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COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE AND OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF AND FOR CIVIL MONETARY
PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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JAMES H. HOLL, III (CA Bar No. 177885)
KAREN KENMOTSU (Pro Hac Vice Pending)
Email: kkenmotsu@cftc.gov
TRACI RODRIGUEZ (Pro Hac Vice Pending)
PAUL G. HAYECK (Pro Hac Vice Pending)
Email: phayeck@cftc.gov
Attorneys for Plaintiff
COMMODITY FUTURES
TRADING COMMISSION
1155 21st Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20581
Telephone: (202) 418-5120
Facsimile: (202) 418-5531
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
COMMODITY FUTURES
TRADING COMMISION,
Plaintiff,
v.
CUNWEN ZHU and JUSTBY
INTERNATIONAL AUCTIONS,
Defendants.
Civil Action No. 2:23-cv-4937
COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE
AND OTHER EQUITABLE
RELIEF AND FOR CIVIL
MONETARY PENALTIES
UNDER THE COMMODITY
EXCHANGE ACT AND
COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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Plaintiff, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“Commission” or
“CFTC”), by and through its undersigned attorneys, hereby alleges as follows:
I. SUMMARY
1. From approximately April 2021 through March 2022 (the “Relevant
Period”), Cunwen Zhu (“Zhu”) and his company, Justby International Auctions
(“Justby”) (Zhu and Justby together, “Defendants”), while acting as a common
enterprise with other known and unknown entities (the “Scheme Entities”), engaged
in a scheme to defraud at least twenty-nine (29) U.S. customers (“Scheme
Customers”) by misappropriating more than $1,340,000 in connection with the sale
of leveraged, margined, or financed agreements, contracts or transactions in off-
exchange retail foreign currency (“forex”) contracts and/or digital asset commodities,
such as Bitcoin, to U.S. customers who were not eligible contract participants.
2. Defendant Zhu, individually, and as the controlling person of Justby,
accepted Scheme Customers’ funds into Justby’s bank accounts knowing, or
recklessly disregarding, that these funds were intended to be used to engage in forex
and/or digital asset commodity transactions on behalf of the Scheme Customers.
Defendants misappropriated all of the $1,340,000 they received from Scheme
Customers by transferring the funds from Justby’s bank accounts to Zhu’s personal
bank accounts. Once in his bank account, some of the funds were misappropriated by
Zhu to pay for his personal expenses while the majority of the funds were further
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transferred to other bank accounts, digital asset commodity trading accounts and
digital wallet addresses controlled by the Defendants and the Scheme Entities.
3. Throughout the Relevant Period, the Defendants and the Scheme Entities
acted as a single, integrated common enterprise in order to carry out their fraudulent
scheme. The fraudulent scheme followed a similar pattern. Individuals acting on
behalf of the Scheme Entities contacted the Scheme Customers via social media
(hereinafter, “Solicitors”). The Solicitors claimed to have knowledge or inside
information that allowed them to earn huge profits trading in forex and/or digital
asset commodities such as Bitcoin or Ether. The Solicitors offered to share their
knowledge or inside information with Scheme Customers and to help them trade by
providing particularized trading advice.
4. Most of the Scheme Customers were not eligible contract participants
(“ECPs”) pursuant to Section 1a(18)(A)(xi) of the Commodity Exchange Act (“Act
or “CEA”), 7 U.S.C. §1a(18)(A)(xi).
5. Once Scheme Customers decided to participate, the Solicitors introduced
them to a trading firm (“Trading Firm”) where Scheme Customers set up their
“trading accounts.” The Trading Firm customer service representatives (“TF
Customer Service”) provided Scheme Customers with wire transfer instructions
regarding the bank accounts to which they should wire their funds, such as Justby’s
bank accounts; or, digital wallet addresses if the Scheme Customers were transferring
digital asset commodities. Once received, customer funds were misappropriated by
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the Defendants and Scheme Entities. Unbeknownst to the Scheme Customers, the
“trading accounts” were a complete ruse and no actual trading took place on behalf of
the Scheme Customers.
6. As part of the fraudulent scheme, TF Customer Service assisted
Scheme Customers in setting up their trading accounts by instructing them to
download a third-party software application (“application”) onto their cellular
telephone or mobile device. These applications would allegedly allow Scheme
Customers to trade forex and digital asset commodities on legitimate, well-known
trading platforms.
7. In fact, the applications did not interface with a legitimate trading
platform and the Scheme Customers were actually interfacing with individuals who
were also part of the fraudulent scheme. The applications only mimicked the features
of a live trading platform by, among other things, allowing Scheme Customers to
enter and track their trades, interface with customer service representatives, and check
their account balances. The information contained in the applications, such as trade
data and account history, was controlled by the Scheme Entities.
8. Typically, Scheme Customers’ trading accounts showed that their
trading was highly successful and earning excellent profits. These representations
were fictional. Scheme Customers’ funds were not used to trade and consequently,
there were no profits. The Solicitors used these false profits to encourage customers
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to transfer additional funds for trading. Many customers transferred additional sums
with the Trading Firms based on these fictitious profits.
9. Initially, Scheme Customers were able to withdraw small amounts of
their funds. In fact, some Solicitors encouraged Scheme Customers to withdraw
some of their funds as proof that the Trading Firm was legitimate.
