{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1", "title": "Market Manipulation: CFTC enforcement actions", "home_page_url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/agency/CFTC/", "feed_url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/feeds/regulator/CFTC.json", "description": "The 30 most recent US Commodity Futures Trading Commission records in the Market Manipulation library, each linked to its primary source.", "language": "en-US", "items": [ { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-gabriel-perez-insider-trading-2026/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-gabriel-perez-insider-trading-2026/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9289-26", "title": "CFTC v. Gabriel Perez (insider trading, 2026)", "summary": "In August 2026 the CFTC settled charges against Gabriel Perez, a White House teleprompter operator who traded prediction-market event contracts on non-public information from his federal job. He must disgorge $107,539.02, pay a $65,000 penalty and accept a three-year trading ban.", "date_published": "2026-08-28T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "insider-trading" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-goliath-ventures-inc-ponzi-schemes-2026/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-goliath-ventures-inc-ponzi-schemes-2026/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9280-26", "title": "CFTC v. Goliath Ventures, Inc. and Christopher Delgado (ponzi schemes, 2026)", "summary": "In August 2026 the CFTC charged Goliath Ventures, Inc. and Christopher Delgado. The complaint alleges a Ponzi scheme in which about 1,600 customers contributed at least $397 million for crypto trading that did not occur, with fictitious profits paid to existing customers. Delgado pleaded guilty in a parallel criminal case in June 2026.", "date_published": "2026-08-11T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-george-santos-price-manipulation-2026/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-george-santos-price-manipulation-2026/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9276-26", "title": "CFTC v. George Santos (price manipulation, 2026)", "summary": "In July 2026 the CFTC issued an order settling charges against former Congressman George Santos for manipulative trading in a State of the Union attendance event contract whose outcome he controlled, between February 12 and 25, 2026, to move the swap price. He pays $17,570 in disgorgement and a $17,500 penalty and is banned from trading for three years.", "date_published": "2026-07-31T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "price-manipulation" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-north-carolina-commodity-pool-operator-ponzi-schemes-2026/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-north-carolina-commodity-pool-operator-ponzi-schemes-2026/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9264-26", "title": "CFTC v. Trevor L. Vernon and Argent Capital Management LLC (ponzi schemes, 2026)", "summary": "In July 2026 the CFTC charged Trevor L. Vernon and Argent Capital Management LLC. The complaint alleges that Vernon and his firm solicited over $14 million from at least 60 pool participants, lost it in trading, sent false performance reports and used new participants' money for Ponzi-like payments to hide losses; Vernon is also alleged to have made false statements under oath.", "date_published": "2026-07-07T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-google-employee-insider-trading-2026/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-google-employee-insider-trading-2026/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9237-26", "title": "CFTC v. Google Employee (insider trading, 2026)", "summary": "In 2026, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission brought an action against Google Employee, alleging conduct this library classifies as insider trading. No monetary relief has been recorded at this stage; the matter is an allegation and remains unproven. A parallel criminal matter is referenced in the release.", "date_published": "2026-05-27T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "insider-trading" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-new-york-trader-spoofing-2026/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-new-york-trader-spoofing-2026/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9227-26", "title": "CFTC v. Sidney Lebental (spoofing, 2026)", "summary": "In 2026, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued an order settling charges against Sidney Lebental. The order finds Lebental spoofed CBOT Treasury futures on about 50 occasions in 2019 to help genuine cash Treasury orders execute, with a $200,000 penalty and one-month trading ban. The release records a civil penalty of $200,000.", "date_published": "2026-05-06T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "spoofing" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-u-s-service-member-insider-trading-2026/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-u-s-service-member-insider-trading-2026/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9217-26", "title": "CFTC v. U.S. Service Member (insider trading, 2026)", "summary": "In 2026, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission brought an action against U.S. Service Member, alleging conduct this library classifies as insider