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 SETTLES CHARGES AGAINST MINNESOTA DEFENDANTS IN COMMODITY POOL FRAUD CASE; Leonard Nauman and His Two Companies, Pension America, Inc., and Futures Profit Making, LLC, Are Permanently Barred From Trading For Others
LOS ANGELES COMMODITY TRADER SETTLES CFTC FRAUD ACTION; Alfred Gladstone Ordered to Pay Up To $171,000 in Restitution and Civil Monetary Penalty Pursuant to Payment Plan and Agrees Never to Seek CFTC Registration
CFTC FILES ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST FOUR CSCE FLOOR BROKERS, CHARGING THEM WITH UNLAWFULLY TRADING COFFEE FUTURES; Joseph Defrancesco, Ronald Kilbride, and Brian Thornton Charged with Fraud, Bucketing of Customer Orders, and Reporting Non-Bona Fide Prices; Defrancesco, Kilbride, Thornton, and Marc Greenstein Also Face Charges of Noncompetitive Trading, Illegal Wash Sales, and Accommodation Trades
CALIFORNIA COMMODITY TRADER CHARGED WITH MISAPPROPRIATING MORE THAN $500,000 IN CUSTOMER FUNDS AND VIOLATING PRIOR COMMISSION ORDER; CFTC Charges Mark Ross Weinberg With Fraudulently Soliciting Funds to Trade Commodity Futures; Federal Court Freezes Assets and Bars Destruction of Books and Records
FLORIDA COMMODITY TRADER CHARGED WITH MISAPPROPRIATING AT LEAST $1 MILLION IN CUSTOMER FUNDS AND VIOLATING PRIOR FEDERAL COURT ORDER; CFTC Charges Thomas Chilcott, Ted Whidden, and Leona Westbrook With Fraudulently Operating Commodities Trading Business Known As Trade Master of Southwest Florida; Federal Court Freezes Assets and Bars Destruction of Books and Records
CFTC CRACKS DOWN ON FOREIGN CURRENCY SCAMS NATIONWIDE; Nineteen Firms and Individuals Charged in Sweep With Selling Illegal Foreign Currency (Forex) Investments to the Retail Public; Actions Cap First Year of FOREX Initiative Using Reinforced Statutory Authority
CFTC Warns the Public About Investment Opportunities Promising Large Profits and Little Risk, Even When Offered by Friends and Acquaintances
FORMER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF A COMMODITY FIRM SETTLES CFTC ACTION CHARGING SUPERVISORY FAILURES; CFTC Finds That Mark Vaughn Failed To Supervise Diligently The Handling Of Foreign Customer Accounts
FLORIDA COMMODITY TRADING ADVISORS SETTLE CFTC FRAUD ACTION; Defendants Fred and Jeanne Monte Permanently Banned From Trading Futures or Options
COMMODITY TRADER AND TWO MICHIGAN COMPANIES CHARGED WITH $2.9 MILLION FRAUD; GOVERNMENT ALLEGES FICTITIOUS TRADING; Federal Court Freezes Assets and Bars the Destruction of Books and Records