August 29, 2012

CFTC Charges Texas Resident Jonathan Hansen and His Company, J. Hansen Investments, LLC, with Commodity Pool Fraud, Misappropriation, and Commingling of Funds

Federal court issues order freezing defendants’ assets and protecting books and records

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced the filing of a civil anti-fraud enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, charging Jonathan Hansen of Pearland, Texas, and his company, J. Hansen Investments, LLC (JHI), with fraudulently soliciting and accepting more than $1.1 million from the public in a commodity pool scheme. Hansen exercised sole control and ownership over JHI, was JHI’s only employee, and has been a registered Associated Person of JHI since April 30, 2010, according to the complaint.

The CFTC’s complaint was filed on August 24, 2012, and on August 29, 2012, Judge Nancy F. Atlas of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued a statutory restraining order freezing the defendants’ assets and prohibiting the destruction of books and records. The judge set a hearing date for September 6, 2012.

Specifically, the CFTC complaint alleges that from at least April 2009 through January 2012, Hansen and JHI fraudulently solicited and accepted approximately $1,117,160 from at least 10 members of the public to trade E-Mini S&P 500 futures contracts in a commodity pool he operated. The compliant relates that Hanson solicited participants by conducting individual meetings with potential participants and by word-of-mouth, among other means. Most of the participants were friends and acquaintances of Hansen and his parents, according to the complaint.

Of the amount received from participants, Hansen allegedly transferred approximately $134,965 to his personal or JHI’s futures trading accounts, both of which sustained consistent losses, and commingled pool funds with his own funds. According to the complaint, Hanson used the misappropriated funds for his personal use, including for car payments, office rent, restaurants, and utilities.

To conceal and perpetuate his fraud, Hansen allegedly prepared and distributed false account statements to participants via e-mail. These monthly statements falsely reported profits earned in pool participants’ trading accounts and inflated the value of the accounts, according to the complaint. Furthermore, Hanson allegedly issued false monthly trading memoranda to pool participants that falsely reported trading returns ranging from 0.58 percent to 2.20 percent and annual returns ranging from 10 percent to 30 percent.

In its continuing litigation, the CFTC seeks restitution to defrauded pool participants, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil monetary penalties, trading and registration bans, and permanent injunctions against further violations of federal commodities laws, as charged.

The CFTC appreciates the assistance of the National Futures Association.

CFTC Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this case are Danielle E. Karst, George Malas, Christine Ryall, Paul G. Hayeck, and Joan Manley.

Media Contact
Dennis Holden
202-418-5088

Last Updated: August 29, 2012