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 Revokes Registration of Palomino Capital Management, A Commodity Pool Operator in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
CFTC SUSPENDS AND RESTRICTS REGISTRATION OF CHICAGO MERCANTILE EXCHANGE TRADER DEAN KAULENTIS; Cattle Trader's Registration Suspended for Six Weeks and Then Restricted for Three Years
CFTC BRINGS FRAUD CHARGES AGAINST FLORIDA FATHER AND SON, JACK AND CHRIS SMITHERS; CFTC Alleges That Jack and Chris Smithers, and Their Company, Prosperity Consultants, Inc., Fraudulently Solicited Customers to Trade Commodity Futures Contracts; Chris Smithers Also Charged With Breach of Prior Injunction
CFTC CHARGES FLORIDA FOREIGN CURRENCY FIRM PRESIDENTIAL FX, INC. AND TWO EMPLOYEES WITH FRAUD; CFTC Alleges That Firm and Employee Joseph Marchiano Fraudulently Solicited Customers to Trade Foreign Currency Options; Adam León is Charged as a Controlling Person of Presidential
CFTC CHARGES OXNARD, CALIFORNIA RESIDENT BRETT E. LOVETT WITH DEFRAUDING COMMODITY FUTURES CUSTOMERS; CFTC Alleges Lovett Cheated Fellow Church Member; Federal Court Issues Order Freezing Defendant's Assets
CFTC AND STATE OF CALIFORNIA CHARGE SAN FRANCISCO FOREIGN CURRENCY FIRM NATIONAL INVESTMENT CONSULTANTS, INC. AND OTHER COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH FRAUD; Federal Court Freezes Assets of National Investment Consultants, Inc.; South China Investments, Inc.; Pacific Best Group Limited, a.k.a. Pacific Best Company Ltd.; Run Ping Zhou, a.k.a Flora Zhou; Yi Kerry Xu; and Wei M. Tse, a.k.a. Raymond Tse
U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION CHARGES IOWA MAN WITH FRAUD; CFTC Alleges that Victor Lochmann Misappropriated Customer Funds and Engaged in Unauthorized Trading
FEDERAL COURT ENTERS JUDGMENTS AGAINST MICHIGAN AND NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND TWO PANAMANIAN COMPANIES IN MARQUIS COMMODITY POOL FRAUD CASE; Court Orders Payments To Customers And Penalties Totaling More Than $2.5 Million
CFTC OBTAINS PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION PREVENTING FLORIDA COMMODITY TRADING FIRM, UNITED INVESTORS GROUP, INC. AND FIVE EMPLOYEES, FROM VIOLATING THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT; Nearly 98 Percent Of Accounts Opened At UIG Between August 2003 And June 2004 Lost Money Trading Commodity Options; Customers Lost More Than $6.1 Million, While UIG Charged Over $4.25 Million In Commissions And Fees
CFTC CHARGES ILLINOIS RESIDENT CAMERON CHARLES WITH DEFRAUDING HIS EMPLOYER, WATSEKA FARMERS GRAIN CO. COOPERATIVE