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 Finds That Earl A. Pedersen, a Floor Broker at the Coffee Sugar Cocoa Exchange, is Subject to Statutory Disqualification and Issues Consent Order Restricting Pedersen's Registration
Tennessee District Court Enters Asset Freeze Order Against Edwin Jay Sheldon, Applied Capital Management, LLC., and Charles Edward Powell in CFTC Enforcement Action Alleging Commodity Pool Fraud
CFTC Obtains Restraining Order in Civil Action Against Donald E. James and Donald James, Inc. of georgia Alleging Commodity Pool Fraud; Complaint Alleges That Defendants Operated a $5 Million Ponzi Scheme Over a Four-Year Period
North Carolina Court Enters Documents Freeze Order in CFTC Action Charging Commodity Pool Fraud; CFTC Charges Donald Trivette of North Carolina with Defrauding Investors by Misrepresentations and Misapproiation of Investor Funds
CFTC Obtains restraining order against Joseph P. McGivney, Sr., Edwin A. Koziol, Jr. and six corporations in Illinois accused of Commodity Fraud
CFTC Issues an Order Instituting Proceedings and Accepts Settlement Offer from Peter D. Hoffman
CFTC Files Statutory Disqualification Action Against Atwood Commodities, L.L.C. and Simultaneously Accepts Settlement Offer Placing Restrictions on Atwood's Registration.
CFTC  Files Enforcement Action Alleging Commodity Options Fraud Against Wellington Financial Groups, Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Orders Payment of $45 Million and a Permanent Injunction By Default Against Dr. Richard E. Busch in Alabama Commodity Pool Fraud Case
CFTC Files Complaint and Obtains Statutory and Temporary Restraining Order Against Mark E. Chulik in Anti-Fraud Action; Chulik, Of Manhattan Beach, CA., is Accused Of Commodity Fraud