Cheltenham Town’s four-match winning run was brought to an with a 3-1 defeat at Mansfield Town.
The Robins took the lead six minutes into the second half with Sam Smith heading in Chris Hussey’s cross from the left.
It was the third strike of the Reading striker’s loan spell.
But Nigel Clough’s Stags stormed back with three goals in 10 minutes, with Jordan Bowery scoring twice, either side of one from Jamie Reid.
The Robins stay top after Morecambe’s late leveller at Forest Green Rovers.
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Mansfield Town: Stech; Gordon, Rawson, Perch, Benning; McLaughlin, Quinn (Charsley 88), Clarke (Lapslie 73), Law; Reid, Bowery. Subs not used: Pardington, O’Keeffe, Wright, Ward, Sinclair.
Cheltenham Town: Griffiths; Raglan (Vassilev 76), Tozer, Long; Blair, Thomas, Sercombe (Lloyd 88), Wright (Azaz 60), Hussey; May, Smith. Subs not used: Flinders, Horton, Freestone, Williams.
Referee: Scott Oldham.

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Washington, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today filed a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin against Robert Narvett of Appleton, Wisconsin, charging him with fraud and misappropriation of more than $196,000 from at least two individuals. The CFTC’s complaint also charges Narvett for failing to register with the CFTC as a Commodity Trading Advisor as required under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).
In its continuing litigation, the CFTC seeks full restitution to defrauded clients, disgorgement of any ill-gotten gains, civil monetary penalties, permanent registration and trading bans, and a permanent injunction against further violations of the CEA, as charged.
Related Criminal Action
Earlier this week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin indicted Narvett on counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. [See United States v. Narvett, No. 21-cr-00050 (E.D. Wis. Mar. 2, 2021)]
Case Background
The CFTC’s complaint alleges that from at least December 2013 through the present, Narvett fraudulently solicited Wisconsin clients by making false statements in violation of the CEA. Specifically, the complaint alleges that in his solicitations to existing and prospective clients, Narvett made numerous materially false and misleading statements concerning his trading successes and strategies and promised future trading profits. He also omitted material information, including that a federal court in Wisconsin previously entered a judgment against him in an action brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging that he operated an unrelated fraudulent investment scheme. 
Narvett, as alleged, fraudulently persuaded clients to provide him with access to their personal commodity futures accounts at a Futures Commission Merchant. He allegedly traded futures contracts in those accounts, abandoned his clients after he lost their money trading, and misappropriated client funds for his own benefit and to benefit the ongoing fraud.
The CFTC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
The Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this action are Dmitriy Vilenskiy, Julia Colarusso, Luke Marsh, and Paul G. Hayeck.

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Washington, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York charging businessman and computer programmer John McAfee, previously of Tennessee, and his former employee Jimmy Gale Watson, previously of California, for engaging in a manipulative and deceptive digital asset “pump-and-dump” scheme.
According to the complaint, the defendants secretly accumulated positions in digital assets, deceptively promoted the digital assets through social media as valuable long-term investments, then sold their holdings as prices rose sharply following McAfee’s deceptive endorsements, resulting in profits in excess of $2 million. The scheme involved numerous digital assets, including verge (XVG), dogecoin (DOGE), and reddcoin (RDD). This enforcement action is the first brought by the CFTC for a manipulative scheme involving digital assets.
“Manipulative and fraudulent schemes, like that alleged in this case, undermine the integrity and development of digital assets and cheat innocent people out of their hard-earned money,” said Acting Director of Enforcement Vincent McGonagle. “Financial innovation is constantly breaking new ground, and the CFTC’s enforcement efforts must keep up. We will always act to hold fraudsters and manipulators accountable for misconduct.”
Related Criminal and Civil Actions
On March 5, 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced the indictment of McAfee and Watson on charges of conspiracy to commit commodities and securities fraud, wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to commit securities touting fraud, and money laundering. Both individuals are also defendants in a civil enforcement action brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Both cases were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. [See United States v. McAfee et al., No. 21-cr-138 (S.D.N.Y. March 2, 2021) and Securities and Exchange Commission v. McAfee et al., No. 20-cv-08281 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 5, 2020)].
Case Background
According to the CFTC’s complaint, the defendants strategically selected digital assets suitable for their scheme. As is typical of pump-and-dump schemes, they secretly accumulated a position in a digital asset through bitcoin trading in anticipation of price spikes following McAfee’s misleading public endorsements on social media. They “pumped” in the form of touting the asset in order to increase demand, while deceptively concealing the previously accumulated position and the intent to promptly sell the position. The defendants then “dumped” the digital asset by selling it into the inflated demand as price levels rose in response to their deceptive touting. 
In its continuing litigation, the CFTC seeks restitution, disgorgement, civil monetary penalties, permanent trading and registration bans, and a permanent injunction against further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, as charged. 
The CFTC thanks and acknowledges the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the SEC, which conducted separate and parallel investigations.
The Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this case are Alejandra de Urioste, Gates S. Hurand, David M. Oakland, Christopher Giglio, K. Brent Tomer, Lenel Hickson, Jr., and Manal M. Sultan. The Division’s Digital Assets Task Force assisted with this matter.