10. However, if Scheme Customers attempted to close their account or
withdraw large amounts from their trading accounts, they were met with great
resistance. For example, TF Customer Service would inform the customer that they
could not withdraw funds from their trading account until the customer sent in
additional funds to cover taxes on their profits, which generally amounted to 25%-
30% of the value of the account. The Solicitor sometimes recommended a trade
which would conveniently result in the Scheme Customer’s account having a
negative balance. Alternatively, a trade would suddenly appear in the customer
account which caused a negative balance in the account. Some Scheme Customers
were further defrauded because they sent in additional funds to pay for their “taxes”
or to cover their “negative balance.”
11. In the end, Scheme Customers lost nearly all of their trading funds.
Other than the small withdrawals they may have made initially, Scheme Customers
were unable to withdraw their funds or purported profits from their fictitious trading
accounts.
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12. The Defendants misappropriated all of the $1,340,000 sent to Justby by
the Scheme Customers. Zhu misappropriated some of the funds for his personal use.
However, the majority of the Scheme Customer funds were transferred to offshore
digital asset wallets, digital asset trading accounts, and bank accounts controlled by
the Scheme Entities.
13. In this manner, during the Relevant Period, the Defendants and the
Scheme Entities operated an elaborate and well-coordinated scheme to fraudulently
solicit, misappropriate, and funnel funds from U.S. customers to locations within and
outside of the U.S. for the purpose of enriching themselves to the detriment of U.S.
digital asset commodity and/or forex customers.
14. Zhu individually, and as a controlling person of Justby, knew or
recklessly disregarded, that the misappropriated funds were Scheme Customer funds
intended to be used for the purpose of trading forex and/or digital asset commodities.
15. By this conduct, and the conduct further described herein, Defendants
have engaged, are engaging, and/or are about to engage in acts and practices in
violation of Sections 4b(a)(2)(A)-(C) and 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6b(a)(2)(A)-
(C), 9(1), and Commission Regulations (“Regulations”) 5.2(b)(1)-(3) and
180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. §§ 5.2(b)(1)-(3), 180.1(a)(1)-(3) (2022).
16. Unless restrained and enjoined by this Court, Defendants are likely to
continue to engage in the acts and practices alleged in this Complaint, and similar
acts and practices, as more fully described below.
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17. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 6c of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 13a-1, and
Section 2(c)(2)(C) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(c)(2)(C), the Commission brings this
action to permanently enjoin Defendants’ unlawful acts and practices, to compel their
compliance with the Act and the Regulations, and to further enjoin them from
engaging in any commodity-interest related activity, as set forth below. In addition,
the Commission seeks civil monetary penalties for each violation of the Act and
Regulations, and remedial ancillary relief, including, but not limited to, trading bans,
restitution, disgorgement, an accounting, pre- and post-judgment interest, and such
other relief as the Court deems necessary and appropriate.
II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
18. This Court possesses jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1331 (codifying federal question jurisdiction) and 28 U.S.C. § 1345 (providing that
U.S. district courts have original jurisdiction over civil actions commenced by the
United States or by any agency expressly authorized to sue by Act of Congress). In
addition, Section 6c of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 13a-1(a), authorizes the Commission to
seek injunctive relief against any person whenever it shall appear to the Commission
that such person has engaged, is engaging, or is about to engage in any act or practice
constituting a violation of any provision of the Act or any rule, regulation, or order
thereunder, and Section 2(c)(2)(C) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(c)(2)(C), provides the
Commission with jurisdiction over the forex solicitations and transactions at issue in
this action.
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19. Venue properly lies with this Court pursuant to Section 6c(e) of the Act,
7 U.S.C. § 13a-1(e), and 28 U.S.C.
§ 1391(b) because Zhu resides in this District,
Defendants transact or transacted business in this District, and certain of the
transactions, acts, practices, and courses of business alleged in this Complaint
occurred, are occurring, or are about to occur within this District.
III. THE PARTIES
A. PLAINTIFF
20. Plaintiff Commodity Futures Trading Commission is an independent
federal regulatory agency charged by Congress with the administration and
enforcement of the Act and Regulations. The Commission maintains its principal
office at Three Lafayette Centre, 1155
21st Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20581.
B. DEFENDANTS
21. Defendant Cunwen Zhu is resides in Walnut, California. Zhu is the
chief executive officer and registered agent of Justby. Zhu has never been registered
with the Commission in any capacity.
22. Defendant Justby International Auctions is a stock corporation
established by Zhu in April 2021 in the state of California with the address of 8926 E.
Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, CA, 91770. Justby was allegedly engaged in the
business of purchasing and selling Asian art, antiques and collectibles. Justby’s
registration was terminated on February 6, 2023. Defendant Zhu acted as the chief
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executive officer and registered agent of Justby. Justby has never been registered
with the Commission in any capacity.
23. During the Relevant Period, Zhu and Justby, together with other entities
under the control of known and unknown individuals, operated as a single, integrated
common enterprise identified herein as the Scheme Enterprise. The Defendants and
the Scheme Enterprise shared common customers, assets, solicitations, and were
controlled by the same individuals.
