The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has imposed a fine of $4 million on NYMEX and two former employees for disclosing non-public information.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Tuesday said that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a consent order resolving CFTC charges against the New York Mercantile Exchange and former employees William Byrnes and Christopher Curtin for the employees' repeated disclosure of material non-public information in violation of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations.
The order finds Byrnes and Curtin directly liable for their improper disclosures and NYMEX vicariously liable for the misconduct of its former employees. In addition, Byrnes and Curtin are permanently banned from trading commodity interests and registering with the CFTC and are enjoined from future violations of the CEA and CFTC regulations, as charged.
The order imposes a $4 million civil monetary penalty jointly and severally on NYMEX, Byrnes, and Curtin, with the liability of Byrnes and Curtin capped, respectively, at $300,000 and $200,000.
"Today's settlement sends a strong message that the CFTC will work tirelessly to protect our market participants against unlawful disclosures of their confidential information to ensure that the fairness and reliability of our markets are not compromised," said Director of Enforcement James McDonald. "Like any other employer, commodity exchanges are responsible for violations of the CEA or CFTC regulations by their officials, employees, and agents within the scope of their employment or office."
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