September 9, 2015

Commodity Pool Operator Sentenced to 17 Years’ Incarceration for Fraud

Washington, DC — Donovan Davis Jr., one of three Principal Defendants charged by the CFTC for the fraudulent operation of Capital Blu Management, LLC of Melbourne, Florida, was sentenced to 17 years in a federal prison on August 27, 2015.

Davis was convicted on May 14, 2015 of multiple counts of criminal conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with the operation of a fraudulent $17 million commodity pool. The two other Co-Defendants in the CFTC action, Blayne Davis and Damien Bromfield, earlier pleaded guilty to similar criminal charges. B. Davis was sentenced to 9 years in prison; Bromfield’s sentencing is scheduled for September 24.

CFTC Enforcement Director, Aitan Goelman, said “These sentences serve as a strong reminder that those who engage in fraud in the commodities markets face the very real possibility of criminal prosecution and jail time in addition to the civil sanctions sought by the CFTC.”

In 2011, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida found these same Defendants liable for civil violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC Regulations and ordered them to pay more than $7 million each in restitution and civil monetary penalties and permanently barred them from engaging in any commodity-related activity (see CFTC Press Release, Order, and Judgment 6054-11, June 15, 2011, and CFTC Press Release and Complaint 5643-09, April 7, 2009).

The CFTC subsequently provided material assistance to the U.S. Attorney’s office responsible for the criminal prosecution of these Defendants.

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Last Updated: September 9, 2015