IV. STATUTORY BACKGROUND AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK
24. The purpose of the CEA or Act is to “serve the public interests . . .
through a system of effective self-regulation of trading facilities, clearing systems,
market participants and market professionals under the oversight of the
Commission,” as well as “to deter and prevent price manipulation or any other
disruptions to market integrity; to ensure the financial integrity of all transactions
subject to [the] Act and the avoidance of systemic risk; to protect all market
participants from fraudulent or other abusive sales practices and misuses of customer
assets; and to promote responsible innovation and fair competition among boards of
trade, other markets and market participants.” Section 3 of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 5.
25. A digital asset is anything that can be stored and transmitted
electronically and has associated ownership or use rights. Digital asset commodities
include virtual currencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and stablecoins such
as Tether (USDT), which are digital representations of value that function as
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mediums of exchange, units of account and/or stores of value. Additionally, digital
asset commodities such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), stablecoins such as Tether
(USDT) and others are “commodities” as defined under Section 1a(9) of the Act,
7 U.S.C. § 1a(9).
26. In recent years, as digital asset markets have evolved, the CFTC has
approved the offer of futures contracts on digital asset commodities, including
Bitcoin and Ether futures and options, by boards of trade designated as contract
markets by the Commission, including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Cboe
Digital Exchange.
27. Section 2(c)(2)(C)(i)(I) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(c)(2)(C)(i)(I), in relevant
part, applies to any agreement, contract, or transaction in, or in connection with, forex
that is offered to, or entered into with, a person that is not an ECP “on a leveraged or
margined basis, or financed by the offeror, the counterparty, or a person acting in
concert with the offeror or counterparty on a similar basis,” subject to certain
exceptions not applicable here.
28. Section 1a(18)(A)(xi) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 1a(18)(A)(xi), defines an
ECP, in relevant part, as an individual: (a) who has amounts invested on a
discretionary basis, the aggregate of which exceeds $10 million, or (b) $5 million if
the individual enters into the transaction to “manage the risk associated with an asset
owned or liability incurred, or reasonably likely to be owned or incurred, by the
individual.” Individuals who do not meet these criteria are non-ECPs.
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V. FACTS
A. Defendant Zhu Operated Justby as a Shell Company
29. Defendant Zhu registered Justby International Auctions with the State of
California as a stock corporation in April 2021.
30. Justby’s registered address was located in Rosemead, California. Justby
claimed to be engaged in the business of purchasing and selling Asian art, antiques
and collectibles.
31. Zhu is the CEO, sole owner, and registered agent for Justby.
32. In sworn testimony before staff of the Commission, Zhu stated that he
exercised sole control over all of Justby’s operations, including Justby’s bank
accounts and employees.
33. Zhu further claimed that Justby’s estimated expenditures were $200,000
in 2021 and $80,000-$100,000 in 2022. He also represented that Justby’s revenues
were approximately the same, with a maximum sale of around $10,000.
34. During the Relevant Period, Zhu opened and controlled bank accounts in
the name of Justby at multiple banks (“Justby’s bank accounts”).
35. Despite Zhu’s claim that Justby only made sales of a few hundred
thousand dollars per year, the aggregated total amount received into Justby’s bank
accounts during the Relevant Period was in excess of $7,500,000 with approximately
$1,340,000 coming from the Scheme Customers for purposes of entering into forex
and/or digital asset commodity transactions.
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36. Despite Zhu’s claim that Justby’s largest sale was for approximately
$10,000, Justby’s bank accounts routinely received numerous cash deposits, checks
and wire transfers in excess of $200,000.
37. Justby lacks the indicia of a legitimate business. Specifically, Justby
does not maintain books and records normally associated with an auction-type
business such as a ledger of purchases and sales.
38. Justby’s bank records do not reflect payments of the type commonly
associated with a business such as a regular payroll, rent, insurance and utilities.
39. Justby’s claimed sales and expenditures do not align with its aggregated
bank deposits of over $7,500,000.
B. The Fraudulent Scheme
40. Throughout the Relevant Period, the Defendants and the Scheme Entities
acted as a single, integrated common enterprise in order to carry out their fraudulent
scheme. The scheme involved the coordinated efforts of three groups:
(1)Solicitors" who contacted Scheme Customers via social media and pretended to
befriend or romance the customers in order to solicit them to open and fund trading
accounts; (2) “Trading Firms” which purported to set up trading accounts on behalf
of Scheme Customers; and (3) “Shell Companies” such as Defendant Justby, whose
bank accounts were used by the Defendants and Scheme Entities to accept and
misappropriate Scheme Customer funds.
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41. This type of fraudulent scheme is commonly referred to as a “Sha Zhu
Pan” or “Pig Butchering” scheme by its operators because it involves cultivating a
friendly or romantic relationship with a potential investor and “fattening” them up
with falsehoods in order to gain the potential customer’s trust and eventually solicit
them to invest in a fraudulent financial opportunity.
42. Throughout the Relevant Period, the Solicitors spent time cultivating a
friendly or romantic relationship with the Scheme Customers, most of whom were
non-ECPs. At least one Scheme Customer, Customer A was in contact with their
Solicitor for over a year before they were convinced by their Solicitor to open and
fund a forex trading account.
43. Solicitors established a rapport with the Scheme Customers by
messaging them frequently, sharing purported pictures of themselves in expensive
locales or with expensive items such as luxury cars. The Solicitor always claimed to
be a highly successful trader and usually attributed their success to an “uncle” or an
“insider” who provided them with inside knowledge.
