A permanent registration/ trading ban, handed down by a Texas court, to defendant Mark E. Rice, along with $1.5 million in civil penalty's and restitution, as part of a CFTC complaint uncovering a fraudulent Forex scheme.
Scale of Justice: Source CFTC
The CFTC has begun the New Year with a string of new actions, including the latest complaint upheld by a federal court that requires defendant Mark E. Rice from Sugarland, Texas to pay $827,000 in restitution and $673,000 in civil penalties in order to settle CFTC charges related to Forex fraud.
The charges were in connection with alleged fraudulent activities involving foreign Exchange currency contracts, including misappropriation of customer funds to trade leveraged otc forex, and fraudulent solicitation by Mark E. Rice of Financial Robotics Inc., according to the CFTC press release.
The permanent injunction as part of a Consent order stemming from a CFTC complaint filed in 2011 against Rice, and Rice’s company Financial Robotics Inc. (FinRob), entered on January 13th, 2014, by Judge Lee H. Rosenthal in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas imposes a permanent trading and registration ban against Rice and prohibits him from violating provisions of the CEA, as charged, along with the total $1.5 million in sanctions handed down to Rice.
Judge Rosenthal also presided over the 2011 injunction when the CFTC moved in swiftly to protect the books and freeze assets of Financial Robotics Inc. and Rice. The press release by the CFTC today stated its litigation with Financial Robotics Inc. as ongoing.
Followed 2011 Injunction by CFTC to freeze Financial Robotics Assets
According to the order, from June 2008, Rice operated a fraudulent scheme that solicited approximately $1.7 million from one individual to trade leveraged off-exchange forex contracts, and described how Rice falsely told his customer, among other things, that his investment was “risk free” and insured against loss, and that the return of his principal was guaranteed.
The Order further finds that Rice misappropriated at least $576,000 of his customer’s funds by transferring the money to unrelated Rice-controlled companies and, thereafter, spending at least $404,000 of those funds for Rice’s personal and business expenses.
During the 2011 injunction, the CFTC thanked the National Futures Association (NFA), the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Financial Services Commission (FSC), The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), and the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for their assistance.
In the announcement today of the Texas federal court ruling, the CFTC noted that its Division of Enforcement (DOE) staff members responsible for this case were Kevin S. Webb, Michelle S. Bougas, James H. Holl, III, and acting Director of Enforcement, Gretchen L. Lowe.
The CFTC has begun the New Year with a string of new actions, including the latest complaint upheld by a federal court that requires defendant Mark E. Rice from Sugarland, Texas to pay $827,000 in restitution and $673,000 in civil penalties in order to settle CFTC charges related to Forex fraud.
The charges were in connection with alleged fraudulent activities involving foreign Exchange currency contracts, including misappropriation of customer funds to trade leveraged otc forex, and fraudulent solicitation by Mark E. Rice of Financial Robotics Inc., according to the CFTC press release.
The permanent injunction as part of a Consent order stemming from a CFTC complaint filed in 2011 against Rice, and Rice’s company Financial Robotics Inc. (FinRob), entered on January 13th, 2014, by Judge Lee H. Rosenthal in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas imposes a permanent trading and registration ban against Rice and prohibits him from violating provisions of the CEA, as charged, along with the total $1.5 million in sanctions handed down to Rice.
Judge Rosenthal also presided over the 2011 injunction when the CFTC moved in swiftly to protect the books and freeze assets of Financial Robotics Inc. and Rice. The press release by the CFTC today stated its litigation with Financial Robotics Inc. as ongoing.
Followed 2011 Injunction by CFTC to freeze Financial Robotics Assets
According to the order, from June 2008, Rice operated a fraudulent scheme that solicited approximately $1.7 million from one individual to trade leveraged off-exchange forex contracts, and described how Rice falsely told his customer, among other things, that his investment was “risk free” and insured against loss, and that the return of his principal was guaranteed.
The Order further finds that Rice misappropriated at least $576,000 of his customer’s funds by transferring the money to unrelated Rice-controlled companies and, thereafter, spending at least $404,000 of those funds for Rice’s personal and business expenses.
During the 2011 injunction, the CFTC thanked the National Futures Association (NFA), the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Financial Services Commission (FSC), The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), and the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for their assistance.
In the announcement today of the Texas federal court ruling, the CFTC noted that its Division of Enforcement (DOE) staff members responsible for this case were Kevin S. Webb, Michelle S. Bougas, James H. Holl, III, and acting Director of Enforcement, Gretchen L. Lowe.
Retail Trading & Prop Firms in 2025: Five Defining Trends - And One Prediction for 2026
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