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Washington, D.C. — The Global Markets Advisory Committee (GMAC) will hold a public meeting on Thursday, March 11, 2021. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. (EST) via teleconference in accordance with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s implementation of social distancing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Commissioner Dawn Stump is the sponsor of the GMAC. 
At this meeting, the GMAC will hear presentations and provide dialogue on matters related to retail participation in the derivatives markets. The GMAC will also hear presentations and continue discussions on the impact of market volatility related to the coronavirus pandemic on the global clearing ecosystem.    
Members of the public may access a live feed via streaming or phone. The live feed will be streamed on cftc.gov. Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations to listen to the meeting should notify Andrée Goldsmith, GMAC Designated Federal Officer, at (202) 418-6624 or [email protected].

What:

Global Markets Advisory Committee Meeting

Location:

Teleconference

Date:

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Time:

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST

Viewing/Listening Instructions: To access the live audio feed, use the dial-in numbers below. Call-in participants should be prepared to provide their first name, last name, and affiliation, if applicable. Materials presented at the meeting, if any, will be made available on cftc.gov.

Domestic Toll-Free:

1-877-951-7311

International Toll Numbers:

International Numbers

Conference Passcode:

9530502

Members of the public may submit public comments in connection with the meeting, identified by “Global Markets Advisory Committee,” by March 18, 2021. Statements may be submitted on cftc.gov. If you are unable to submit comments online, contact Ms. Goldsmith, via the contact information above, to discuss alternate means of submitting your comments. Statements submitted in connection with the committee meeting will be made available to the public, including publication on cftc.gov. The meeting agenda may change to accommodate other GMAC priorities. For agenda updates and more information about the GMAC, including its members, click here.
There are five active federal advisory committees overseen by the CFTC. These bodies were created to provide the Commission with outside advice and recommendations on a variety of regulatory and market issues that affect the integrity and competitiveness of U.S. markets. These committees facilitate communication between the Commission and market participants, other regulators, and academics. The views, opinions, and information expressed by the advisory committees are solely those of the respective advisory committee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, its staff, or the U.S. government.

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First half goals from loan pair Sam Smith and Callum Wright earned Cheltenham Town a 2-0 win at Scunthorpe United.
It was their fourth successive away victory and their first triumph at Glanford Park since 2002.
Smith finished acrobatically after Matty Blair’s cross from the right in the 25th minute to open the scoring and net his second in four starts since arriving from Reading.
Leicester City youngster Wright applied the final touch four minutes before half-time after a neat move started by a burst down the wing by Blair, followed by a ball in from Chris Hussey.
It was Wright’s second goal in three start, with both January loan signings on target in the 2-1 win at Walsall 11 days earlier.
Josh Griffiths made two one-on-one saves in the first half to keep the home side out, also keeping out a free-kick from Kevin van Veen in the second period.
Ex-Robins loanee Emmanuel Onariase hit the post with a header from a corner for the Iron, who could not find a break through.
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Scunthorpe United (4-4-2): Howard; Clarke, McGahey, Taft, (Onariase 7), O’Malley; Gilliead, Spence, Karacan (Beestin 61), Green; Loft (Eisa 46), van Veen (Hallam 77). Subs not used: Watson, Brown, Rowe.
Cheltenham Town (3-5-2): Griffiths; Raglan, Tozer, Long; Blair, Thomas, Wright (Lloyd 65), Azaz, Hussey; Smith (Williams 79), May (Vassilev 65). Subs not used: Flinders, Freestone, Horton, Chamberlain.
Referee: Chris Pollard.

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Washington, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a consent order on February 19, 2021, resolving CFTC charges that Ron Eibschutz, a former energy broker and New Jersey resident, sought and obtained disclosures of material nonpublic information from two former employees of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) in violation of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulations.
The order finds Eibschutz, who was a broker of energy futures and options, liable for aiding and abetting the NYMEX employees’ illegal disclosures. The order permanently bans Eibschutz from trading commodity interests and registering with the CFTC. The order also enjoins him from future violations of the CEA and CFTC regulations, as charged, and imposes a $75,000 civil monetary penalty.
The resolution of the charges against Eibschutz concludes the first enforcement action brought by the CFTC against an exchange (here, NYMEX) charging violations of the CEA and CFTC regulations’ proscriptions against disclosures of material nonpublic information by exchange employees. [See CFTC Press Release No. 6519-13] On August 3, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York approved a settlement between the CFTC and the other defendants. [See CFTC Press Release No. 8216-20]
Case Background
The order finds that on numerous occasions between 2008 and 2010, Eibschutz solicited and received from NYMEX employees material nonpublic information about derivatives trading activity that the employees obtained through their special access as NYMEX employees. The disclosures included, among other things, the identities of counterparties to transactions in options for crude oil and natural gas futures, as well as trade details such as price and volume.
The CFTC thanks and acknowledges the assistance of the Alberta Securities Commission.
The Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this case are Trevor Kokal, Patrick Daly, Alejandra de Urioste, Gabriella Geanuleas, David Newman, James Wheaton, Patryk J. Chudy, David W. MacGregor, Lenel Hickson, Jr., and Manal M. Sultan.