44. In order to demonstrate their trading success, the Solicitor typically
provided screen shots of their purported trading accounts which always showed
incredible trading results.
45. For example, around September 2021, Customer A was sent screen shots
of their Solicitor’s purported forex trading results, which amounted to millions of
dollars in profit in one day of trading.
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46. Once the Solicitor gained the Scheme Customer’s trust, they encouraged
the customer to open a forex and/or digital asset commodity trading account and
offered to share their inside knowledge with the Scheme Customer so that they too
might earn extraordinary returns.
47. Once a customer decided to participate, the Solicitor introduced the
Scheme Customer to a Trading Firm.
48. The Trading Firms instructed the Scheme Customers to download an
application on their mobile phone or device in order to gain access to a forex and/or
digital asset commodity trading platform. Although the trading platforms
recommended to customers were legitimate, the application did not actually provide
Scheme Customers with access to a legitimate trading platform.
i. False Trade Records Provided to Scheme Customers
49. In fact, the application only allowed Scheme Customers to interface with
individuals who were also part of the fraudulent scheme. The application merely
mimicked the features of trading forex and/or digital asset commodities on a live
trading platform.
50. The Scheme Entities controlled the information provided to the Scheme
Customers via the application. The application provided the Scheme Customers with
fictitious information concerning, among other things: profits and losses, account
balances, forex and/or digital asset commodity trading transactions, and deposits and
withdrawals of funds into and out of their trading accounts. All of this information
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was false since no actual forex and/or digital asset commodity trading took place on
behalf of the Scheme Customers.
ii. Scheme Customers Sent Funds to Justby’s Bank Accounts
51. In order to fund their purported trading accounts, TF Customer service
provided Scheme Customers with Justby’s bank account details as well as the bank
account details and digital wallet addresses for other entities who were part of the
scheme. Customers often sent their wire transfers and digital asset commodity
transfers to multiple entities related to the Scheme Entities.
52. For example, between May 5, 2021 through June 23, 2021, Customer B,
who was not an ECP, transferred approximately $198,282 in both fiat currency,
specifically the US Dollar, and digital asset commodities to bank accounts and digital
wallets provided to Customer B by TF Customer Service for the purpose of funding a
digital asset commodity trading account. On or about May 25, 2021, Customer B
sent $58,500 via wire transfer to a Justby bank account and the rest of Customer B’s
investment funds were sent to other digital wallet addresses and/or bank accounts
related to the Scheme Entities.
53. Scheme Customers’ purported trading account balances reflected the
receipt of their wire transfers soon after the wire transfers were sent to Justby. In
total, Justby received over $1,340,000 in wire transfers from Scheme Customers.
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iii. Defendants and the Scheme Entities Used Forged Justby Bank
Account Records to Defraud a Scheme Customer
54. TF Customer Service issued falsified bank records regarding one of
Justby’s bank accounts to at least one Scheme Customer.
55. Specifically, on or about July 8, 2021 TF Customer Service falsely
represented to Customer B that their wire transfer of $58,500 never posted to a
Justby bank account and demanded that Customer B send in the “missing” funds. TF
Customer Service sent Customer B falsified bank records which falsely showed that
Justby never received Customer B’s wire transfer of $58,000 on May 25, 2021, when
in fact, the funds were received on that day.
iv. The Scheme Entities Used False Trading Successes to Solicit
Additional Funds from Scheme Customers
56. Once their accounts were funded, the Solicitors provided Scheme
Customers with specific trading advice. The Solicitors instructed the Scheme
Customers regarding exactly which product the Scheme Customers should trade and
when they should enter and exit each trade.
57. Overall, the Scheme Customers were led to believe that they were
earning incredible returns from their trading. Their Trading Firm accounts generally
showed consistent wins with very few, if any, losses.
58. For example, Customer A opened a forex trading account on or about
October 2021. Between October 2021 and February 2022, this account purportedly
accrued profits in excess of $2,000,000.
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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59. In addition, between May 2021 to June 2021, Customer B’s digital asset
commodity trading account purportedly accrued profits in excess of $500,000.
60. The Solicitors used these purported successes to encourage customers to
deposit additional funds with the Trading Firms. Many Scheme Customers did this
multiple times, including Customers A and B.
61. Initially, Scheme Customers were encouraged by their Solicitors to
withdraw small sums from their purported trading accounts in order to prove the
legitimacy of their Trading Firm.
62. For example, around May 2021, Customer B withdrew $818 from
Customer B’s trading account upon the advice and encouragement of Customer B’s
Solicitor.
63. However, when Scheme Customers attempted to withdraw large sums
from their purported trading accounts or to close their accounts, they were unable to
do so.
64. For example, on or about May 28, 2021, Customer C sent a wire transfer
in the amount of $500,000 from their bank account to one of Justby’s bank accounts
in order to fund a forex trading account. Customer C also sent additional wire
transfers to other bank accounts under the control of other Scheme Entities.
However, one of Customer C’s wire transfer attempts was stopped by their bank due
to suspicion of fraud. At this point, Customer C became skeptical of their
transactions and their interactions with their Solicitor. When Customer C attempted
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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to withdraw $1,000,000 from their trading account, TF Customer Service informed
Customer C that it would take up to ten (10) business days to receive the transfer.