trading. No monetary relief has been recorded at this stage; the matter is an allegation and remains unproven. A parallel criminal matter is referenced in the release.", "date_published": "2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "insider-trading" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-matthew-clark-insider-trading-2026/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-matthew-clark-insider-trading-2026/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9178-26", "title": "CFTC v. Matthew Clark (insider trading, 2026)", "summary": "In February 2026 a federal court entered a consent order against Matthew Clark of Houston on CFTC claims of misappropriating confidential information and taking illegal kickbacks to defraud his employer. He pays $7.7 million in restitution and $6.5 million in disgorgement and is permanently banned. He also pleaded guilty in a parallel criminal case and was sentenced to six and a half years.", "date_published": "2026-02-02T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "insider-trading" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-gregg-smith-spoofing-2026/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-gregg-smith-spoofing-2026/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9168-26", "title": "CFTC v. Gregg Smith and Michael Nowak (spoofing, 2026)", "summary": "In January 2026, the CFTC announced consent orders from an Illinois federal court against Gregg Smith, ordering a US$200,000 penalty and a three-year trading ban for precious metals spoofing, and against Michael Nowak, with a US$150,000 penalty and six-month ban.", "date_published": "2026-01-16T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "spoofing" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-shinhan-securities-co-ltd-wash-trading-2025/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-shinhan-securities-co-ltd-wash-trading-2025/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9125-25", "title": "CFTC v. Shinhan Securities Co. Ltd. (wash trading, 2025)", "summary": "In 2025, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission obtained a judgment against Shinhan Securities Co. Ltd., alleging conduct this library classifies as wash trading. The release records a civil penalty of $212,500.", "date_published": "2025-09-17T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "wash-trading" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-brett-falloon-spoofing-2025/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-brett-falloon-spoofing-2025/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9118-25", "title": "CFTC v. Brett Falloon and Flatiron Futures Traders LLC (spoofing, 2025)", "summary": "In 2025, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued an order settling charges against Brett Falloon and Flatiron Futures Traders LLC. The order finds Falloon spoofed E-mini S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures from May to December 2022 while trading for Flatiron; the two are jointly and severally liable for the penalty, and Falloon is banned from trading for 12 months. The release records a civil penalty of $200,000.", "date_published": "2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "spoofing" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-agridime-llc-ponzi-schemes-2025/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-agridime-llc-ponzi-schemes-2025/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9087-25", "title": "CFTC v. Agridime LLC (ponzi schemes, 2025)", "summary": "In June 2025 the CFTC announced a consent order against Agridime LLC, a Texas firm now in receivership, requiring $102,936,904 in restitution to customers of a cattle-investment scheme; the same release reports separate disgorgement against its two co-founders.", "date_published": "2025-06-16T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-rashawn-russell-ponzi-schemes-2025/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-rashawn-russell-ponzi-schemes-2025/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9050-25", "title": "CFTC v. Rashawn Russell (ponzi schemes, 2025)", "summary": "In February 2025 the CFTC announced an order requiring New York resident Rashawn Russell to pay over $1.5 million in restitution for a digital-asset trading scheme in which he misappropriated customer assets, including to make Ponzi-like payments. He had pleaded guilty in a parallel case.", "date_published": "2025-02-10T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-storm-bryant-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-storm-bryant-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9016-24", "title": "CFTC v. Storm Bryant, Elijah Bryant III and three companies (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In December 2024 the CFTC announced a judgment against Storm Bryant, Elijah Bryant III and 3 others. A summary judgment of 11 December 2024 orders the Bryants and three companies, jointly and severally, to pay $1.3 million in restitution and a $3.9 million penalty over a forex scheme that took $1.9 million from 233 clients, with nearly $664,000 returned in the manner of a Ponzi scheme.", "date_published": "2024-12-11T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-washington-state-pastor-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-washington-state-pastor-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9015-24", "title": "CFTC