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
CINERGY MARKETING & TRADING, LP FOUND TO HAVE REPORTED FALSE ENERGY PRICES; Agrees to Pay a $3 Million Civil Monetary Penalty to Settle CFTC Charges
CFTC and BP Energy Company Settle Case Involving Employee's Illegal Wash Trades for $100,000
CFTC CHARGES SAN DIEGO FOREIGN CURRENCY FIRM WHITE PINE TRUST CORPORATION AND ITS FOUNDER, RICHARD MATTHEWS, WITH FRAUD AND MISAPPROPRIATION OF CUSTOMER FUNDS; Over $30 Million in Suspect Funds Uncovered in Federal Probe
HAWAIIAN RESIDENT BARRY SCHOTZ CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING CALIFORNIA PARTICIPANTS IN $3 MILLION COMMODITY POOL SCHEME; Schotz, Previously Convicted of Fraud, Allegedly Bilked Los Angeles Investors in the Bear Invest Fund
CFTC Settles Fraud Charges Against John Hucko of Chicago, Illinois
FEDERAL COURT ORDERS ALABAMA RESIDENT RANDALL NELSON TO PAY OVER $800,000 TO SETTLE COMMODITY POOL FRAUD CHARGES; In Joint Federal/State Action, Court Orders Nelson to Repay a Total of $680,000 to Investors and to Pay Civil Penalties Totaling $125,000
LOS ANGELES FEDERAL COURT ISSUES PRELIMINARY ORDER ENJOINING CHASE COMMODITIES CORPORATION AND TWO EMPLOYEES FROM VIOLATING THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT
CFTC SETTLES FOREIGN CURRENCY (FOREX) FUTURES FRAUD ACTION; Kissimmee, Florida Resident Stanley Craig Wakefield Agrees to Repay Customers and Pay a Civil Monetary Penalty
CFTC CHARGES CALIFORNIA MAN AND HIS COMPANY WITH DEFRAUDING CUSTOMERS; James J. Zhou and Jade Trader Allegedly Fraudulently Solicited Customers to Trade Commodity Futures Contracts
CFTC CHARGES FOREIGN FUND FOR DEFRAUDING THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS IN INTERNATIONAL PONZI SCHEME; Foreign Fund, Ron Mealing and John Shirck Allegedly Operated Commodity Futures Fraud Involving Foreign Currency Trading