Customer C decided to conduct one last trade in their trading account following their
Solicitor’s specific trading instructions and this trade resulted in losses which left
Customer C’s account with a negative balance. Customer C analyzed their last trade
with existing market data and discovered an inconsistency in the market value
between their last trade and the existing market data.
65. The Trading Firms employed tactics to further defraud the Scheme
Customers, such as telling Scheme Customers that they would need to pay taxes
before their funds could be withdrawn. As a result, some of the Scheme Customers
transferred additional funds to their trading accounts to cover these “taxes.” The tax
payments were just a ruse and Scheme Customers were unable to withdraw their
funds even after submitting the tax payments.
66. Apart from small withdrawals, none of the Scheme Customers were able
to withdraw their funds from their Trading Accounts. Eventually, TF Customer
Service stopped communicating with Scheme Customers and the applications ceased
functioning.
C. Defendants and the Scheme Entities Operated as a Common
Enterprise
67. Together with the other Scheme Entities, Defendants Justby and Zhu
operated as a common enterprise with a shared purpose of defrauding Scheme
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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Customers. Defendant Justby was a shell company which served no legitimate
business purpose other than to accept and funnel funds to the Scheme Entities.
68. Defendants and the Scheme Entities operated as an integrated whole in
that they shared common control, assets, customers, fraudulent solicitations, and
funneled customer funds to common entities, generally located offshore.
69. The coordinated manner in which Justby interacted with the Scheme
Entities indicates there was a common control being exercised. For example, Scheme
Customer funds deposited into Justby’s bank accounts were reflected very quickly in
the Scheme Customers’ purported trading account balances.
70. When Scheme Customers received a withdrawal from their purported
trading accounts, the funds did not come from Justby’s bank accounts or digital asset
commodity accounts. Instead, Scheme Customers received funds from other bank or
digital asset commodity accounts under the control of the Scheme Enterprise.
D. Defendant Zhu Knew or Recklessly Disregarded that Scheme
Customer Funds were Sent to Justby for Trading
71. As the sole signatory on the Justby bank accounts, Defendant Zhu had
personal knowledge of the origin of funds being accepted into Justby’s bank accounts
and was responsible for the disposition of those funds.
72. Wire transfers from Scheme Customers contained notations indicating
they were sent for purposes of trading and not for other services or goods, such as
antiques.
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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73. For example, on or about May 25, 2021, one of Justby’s bank accounts
received a wire transfer from Customer D in the amount of $10,000 with the notation
“Investment.”
74. On or about March 17, 2022, Customer E sent a wire transfer to one of
Justby’s bank accounts in the amount of $5,480 with the notation “Commodities.”
75. On or about March 9, 2022 Customer F sent a wire transfer to one of
Justby’s bank accounts in the amount of $10,000 with the notation “Attn: Manager
(name of trading firm) Account.”
76. Defendants also received funds from other scheme entities, which were
unrelated to Justby’s purported “antiques” business. For example, on or about
August 17, 2021, one of Justby’s bank accounts received a wire transfer in the
amount of $160,000 from one of the Scheme Entities with a notation of “Investment
Funds.”
E. Defendants Misappropriated Customer Funds for their Own Benefit
and for the Benefit of the Scheme Entities
77. Defendants accepted the deposit of $1,340,000 from at least twenty- nine
(29) Scheme Customers into bank accounts in the name of Justby and controlled by
Zhu. Defendants and the Scheme Entities did not use the funds to enter into any
forex agreements, contracts, or transactions on behalf of Scheme Customers.
Moreover, Defendants and the Scheme Entities did not use the funds to enter into any
digital asset commodity transactions on behalf of customers.
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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78. Instead, the Defendants misappropriated all of the Scheme Customer
funds. Zhu misappropriated some of the funds for his personal use. The Defendants,
however, used the vast majority of the customer funds to purchase digital asset
commodities, such as less-traceable stablecoins like USDC (digital dollar), and then
transferred those digital asset commodities to digital wallets and digital asset
commodity trading platforms controlled by the Scheme Entities. In addition,
Defendants also sent wire transfers to bank accounts controlled by the Scheme
Entities. The Scheme Entities’ digital wallets, digital asset commodity trading
platforms and bank accounts were generally located offshore.
79. Defendants never returned any funds to any Scheme Customer.
Therefore, Scheme Customers lost more than $1,340,000 as a result of the
Defendants’ fraudulent scheme.
VI. VIOLATIONS OF THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND
COMMISSION REGULATIONS
COUNT I
(Defendants Zhu and Justby)
FRAUD IN CONNECTION WITH FOREX
Violations of Section 4b(a)(2)(A)-(C) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 6b(a)(2)(A)-(C), and
Regulation 5.2(b)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 5.2(b)(1)-(3) (2022)
80. The allegations in paragraphs 1-79 are re-alleged and incorporated
herein by reference.
