December 28, 2016

CFTC Charges Brett G. Hartshorn of Sarasota, Florida with Soliciting at Least $906,000 in an Off-Exchange Foreign Currency Fraud Scheme

Hartshorn Allegedly Misappropriated Client Funds, Failed to Register with the CFTC, and Failed to Produce Books and Records

Hartshorn Typically Met his Victims at Church or Socially in His Local Community

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, charging Brett G. Hartshorn of Sarasota, Florida, with fraudulently soliciting and/or managing at least $906,000 from retail clients to invest in off-exchange foreign currency (forex), misappropriating at least $57,414 of client funds for his own personal benefit, failing to register with the CFTC as a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA), and failing to produce books and records to the CFTC.

The CFTC Complaint alleges that, from at least June 18, 2008 to in or around 2014, Hartshorn fraudulently solicited at least 13 retail clients to invest in off-exchange forex on a leveraged, margined, or financed basis and to give Hartshorn discretionary authority to trade forex on their behalf. Hartshorn typically met his victims at church or socially in his local community, according to the Complaint. As alleged, Hartshorn told most clients that 1) he had profitably traded forex on behalf of himself and others, 2) clients could expect substantial profits if they permitted him to trade forex on their behalf, and 3) he would limit the risk of loss to client funds.

Statements to Clients Were Allegedly False

However, according to the Complaint, these statements to clients were false because Hartshorn employed risky trading strategies and failed to disclose his pattern and history of losses – often large single-day losses – trading on behalf of clients. Furthermore, as alleged, Hartshorn did not disclose to clients that under his so-called "profit" sharing arrangement, he could be (and often was) compensated, even as client trading losses accumulated.

In addition, Hartshorn allegedly misappropriated client funds for his own personal benefit, while failing to disclose his misappropriation to clients. Hartshorn also acted as a CTA without registering as such with the CFTC, in violation of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC Regulations, and he failed to produce books and records in response to CFTC subpoenas that he was required to maintain as a CTA, according to the Complaint.

In its continuing litigation against Hartshorn, the CFTC seeks, among other relief, restitution to defrauded customers, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, a civil monetary penalty, permanent trading and registration bans, and a permanent injunction against further violations of federal commodities laws, as charged.

The CFTC thanks and acknowledges the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Sarasota, Florida) and the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority.

CFTC Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this matter are Linda Y. Peng, Christopher Giglio, R. Stephen Painter, Jr., David W. MacGregor, Lenel Hickson, Jr., and Manal M. Sultan.

* * * * * *

CFTC’s Foreign Currency (Forex) Fraud Advisory

The CFTC has issued several customer protection Fraud Advisories that provide the warning signs of fraud, including the Foreign Currency Trading (Forex) Fraud Advisory, which states that the CFTC has witnessed a sharp rise in Forex trading scams in recent years and helps customers identify this potential fraud.

Customers can report suspicious activities or information, such as possible violations of commodity trading laws, to the CFTC Division of Enforcement via a Toll-Free Hotline 866-FON-CFTC (866-366-2382) or file a tip or complaint online. 

Media Contact
Dennis Holden
202-418-5088

Last Updated: December 28, 2016