CFTC Charges Michael J. Leighton of Torrance, Calif., with $1.6 Million Commodity Pool Fraud

The CFTC announced on Friday the filing of an enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, charging Michael J. Leighton of Torrance, Calif., with solicitation fraud and issuing false statements in connection with the operation of a commodity trading pool.

According to the CFTC complaint, filed on May 8, 2012, Leighton defrauded and deceived at least 42 pool participants who invested at least $1.6 million in a commodity pool he operated from at least July 2008 and continuing through the present.

On May 9, 2012, in conjunction with the filing of the CFTC’s complaint, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged Leighton with one count of commodities fraud. United States v. Leighton, Case No. Case No. 2:12-cr-00439.

View release in full here (links externally to CFTC website).