81. Section 4b(a)(2)(A)-(C) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 6b(a)(2)(A)-(C), makes it
unlawful:
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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[F]or any person, in or in connection with any order to
make, or the making of, any contract of sale of any
commodity for future delivery, [ . . . ] that is made, or to be
made, for or on behalf of, or with, any other person other
than on or subject to the rules of a designated contract
market(A) to cheat or defraud or attempt to cheat or
defraud the other person; (B) willfully to make or cause to
be made to the other person any false report of
statement . . . [or] (C) willfully to deceive or attempt to
deceive the other person by any means whatsoever in regard
to any order or contract or the disposition or execution of
any order or contract, or in regard to any act of agency
performed, with respect to any order or contract for or, in
the case of paragraph (2), with the other person.
82. Pursuant to Section 2(c)(2)(C)(iv) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(c)(2)(C)(iv),
Section 4b of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 6b, applies to the forex transactions, agreements, or
contracts described in Section 2(c)(2)(C)(i) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §2(c)(2)(C)(i), “as if”
they were contracts of sale of a commodity for future delivery. Further, Section
2(c)(2)(C)(ii)(I) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(c)(2)(C)(ii)(I), also makes those forex
agreements, contracts, or transactions “subject to” Section 4b, 7 U.S.C. § 6b. Finally,
Section 2(c)(2)(C)(vii) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(c)(2)(C)(vii), makes clear the CFTC
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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has jurisdiction over an account that is offered for the purpose of trading forex
described in Section 2(c)(2)(C)(i) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §2(c)(2)(C)(i).
83. Regulation 5.2(b)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 5.2(b)(1)-(3), makes it unlawful for
any person, by use of the mails or by any instrumentality of interstate commerce,
directly or indirectly, in or in connection with any retail forex transaction: (1) to
cheat or defraud or attempt to cheat or defraud any person; (2) willfully to make or
cause to be made to any person any false report or statement or cause to be entered
for any person any false record; or (3) willfully to deceive or attempt to deceive any
person by any means whatsoever.
84. During the Relevant Period, Defendants Zhu and Justby, acting as a
common enterprise with the Scheme Entities, violated Section 4b(a)(2)(A)-(C) of the
Act, 7 U.S.C. § 6b(a)(2)(A)-(C), and Regulation 5.2(b)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 5.2(b)(1)-
(3), by willfully deceiving or attempting to deceive other persons in, or in connection
with, the offering of leveraged, margined or financed off-exchange retail forex
transactions with non-ECPs, by among other things: (i) misappropriating Scheme
Customer funds; (ii) sending, or causing false trading records to be sent to Scheme
Customers; and (iii) sending or causing false bank records to be sent to a Scheme
Customer.
85. Further, Defendants Zhu and Justby, acting as a common enterprise with
the Scheme Entities, violated Section 4b(a)(2)(A) and (C) of the Act, 7 U.S.C.
§ 6b(a)(2)(A), (C), and Regulation 5.2(b)(1) and (3), 17 C.F.R. § 5.2(b)(1), (3), by
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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knowingly and/or recklessly failing to disclose material facts to Scheme Customers,
including by failing to disclose that: (i) their funds would not be used for trading; (ii)
their funds would be misappropriated; and (iii) the applications used by the Trading
Firms were completely fraudulent, no trading occurred and the posted returns were
fake, all in violation of Section 4b(a)(2)(A) and (C) of the Act, 7 U.S.C.
§ 6b(a)(2)(A), (C), and Regulation 5.2(b)(1) and (3), 17 C.F.R. § 5.2(b)(1), (3).
86. The Defendants’ omissions were material because they deprived the
Scheme Customers of valuable information that the customers would have considered
when deciding to commit their funds.
87. Defendants engaged in the acts and practices described above using
instrumentalities of interstate commerce, including but not limited to: interstate wires
for transfer of funds, email, websites, and other electronic communication devices.
88. Defendants engaged in the acts and practices described above willfully,
intentionally, or recklessly.
89. Specifically, Zhu, acting both individually and as agent and officer of
Justby, engaged in the acts and practices described above knowingly, willfully, or
with reckless disregard for the truth. Zhu was an active participant in the fraudulent
scheme. Zhu established his shell corporation Justby; opened bank accounts in the
name of Justby; misappropriated customer funds; used some of the misappropriated
funds to purchase less traceable digital asset commodities (stablecoins) and then
diverted the digital asset commodities and other funds to digital wallet addresses and
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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bank accounts which were controlled and operated by the Scheme Enterprise. In
addition, Zhu or someone acting in concert with him, issued false bank records to at
least one Scheme Customer for the purpose of soliciting the customer to transfer
more funds to Justby.
90. Zhu controlled Justby directly or indirectly, and did not act in good faith
and knowingly induced, directly or indirectly, Justby to commit the acts and/or
omissions alleged herein. Therefore, pursuant to Section 13(b) of the Act, 7 U.S.C.
§ 13c(b), Zhu is liable for Justby’s violations of Section 4b(a)(2)(A)-(C) of the Act,
7 U.S.C. § 6b(a)(2)(A)-(C), and Regulation 5.2(b)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 5.2(b)(1)-(3).
91. Zhu acted within the course and scope of his employment, agency, or
office with Justby. Pursuant to Section 2(a)(1)(B) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(a)(1)(B),
and Regulation 1.2, 17 C.F.R. § 1.2 (2022), Justby is liable as the principal for Zhu’s
violations of Section 4b(a)(2)(A)-(C), 7 U.S.C. § 6b(a)(2)(A)-(C), and Regulation
5.2(b)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 5.2(b)(1)-(3).
