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 Obtains Order Against California-based James J. Zhou and His Firm, Jade Trader, Requiring Payment of Restitution to Defrauded Customers and Civil Monetary Penalties
Federal Court Rejects Amaranth Hedge Fund and Head Trader Brian Hunter’s Attempt to Dismiss Government’s Natural Gas Case Against Them
Federal Court Order Freezes Assets of Texas Resident George D. Hudgins in CFTC Anti-Fraud Action
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Obtains Federal Court Order Freezing Assets of California-based Safevest LLC
CFTC Sues Sentinel Management Group, Inc. and Two of Its Executive Officers for Fraud, Segregation, and False Reporting Violations Involving $562 Million in Customer Funds
Lake Shore Group of Companies Inc., Ltd., Prohibited from Trading Commodity Futures, as Illinois Federal Court Puts the Brakes on Multi-Million Dollar International Fraud
New Jersey Federal Court Freezes Assets of Hedge Fund in Fraud Action Brought by the CFTC
U.S. District Court Orders Two New York Residents and a New York Firm to Pay More Than $11 Million for Their Roles in Defrauding Investors in Foreign Currency Schemes
CFTC Sanctions Alaron Trading Corporation for Failing to Supervise Diligently Employees
Florida-Based E-Metal Merchants, Inc. and Two Officers Ordered to Pay More Than $10 Million in Restitution and Penalties in Illegal Off-Exchange Metal Options Case