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
Merrill Lynch International, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith (Brokers & Dealers), Ltd. Pay $15 Million to Settle Charges of Aiding and Abetting Manipulation of the Copper Market, 
CFTC Files Complaint Against Kent C. Calhoun of Hunt, Texas, Alleging That He Committed Fraud in Using the CFTC's Name to Solicit Customers to Purchase His Commodity Trading Systems and Attend his Commodity Trading Seminars; CFTC Seeks Injunctive and Other Equitable Relief, Including Disgorgement of Ill-Gotten Gains, Restitution to Defrauded Customers, and Civil Monetary Penalties
CFTC Accepts Settlement Offer of Selwyn "Sy" Gaiber; CFTC Settlement Order Finds that Gaiber Acted as an Unregistered CTA and Failed to Deliver Disclosure Documents and to Disclose His Past Performance Record,
CFTC Institutes Administrative Proceedings Against and Accepts Offer of Settlement from Ross R. Godres of Lafayette, Colorado; CFTC Finds that Godres Defrauded Investors By Concealing Losses Resulting From the Trading of Precious Metal Futures Contracts on Behalf of a Commodity Pool, and Orders Restitution to Defrauded Investors, Among Other Sanctions
North Carolina Court Issues Preliminary Injunction in CFTC Action Charging Donald Trivette With Defrauding Investors and Misappropriating Investor Funds
georgia Court Orders Payment of Over $11.5 Million and Permanent Injunction In Default Order Against Estate of Donald B. Chancey, Southeastern Venture Partners Group, in Commodity Pool Fraud Case
New York Court Orders Defendants (New York Currency Exchange Corp., New York Currency Research Corp., and Michael T. Matejka) to Pay Over $8.1 Million in Civil Monetary Penalties and Orders Restitution of More Than $2.7 Million to Customers in CFTC Illegal Foreign Currency Futures Fraud Action; CFTC's 1998 Anti-Fraud Enforcement Action Alleged that the Defendants Cheated and Defrauded Customers Out of Over $3.5 Million
CFTC Files and Settles Action Against REFCO, Inc. for Order-Taking and Recordkeeping Violations and for Failing to Supervise; Company Ordered to Pay $7 Million, Including $1 Million To Fund An Industry Study, And to Cease And Desist From Further Violations, and to Conduct an Internal Review Concerning Refco's Compliance Policies and Procedures
CFTC Obtains Preliminary Injunctions Against All Defendants, EuroPacific Equity & Capital Management, Ltd., Tortola Corporation Company, Ltd., International Investment Group, Ltd., David Michael Loyd, and Richard Tichy, in CFTC Enforcement Action Alleging Fraud
North Carolina Court Issues Asset Freeze and Temporary Restraining Order in CFTC Action Charging Commodity Pool Fraud; CFTC Charges Donald Trivette with Defrauding Customers by Misrepresentations and Misappropriation of Investor Funds