92. Each act of misappropriation, providing false trading and bank records to
Scheme Customers, and failing to disclose material information to Scheme
Customers, including but not limited to those specifically alleged herein, is alleged as
a separate and distinct violation of Section 4b(a)(2)(A)-(C) of the Act, 7 U.S.C.
§ 6b(a)(2)(A)-(C), and Regulation 5.2(b)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 5.2(b)(1)-(3).
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COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE AND OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF AND FOR CIVIL MONETARY
PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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COUNT II
(Defendants Zhu and Justby)
FRAUD BY DECEPTIVE DEVICE OR CONTRIVANCE
Violations of Section 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 9(1), and Regulation
180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a)(1)-(3) (2022)
93. The allegations in paragraphs 1-79 are re-alleged and incorporated
herein by reference.
94. Section 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 9(1), makes it “unlawful for any
person, directly or indirectly, to use or employ, or attempt to use or employ, in
connection with any swap, or a contract of sale of any commodity in interstate
commerce, or for future delivery on or subject to the rules of any registered entity,
any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance, in contravention of such rules
and regulations as the Commission shall promulgate . . . .
95. Regulation 180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a)(1)-(3), makes it
unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, in connection with any swap, or
contract of sale of any commodity in interstate commerce, or contract for future
delivery on or subject to the rules of any registered entity, to intentionally or
recklessly:
1) use or employ, or attempt to use or employ, any
manipulative device, scheme, or artifice to defraud;
2) make, or attempt to make, any untrue or misleading
statement of a material fact or to omit to state a
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made not untrue or misleading; [or]
3) engage, or attempt to engage, in any act, practice, or
course of business, which operates or would operate
as a fraud or deceit upon any person . . . .
96. Digital asset commodities such as Bitcoin and Ether are encompassed in
the definition of a “commodity” under Section 1a(9) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 1a(9), and
contracts for their sale are subject to the prohibitions of Section 6(c)(1) of the Act,
7 U.S.C. § 9(1), and Regulation 180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a)(1)-(3).
97. Section 2(c)(2)(C)(ii)(I) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(c)(2)(C)(ii)(I), makes
forex agreements, contracts, or transactions described in Section 2(c)(2)(C)(i) of the
Act, 7 U.S.C. §2(c)(2)(C)(i), “subject to” Section 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 9(1),
and Regulation 180.1(a), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a). Further, Section 2(c)(2)(C)(vii) of the
Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(c)(2)(C)(vii), makes clear the CFTC has jurisdiction over an
account that is offered for the purpose of trading forex described in Section
2(c)(2)(C)(i) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §2(c)(2)(C)(i).
98. During the Relevant Period, Defendants Zhu and Justby, acting as a
common enterprise with the Scheme Entities, violated Section 6(c)(1) of the Act,
7 U.S.C. § 9(1), and Regulation 180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a)(1)-(3), by,
among other things, in connection with contracts of sale of commodities in interstate
commerce and forex: (1) using or employing, or attempting to use or employ, a
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance, scheme or artifice to defraud;
(2) making omissions of material fact to Scheme Customers; and (3) engaging, or
attempting to engage in any act, practice or course of business which operates as a
fraud or deceit. Defendants Zhu and Justby did so by: (i) misappropriating customer
funds; (ii) sending or causing to be to be sent, false trading records to Scheme
Customers; and (iii) sending or causing to be sent, false bank records to at least one
Scheme Customer for the purpose of soliciting funds from the customer.
99. Further, Defendants Zhu and Justby, acting as a common enterprise with
the Scheme Entities, violated Section 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 9(1), and
Regulation 180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a)(1)-(3), by, among other things,
knowingly and/or recklessly failing to disclose material facts to Scheme Customers,
including by failing to disclose that: (i) their funds would not be used for trading;
(ii) their funds would be misappropriated; and (iii) the applications used by the
Trading Firms were completely fraudulent, no trading occurred and the posted returns
were fake.
100. The Defendants’ omissions were material because they deprived
Scheme Customers of valuable information that the customers would have considered
when deciding to participate in trading forex and/ or digital asset commodities.
101. During the Relevant Period, as alleged in paragraphs 1-79 above,
Defendants, directly and/or indirectly, violated Section 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C.
§ 9(1), and Regulation 180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a)(1)-(3). At all such times,
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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Zhu did not act in good faith or knowingly induced, directly or indirectly, Justby to
commit the acts and/or omissions alleged as violations of Section 6(c)(1) of the Act,
7 U.S.C. § 9(1), and Regulation 180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a)(1)-(3), as set
forth herein. Pursuant to Section 13(b) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 13c(b), Zhu is liable as
controlling person for Justby’s violations Section 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 9(1),
and Regulation 180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a)(1)-(3).
102. During the Relevant Period, as alleged in paragraphs 1-79 above, Zhu
acted within the course and scope of his respective employment, agency, or office
with Justby. Pursuant to Section 2(a)(1)(B) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(a)(1)(B), Justby
is liable as a principal for Zhu’s violations of Section 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C.
§ 9(1), and Regulation 180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a)(1)-(3).
103. Defendants engaged in the acts and practices described above willfully,
intentionally, or recklessly.
