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
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
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
CFTC's Division Of Enforcement Issues Advisory Identifying Cooperation Factors That May Reduce A Litigant's Sanctions
Former Trader Agrees to Cooperate with U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Settles Case for Illegal Wash Trades
CLEVELAND COMMODITIES FIRM, ITS PRESIDENT AND TWO FORMER EMPLOYEES CHARGED WITH FRAUD; Carnegie Trading Group Ltd., Inc. Allegedly Used Fraudulent Statements to Solicit Customers to Trade Commodity Futures and Options
CFTC APPLAUDS SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF FORMER ENRON TRADER BY CALIFORNIA FEDERAL PROSECUTORS; John M. Forney Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
CORAL ENERGY PAYS $30 MILLION TO SETTLE U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED MANIPULATION AND FALSE REPORTING
U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION CHARGES TRADING SYSTEM DEVELOPER AND PROMOTER AND THEIR PRINCIPALS WITH COMMODITY FRAUD; TradeWins Publishing Corporation and Its President, Stephen A. Schmidt, Allegedly Solicited Customers to Purchase a Trading System Using False Claims; System Developer and His Company Also Charged