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Swiss-Based Commodities Trading Company Pays $661 Million for FCPA Violations

Posted  03/4/24
Type Writer Typed Out the Word "Corruption"
Last Friday (March 1), the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Swiss-based international commodities trading company Gunvor S.A. pleaded guilty and agreed to pay roughly $661 million to settle charges of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).  The DOJ's action stemmed from Gunvor's scheme to bribe Ecuadorean officials to secure business with Ecuador’s state-owned oil company Petroecuador. The...

Tagged in: Bribery and Bid-Rigging, FCPA, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets, Government Procurement Fraud,

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CFTC Anoints New Whistleblower Chief

Posted  02/16/24
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Logo
Yesterday (February 15), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) named Brian Young as the new director of the CFTC’s Whistleblower Office.  In doing so, the agency officially filled the vacancy left when former director Chris Ehrman stepped down in July. Mr. Young has big shoes to fill as under Director Ehrman's tenure, the CFTC saw tremendous growth in its Whistleblower Program, which provides sizable...

Tagged in: Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets,

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CFTC Says Beware of Romance Scams

Posted  02/13/24
Three Red Heart Balloons Floating
With Valentine's Day upon us, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) last week (February 8) issued an Advisory Alert warning for those seeking romance to tread carefully on dating apps and social media.  Especially when it comes to strangers asking for financial support or giving investment advice. The CFTC urged particular caution with promotions for cryptocurrency investments because of the growing risk...

Tagged in: Cryptocurrency, Financial and Investment Fraud, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets,

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Top Ten SEC and CFTC Recoveries of 2023

Posted  01/24/24
Foreign Exchange Graph
It was an active year for fraud enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).  Though by no means was it a record year for either regulator in terms of big-ticket wins.  Aside from the CFTC's $1.7 billion recovery from South African crypto company Mirror Trading for foul play with foreign currency transactions, the balance of the Top-10 recoveries was...

Tagged in: Bribery and Bid-Rigging, Cryptocurrency, FCPA, Financial and Investment Fraud, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets, Misrepresentations, Securities Fraud, Top 10,

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Top Ten SEC and CFTC Whistleblower Awards for 2023

Posted  01/16/24
Anonamous Person on Phone Pointing to Book with Charts and Numbers
It was a relatively quiet year for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in their payout of whistleblower awards under their respective whistleblower programs.  Under the SEC Program and CFTC Program -- both enacted under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act -- whistleblowers who provide information that leads to a successful government...

Tagged in: CFTC Whistleblower Reward Program, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets, SEC Whistleblower Reward Program, Securities Fraud, Top 10, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,

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Catch of the Week: Freepoint Commodities

Posted  12/18/23
Government contract fraud whistleblower
This week's Department of Justice (DOJ) Catch of the Week goes to Freepoint Commodities.  Last Thursday (December 14), the Connecticut-based commodities trading company agreed to pay roughly $98 million to settle government charges it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by paying bribes to Brazilian government officials.  The company also agreed to disgorge roughly $7.6 million to the Commodity Futures...

Tagged in: Ballsy Bribes, Bribery and Bid-Rigging, Catch of the Week, FCPA, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets,

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CFTC Makes $18 Million Whistleblower Award

Posted  10/13/23
Screenshot of CFTC Whistleblower Program web page
Yesterday (October 12), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced an $18 million whistleblower award.  The agency did not disclose the identity of the whistleblower or the associated enforcement action.  It never does.  The CFTC maintains strict confidentiality over its whistleblowers.  All we know is the whistleblower "provided detailed information and assistance," that "was significant in amount...

Tagged in: CFTC Whistleblower Reward Program, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets, Whistleblower Rewards,

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Grassley Leads Bipartisan Effort to Shore Up CFTC Whistleblower Program

Posted  07/28/23
On Wednesday (July 26), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) announced his bipartisan charge to adopt legislation to strengthen the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Whistleblower Program.  This is the program that both encourages and protects individuals for coming forward with information relating to potential violations of the Commodities Exchange Act and rewards them with up to 30 percent of any government...

Tagged in: CFTC Whistleblower Reward Program, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets,

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CFTC Targets Cybersecurity and Environmental Fraud

Posted  07/6/23
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Logo with Orange Background
Last week, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced the creation of two new task forces.  One is the Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies Task Force, to address fraud relating to cybersecurity and other emerging technologies.  The other is the Environmental Fraud Task Force, to go after environmental fraud and misconduct in derivatives and relevant spot markets.  The CFTC is the federal agency...

Tagged in: Cybersecurity and Data Breaches, Environmental Fraud, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets, Whistleblower Eligibility,

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CFTC Whistleblower Alert: Whistleblowers Wanted Relating to Misconduct in Carbon Markets

Posted  06/22/23
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Logo
On Tuesday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued a Whistleblower Alert calling for help in identifying fraud or manipulation in the carbon markets.  The CFTC is the principal federal watchdog for fraud involving the commodities markets.  Under the CFTC Whistleblower Program, those who voluntarily provide information that leads to a successful CFTC enforcement action are entitled to an award of up...

Tagged in: CFTC Whistleblower Reward Program, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets, Whistleblower Eligibility,

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