Washington, DC – Earlier this June, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) charged David Liew for illegal practices in the precious metals futures contracts. CFTC banned David Liew from trading, because of preceding events of manipulating the gold and silver markets. As a junior trader, on the precious metals desk, in a large financial institution, Deutche Bank, Liew was engaging in these unlawful acts for at least two years, from 2009 to 2012.
David Liew’s Machinations
Liew mentioned that he conspired to manipulate prices with other unidentified people. One of them Liew referred to as “The Legend.” The scheme involved placing and quickly pulling out small orders, forcing prices to benefit traders who needed to fill client orders. Liew admitted to placing the fraudulent spoof orders with a hope of having the market interest in trading become larger than what it was in reality. Through the spoof orders, Liew’s resting orders were filled. This duplicitous scheme allowed traders to buy metal futures contracts at exaggeratedly low prices and sell them at artificially high prices.
CFTC’s Investigation
CFTC issued an order filing to which David Liew pleaded guilty to connive to fraudulent charges. Liew is agreeing to cooperate as his preceding actions transgressed the Commission Regulations and Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). Moreover, CFTC banned David Liew from trading and obliged him to perpetually never to participate in other similar commodity-interest activities such as seeking registration, or acting as an agent obliged to be registered.
During the Division of Enforcement’s (Division) investigation, Liew was compliant. CFTC recognized Liew’s cooperation in that process, which included rendering of essential assistance to the investigation and cooperating with any other agencies involved in this investigation.
CFTC’s Director of Enforcement, James McDonald, asserted that the enforcement action indicated that the Commission will be more vigilant and be more stringent with “individuals who manipulate and spoof” the markets. He also said, “the Commission will give meaningful cooperation credit to those who acknowledge their own wrongdoing, enter into a Cooperation Agreement and provide substantial assistance to the Division in its investigations and enforcement actions against others who have engaged in illegal conduct.”
CFTC’s Order: http://www.cftc.gov/idc/groups/public/@lrenforcementactions/documents/legalpleading/enfdavidlieworder060217.pdf
