of Permanent Injunction Entered Against Donald Steven Smith and His Company, Fibit.com
CALIFORNIA FIRM CHASE COMMODITIES CORP. & TWO INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING CUSTOMERS; Firm and Traders Lee Lagorio and Excel Obando Allegedly Made False Claims that Customers Would Make Large Profits with Little Risk
MESA, ARIZONA PONZI SCHEME OPERATOR, RONALD STEPHEN HOLT, HELD IN CIVIL CONTEMPT FOR REFUSING TO REVEAL LOCATION OF VICTIMS' FUNDS; Court Orders Holt Jailed After 'Show Cause' Hearing; Action Stems from CFTC Antifraud Charges Brought Against Holt in September 2003
ENFORCEMENT ACTION FILED AGAINST FORMER CEO OF RITTMEISTER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.; Pending Federal Criminal Charges Against Udo Rotmistrenko Alleged As Grounds for Suspending CFTC Registrations
CFTC CHARGES FLORIDA COMPANY WORLDWIDE COMMODITY CORPORATION AND FOUR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEFRAUDING CUSTOMERS; Firm And Certain Traders Allegedly Made False Claims That Accounts Would Make Large Profits With Little Risk Due To Seasonal Events
CFTC Recognizes Coral Energy Resources, LP's Statement Clarifying Prior Public Statements