104. Defendants engaged in the acts and practices described above using
instrumentalities of interstate commerce, including but not limited to: interstate wires
for transfer of funds, email, websites, and other electronic communication devices.
105. Each act of misappropriation, fraudulently providing false records, and
failing to disclose material information to Scheme Customers, including but not
limited to, those specifically alleged herein, is alleged as a separate and distinct
violation of Section 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 9(1), and Regulation 180.1(a)(1)-
(3), 17 C.F.R. § 180.1(a)(1)-(3).
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PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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VII. RELIEF REQUESTED
WHEREFORE, the Commission respectfully requests that this Court, as
authorized by 7 U.S.C. § 13a-1, and pursuant to the Court’s inherent equitable
powers, enter:
A. An order finding Defendants Zhu and Justby liable for violating Sections
4b(a)(2)(A)-(C) and 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6b(a)(2)(A)-(C), 9(1), and
Regulations 5.2(b)(1)-(3) and 180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. §§ 5.2(b)(1)-(3), 180.1(a)(1)-
(3) (2022);
B. An order of permanent injunction permanently restraining, enjoining,
and prohibiting Defendants Zhu and Justby, and any other person or entity associated
with them, from engaging in conduct described above, in violation of Sections
4b(a)(2)(A)-(C) and 6(c)(1) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6b(a)(2)(A)-(C), 9(1), and
Regulations 5.2(b)(1)-(3) and 180.1(a)(1)-(3), 17 C.F.R. §§ 5.2(b)(1)-(3), 180.1(a)(1)-
(3);
C. An order of permanent injunction prohibiting Defendants Zhu and Justby
and any other person or entity associated with them from directly or indirectly:
(i) Trading on or subject to the rules of any registered entity (as that term is
defined in Section 1a(40) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § la(40));
(ii) Entering into any transactions involving “commodity interests” (as that
term is defined in Regulation 1.3, 17 C.F.R. § 1.3 (2022)) or digital asset
commodities” (as described herein), including Bitcoin and Ether, for their
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COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE AND OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF AND FOR CIVIL MONETARY
PENALTIES UNDER THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AND COMMISSION REGULATIONS
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own personal account(s) or for any account(s) in which any Defendant has
a direct or indirect interest;
(iii) Having any commodity interests or digital asset commodities, including
Bitcoin and Ether, traded on any Defendant’s behalf;
(iv) Controlling or directing the trading for or on behalf of any other person or
entity, whether by power of attorney or otherwise, in any account
involving commodity interests or digital asset commodities, including
Bitcoin and Ether;
(v) Soliciting, receiving or accepting any funds from any person for the
purpose of purchasing or selling any commodity interests or digital asset
commodities, including Bitcoin and Ether;
(vi) Applying for registration or claiming exemption from registration with the
Commission in any capacity, and engaging in any activity requiring
registration or exemption from registration with the Commission, except
as provided for in Regulation 4.14(a)(9), 17 C.F.R. § 4.14(a)(9)(2022);
and
(vii) Acting as a principal (as that term is defined in 17 C.F.R. § 3.1(a) (2022)),
agent, or any other officer or employee of any person registered, exempted
from registration, or required to be registered with the Commission,
except as provided for in 17 C.F.R. § 4.14(a)(9);
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D. An order directing Defendants Zhu and Justby, as well as any successors
thereof, holding companies, and alter egos, to disgorge, pursuant to such procedure as
the Court may order, all benefits received from the acts or practices which constitute
violations of the Act and Regulations, as described herein, and pre- and post-
judgment interest thereon from the date of such violations;
E. An order directing Defendants Zhu and Justby, as well as any successors
thereof, to make full restitution to every person who has sustained losses proximately
caused by the violations of the Act and Regulations described herein, and pre- and
post-judgment interest thereon from the date of such violations;
F. An order directing Defendants Zhu and Justby, as well as any successors
thereof, to provide a full accounting of all Scheme Customer funds they have
received during the Relevant Period as a result of the acts and practices that
constituted violations of the Act and Regulations, as described herein;
G. An order directing Defendants Zhu and Justby to pay a civil monetary
penalty, to be assessed by the Court, in an amount not to exceed the penalty
prescribed by 7 U.S.C. § 13a-1(d)(1), as adjusted for inflation pursuant to the Federal
Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114-74,
129 Stat. 584 (2015), title VII, Section 701, see Regulation 143.8, 17 C.F.R. § 143.8
(2022), for each violation of the Act and Regulations described herein;
H. An order requiring Defendants Zhu and Justby to pay costs and fees as
permitted by 28 U.S.C. §§ 1920 and 2412(a)(2); and
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I. Such other and further relief as the Court deems proper.
Dated: June 22, 2023 Respectfully submitted,
U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES
TRADING COMMISSION
/s/ James H. Holl, III
JAMES H. HOLL, III. CA Bar. No. 177885
KAREN KENMOTSU, Pro Hac Vice pending
TRACI RODRIGUEZ, Pro Hac Vice pending
PAUL G. HAYECK, Pro Hac Vice pending
Attorneys for Plaintiff
COMMODITY FUTURES
TRADING COMMISSION
1155 21st Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20581
Telephone: (202) 418-5000
jholl@cftc.gov
kkenmotsu@cftc.gov
trodriguez@cftc.gov
phayeck@cftc.gov
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