A former trader agreed to settle CFTC charges for engaging in
"spoofing" (i.e., "bidding or offering with
the intent to cancel the bid or offer prior to execution) and
manipulative schemes.
According to the Order, Krishna Mohan, while an employee at a
proprietary trading firm, acted with others to "trick market
participants into executing against the orders he wanted
filled" at better prices, or in larger quantities, than he
otherwise would have obtained.
Mr. Mohan entered into a "formal cooperation
agreement" with the agency's Division of Enforcement. The
CFTC (i) ordered Mr. Mohan to cease and desist from violating the
Commodity Exchange Act's ban on spoofing and the use of
manipulative schemes, and (ii) banned him for three years from
trading and other activities in any CFTC-regulated market. The CFTC
said that it reserved a determination of monetary sanctions against
Mohan based on his future cooperation.