v. Francier Obando Pinillo, Solano Partners Ltd. and Solano Capital Investments (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In December 2024 the CFTC charged Francier Obando Pinillo, Solano Partners Ltd. and 1 other. The complaint alleges that a church pastor ran a digital-asset multilevel marketing scheme of at least $5.9 million aimed at Hispanic Americans, with no trading, and paid sham profits and referral fees from later customers' assets in the nature of a Ponzi scheme.", "date_published": "2024-12-10T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-two-louisiana-based-companies-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-two-louisiana-based-companies-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9003-24", "title": "CFTC v. NOLA FX Capital Management, LLC, Meteor, LLC and Michael B. DePetrillo (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In October 2024 the CFTC charged NOLA FX Capital Management, LLC, Meteor, LLC and 1 other. The complaint alleges a forex pool that took at least $7.6 million from at least 40 people, sent false statements showing profits, and made payments to existing participants in a manner akin to a Ponzi scheme; a criminal action was filed separately against DePetrillo.", "date_published": "2024-10-28T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-yueyu-bao-matched-orders-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-yueyu-bao-matched-orders-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9000-24", "title": "CFTC v. Yueyu Bao (matched orders, 2024)", "summary": "In October 2024, a California federal court entered a default judgment against Chinese citizen Yueyu Bao, ordering a US$260,140 penalty and US$130,070 disgorgement over 33 prearranged noncompetitive futures trades that moved money from his cousin's account to his own.", "date_published": "2024-10-24T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "matched-orders" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-several-people-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-several-people-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8997-24", "title": "CFTC v. Traders Domain FX LTD., Fredirick Safranko and others (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In October 2024 the CFTC charged Traders Domain FX LTD., Fredirick Teddy Joseph Safranko and 14 others. The complaint charges a group of companies and individuals with fraud and misappropriation in a scheme in which more than 2,000 customers deposited at least $283 million, described in the headline as a Ponzi scheme; a statutory restraining order froze defendants' assets on 3 October 2024. In April 2026 a consent order resolved the claims against one defendant, John Fortini ($1,347,867.56 disgorgement); the action continues against the others.", "date_published": "2024-10-15T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-taiwanese-firm-wash-trading-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-taiwanese-firm-wash-trading-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8991-24", "title": "CFTC v. Taishin Securities Co., Ltd. (wash trading, 2024)", "summary": "In October 2024, the CFTC settled charges against Taiwanese firm Taishin Securities Co., Ltd., ordering a US$200,000 penalty for wash sales and noncompetitive CME trades made while moving open futures positions from one broker to another.", "date_published": "2024-10-01T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "wash-trading" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-rudy-avila-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-rudy-avila-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8978-24", "title": "CFTC v. Rudy Avila (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In 2024, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission obtained a judgment against Rudy Avila, alleging conduct this library classifies as ponzi schemes. The release records a civil penalty of $1.5 million. A parallel criminal matter produced a custodial sentence of 210 months.", "date_published": "2024-09-25T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-texas-associated-person-insider-trading-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-texas-associated-person-insider-trading-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8979-24", "title": "CFTC v. Texas Associated Person (insider trading, 2024)", "summary": "In 2024, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission obtained a judgment against Texas Associated Person, alleging conduct this library classifies as insider trading. The release does not state a monetary figure that we were able to extract.", "date_published": "2024-09-25T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "insider-trading" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-unregistered-florida-commodity-pool-operator-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-unregistered-florida-commodity-pool-operator-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8964-24", "title": "CFTC v. Unregistered Florida Commodity Pool Operator and Its Chief Executive Officer (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In September 2024 the CFTC sued Aureus Revenue Group LLC and its owner Emir Jesus Matos Camargo in the Middle District of Florida over an alleged futures fraud that solicited at least $1.5 million. In April 2026 a consent order resolved the claims against Matos, with $666,038.67 in restitution and an equal penalty; the action against Aureus remains pending.", "date_published": "2024-09-12T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-sam-ikkurty-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-sam-ikkurty-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8959-24", "title": "CFTC v. Sam Ikkurty (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In 2024, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission obtained a judgment against Sam Ikkurty, alleging conduct this library classifies as ponzi schemes. The release records a civil penalty of $110.9 million, disgorgement of $37.0 million.", "date_published": "2024-09-03T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-swiss-energy-trader-price-manipulation-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-swiss-energy-trader-price-manipulation-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8953-24", "title": "CFTC v. TOTSA TotalEnergies Trading SA (price manipulation, 2024)", "summary": "In August 2024 the CFTC issued an order settling charges against TOTSA TotalEnergies Trading SA for attempting in March 2018 to depress the Argus EBOB benchmark by selling physical gasoline below buyers' bids while holding a large short in EBOB-linked futures. TOTSA pays a $48 million civil penalty.", "date_published": "2024-08-27T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "price-manipulation" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-brazilian-wash-trading-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-brazilian-wash-trading-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8946-24", "title": "CFTC v. Raizen Energia SA and Raizen Trading SA (wash trading, 2024)", "summary": "In August 2024, the CFTC settled charges against Raizen Energia SA and Raizen Trading SA, ordering a joint US$750,000 penalty for 44 wash sales and noncompetitive exchange for physical transactions in ICE sugar futures between accounts that were not independently controlled.", "date_published": "2024-08-19T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "wash-trading" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-abner-alejandro-tinoco-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-abner-alejandro-tinoco-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8934-24", "title": "CFTC v. Abner Alejandro Tinoco (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In 2024, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission obtained a judgment against Abner Alejandro Tinoco, alleging conduct this library classifies as ponzi schemes. The release records a civil penalty of $18.8 million, disgorgement of $6.3 million. A parallel criminal matter produced a custodial sentence of 84 months.", "date_published": "2024-07-26T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-sam-ikkurty-ponzi-schemes-2024-8931-24/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-sam-ikkurty-ponzi-schemes-2024-8931-24/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8931-24", "title": "CFTC v. Sam Ikkurty (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In 2024, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission obtained a judgment against Sam Ikkurty, alleging conduct this library classifies as ponzi schemes. The release records disgorgement of $36.9 million.", "date_published": "2024-07-03T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-dwight-a-foster-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-dwight-a-foster-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8930-24", "title": "CFTC v. Dwight A. Foster (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In July 2024 the CFTC announced a supplemental consent order against Dwight Foster and his firm K.E.L. Enterprises requiring $4,548,390.51 in restitution, $803,126.83 in disgorgement and a $1.6 million civil monetary penalty for a forex pool fraud.", "date_published": "2024-07-02T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-trafigura-insider-trading-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-trafigura-insider-trading-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8921-24", "title": "CFTC v. Trafigura (insider trading, 2024)", "summary": "In 2024, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission obtained a judgment against Trafigura, alleging conduct this library classifies as insider trading and price manipulation. The release records a civil penalty of $55 million.", "date_published": "2024-06-17T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "insider-trading", "price-manipulation" ] }, { "id": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-agridime-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "url": "https://marketmanipulation.org/cases/cftc-agridime-ponzi-schemes-2024/", "external_url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8911-24", "title": "CFTC v. Agridime LLC, Joshua Link and Jed Wood (ponzi schemes, 2024)", "summary": "In May 2024 the CFTC charged Agridime LLC and co-founders Joshua Link and Jed Wood over an alleged $161 million cattle-program Ponzi scheme. A CFTC release dated June 16, 2025 reports a consent order against Agridime for $102,936,904 in restitution and default judgments against Link and Wood ordering disgorgement of $815,327.92 and $1,472,127.92, with permanent injunctions and trading bans.", "date_published": "2024-05-14T00:00:00.000Z", "tags": [ "CFTC", "ponzi-schemes" ] } ] }