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 ACCEPTS SETTLEMENT OFFER OF FORMER BRANCH MANAGER DARRYL M. OSLER IN CASE INVOLVING THE FRAUDULENT SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS TO INVEST IN COMMODITY OPTIONS; Osler Agrees Never to Seek Registration or Exemption from Registration with the CFTC or Otherwise Engage in Activities Requiring Registration or Exemption from Registration
CFTC ISSUES TWO ADVISORIES ADDRESSING THE OFFERING OF FOREIGN CURRENCY (FOREX) TRADING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE RETAIL PUBLIC; CFTC Outlines New Forex Regulatory Scheme and Also Alerts the Public To Foreign Currency Scams
FEDERAL COURT ENTERS CONSENT ORDER OF PERMANENT INJUNCTION AGAINST ANTHONY HOLT FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN A FRAUDULENT COMMODITY POOL SCHEME; Holt is Permanently Barred from the Futures Industry and Agrees to Pay Civil Penalty
CFTC FILES ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST FOUR COMEX FLOOR BROKERS, CHARGING THEM WITH FRAUDULENTLY EXECUTING GOLD OPTIONS TRADES, AMONG OTHER VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL COMMODITIES LAW; CFTC Accepts Offers of Settlement from Paul Merolla and Philip Selby and Files An Administrative Complaint Against Timothy Murphy and Vincent Coppola
CFTC FILES AND SETTLES ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST FORMER GRIFFIN TRADING COMPANY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, SCOTT N. SZACH; CFTC Finds that Szach Failed to Supervise Griffin's London Branch Office, Filed False Reports, and Committed Segregation and Recordkeeping Violations in Connection with His Unauthorized Trading

<p>CFTC CHARGES JOHN F. O'HERRON OF ONEKAMA, MICHIGAN, AND O'HERRON ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC. WITH $2.7 MILLION COMMODITY POOL FRAUD; Court Issues Restraining Order Freezing Assets, Barring the Destruction of Books and Records, and Prohibiting Further Violations of Federal Commodity Law,
CFTC FILES ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT AGAINST ISAAC FLEYSHMAKHER, OF CHICAGO, ALLEGING COMMODITY POOL FRAUD; CFTC Complaint Alleges That Fleyshmakher Made Fraudulent Solicitations and Engaged in Unauthorized Trading and Misappropriation of Funds in Connection with His Operation of  New Frontier and New Millennium Commodity Pools
CFTC CHARGES MARTIN BROWN AND GEOFFREY S. THOMPSON WITH A FRAUDULENT TRADE ALLOCATION SCHEME AND OBTAINS RESTRAINING ORDER FREEZING ASSETS AND RECORDS; Complaint Also Charges Brown and Thompson With Unauthorized Trading
CFTC FILES ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT AGAINST DONALD M. FISHBACK, JR. AND THE DONALD M. FISHBACK COMPANY ALLEGING FRAUDULENT SOLICITATION OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PURCHASE COMMODITY OPTIONS TRADING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
FLORIDA FEDERAL COURT ENTERS CONSENT ORDER OF PERMANENT INJUNCTION AGAINST GARY V. VALLETTA IN CFTC ACTION CHARGING REGISTRATION, DISCLOSURE AND REPORTING VIOLATIONS; Order Imposes Permanent Injunctions and a Two-Year Registration Ban