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 FILES AND SETTLES ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST IRA M. LAVENDER IN CASE INVOLVING THE FRAUDULENT SOLICITATION OF CLIENTS
CFTC FILES ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT AGAINST TIMOTHY BENGSON, CHARGING HIM WITH FRAUDULENTLY ALLOCATING CUSTOMER TRADES
CFTC FILES ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT AGAINST DALE LUTHER MOCK, CHARGING HIM WITH UNAUTHORIZED TRADING AND FRAUD
CFTC FILES ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST GLENN B. LAKEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND WILLIAM M. STEPHENS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA; Respondents May Have Their CFTC Registrations Suspended Or Modified Due To Pending Federal Felony Charges Against Them
UTAH FEDERAL COURT ENTERS PERMANENT INJUNCTION AGAINST JOHN LARRY SCHENK, SAM GRAY AND FIDELITY TRADERS GROUP IN CFTC ENFORCEMENT ACTION CHARGING FRAUDULENT OPERATION OF FOUR COMMODITY POOLS; Court Permanently Bars John Larry Schenk and Sam Gray From the Commodity Industry and Orders Restitution to Defrauded Investors
CFTC FILES AND SETTLES ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST HOWARD E. THOMPSON FOR EXCEEDING EXCHANGE TRADING LIMITS AND FILING A FALSE REPORT; CFTC Orders Thompson To Pay $50,000 Civil Monetary Penalty and Imposes A Sixty Day Trading Suspension
CFTC FILES AND SETTLES ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST STANLEY C. HARLEY FOR FAILING TO REGISTER AS A COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR AND TO DELIVER REQUIRED DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS
CFTC FILES ACTION AGAINST MICHAEL JAMES KONKEL CHARGING HIM WITH FRAUD IN THE OPERATION OF A COMMODITY POOL; Court Issues Ex Parte Order Freezing Assets & Prohibiting Destruction of Books and Records
CFTC Participates in International "<i>Internet Surf"</i> Day to Uncover Fraudulent Promotion of Commodity Schemes,
U.S. DISTRICT COURT ORDERS FORMER ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, MAN TO PAY $3.3 MILLION RESTITUTION AND PERMANENTLY BARS HIM AND HIS COMPANY FROM THE FUTURES INDUSTRY FOR FRAUDULENT COMMODITY POOL SCHEME; The CFTC Alleged that Donald E. James Pooled More than $5 Million from at Least 25 Investors throughout Georgia and Florida and Fraudulently Misappropriated Some of the Investors' Funds; In March 2000, James Was Sentenced to 51 Months in a Federal Prison