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
COLORADO MAN BANNED FOR UNAUTHORIZED COMMODITY TRADING; CFTC Imposes Trading Ban on Dale Luther Mock
CFTC Charges Texas Commodity Broker with Fraud; CFTC Alleges that D. Michael Sheaves Fraudulently Omitted Significant Trading Losses
GEORGIA INTERNET PROMOTERS CHARGED WITH COMMODITY FRAUD; CFTC Alleges that George Heffernan and Ellery Coleman Made False Claims Concerning Profits Generated by Commodity Trading Systems; Defendants Also Alleged to Have Violated CFTC Orders Issued Against Them in September and May 2000
Canadian Resident and His Offshore Company Charged with Defrauding U.S. and Canadian Investors Through A Commodity Scam; CFTC Alleges That Defendants Andrew Duncan and Aurum Society, Inc. Operated "Ponzi" Scheme and Fraudulently Obtained Over $3 Million from Customers; Defendants also Alleged to have Misappropriated Funds,
CFTC Charges Los Angeles Commodity Broker with Fraud; CFTC Alleges that Broker Alfred Gladstone Fraudulently Claimed That He Made Millions In Profits When In Fact, His Customers Had Net Losses Of Over $1 Million; Although 99% Of His Customers Lost Money, Broker Told Them That Their Investments Were "a Sure Bet",
Iowa Commodities Speculator Settles Government Charges; CFTC Bans Frederick Mersch From Trading For Two Years For False Reporting and Exceeding Trading Limits on Frozen Pork Belly Futures
CFTC's Latest Action Part of Nationwide Crackdown on Foreign Currency (Forex) Scams; Complaint Charges Defendants with Defrauding U.S. and Canadian Citizens; Telemarketers Used High-Pressure Sales Tactics to Solicit Customers
Georgia Defendants Settle Commodity Fraud Charges; CFTC Permanently Bans James E. Stephens, III, and Trendsystems, Inc. from Trading on Behalf of Others
Avista Energy, Inc. Ordered to Pay $2.1 Million to Settle CFTC Charges of Manipulating Electricity Futures; Former Company Officers and Employees and NYMEX Floor Broker also Charged with Manipulation
CFTC Files Enforcement Action Charging Two Chicago Firms and Resident with a Failure to Supervise Foreign Accounts; CFTC Files Complaint Against Excellent USA And John Gallwas and Accepts Settlement Offer From LFG