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Sean Long’s second half header earned Cheltenham Town a 1-0 win at League Two leaders Cambridge United.
The Irishman came into the side in place of the injured Charlie Raglan for his first start since last season’s play-offs.
And he nodded in Alfie May’s cross in the 63rd minute to strengthen the Robins’ automatic promotion claims.
Ben Tozer made a superb clearance off the line to deny Jack Iredale in the first period, while Liam O’Neil saw a header come back off the post.
Chris Hussey was forced off in the second half, with youngster Grant Horton going on for his second League Two appearance and performing very well.
Harvey Knibbs wasted a good chance to earn the U’s a point in stoppage time after a corner from fellow substitute Hiram Boateng.
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Cambridge United (4-4-2): Burton; Knoyle, Okedina, Taylor, Dunk; Hannant (Knibbs 75), May, O’Neil (Boateng 75), Iredale (Tracey 75); Ironside, Mullin. Subs not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Drysdale, Alese, Davies.
Cheltenham Town (3-4-3): Griffiths; Long, Tozer, Freestone; Blair, Thomas, Azaz, Hussey (Horton 54); Lloyd, Smith (Williams 82), May. Subs not used: Flinders, Wright, Chamberlain, Bowry, Vassilev.
Referee: James Oldham.

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Washington, D.C. — The Market Risk Advisory Committee (MRAC) today released the agenda for its upcoming public meeting that will be held on February 23, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. EST. The meeting will be conducted via teleconference in accordance with the agency’s implementation of social distancing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Acting Chairman Rostin Behnam is the sponsor of the MRAC.
At the meeting, the MRAC will receive reports from its subcommittees: Climate-Related Market Risk, CCP Risk and Governance, Market Structure, and Interest Rate Benchmark Reform. The meeting will also include a discussion regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in the derivatives industry as well as other related financial markets. See the detailed agenda here.
“Our meeting agenda touches on many of the most pressing challenges and risks our financial markets face today. Each is critically important and unique, but also interrelated like our global markets,” said Acting Chairman Behnam. “I am grateful to all of the MRAC members and invited guests for their participation. I hope our discussions serve as a springboard toward solutions that make our markets safer, stronger, and more inclusive.”  

What:

Market Risk Advisory Committee

Location:

Teleconference

Date:

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Time:

9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST

Viewing/Listening Instructions: Members of the public may access a live feed via streaming or phone. The live feed will be streamed on cftc.gov. Call-in participants should be prepared to provide their first name, last name, and affiliation, if applicable. Materials presented at the meeting, if any, will be made available on cftc.gov.

Domestic Toll-Free:

1-877-951-7311

International Numbers:

International Numbers

Conference Passcode:

2513365

Correction to CFTC Press Release No. 8361-21 and Federal Register Notice 86 FR 8346: Members of the public may submit public comments in connection with the meeting, identified by “Market Risk Advisory Committee,” by March 2, 2021. Statements may be submitted online. If you are unable to submit comments online, contact the MRAC’s Designated Federal Officer, Alicia Lewis, to discuss alternate means of submitting your comments. Statements submitted in connection with the committee meeting will be made available to the public, including publication on cftc.gov. Agenda updates and more information about the MRAC, including its members, can be found here.
There are five active Advisory Committees overseen by the CFTC. They were created to provide advice and recommendations to the Commission on a variety of regulatory and market issues that affect the integrity and competitiveness of U.S. markets. These committees facilitate communication between the Commission and market participants, other regulators, and academics. The views, opinions, and information expressed by the Advisory Committees are solely those of the respective Advisory Committee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, its staff, or the U.S. government.

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Washington, D.C. — Commodity Futures Trading Commission Acting Chairman Rostin Behnam today announced that Alicia L. Lewis has rejoined his office as of yesterday and will serve as his Special Counsel. Lewis has served at the CFTC since 2009 and is the fourth African American in the CFTC’s history to hold such a role.
“I am very excited to welcome Alicia back to my office,” said Acting Chairman Behnam. “In addition to spending several years as a counsel in my office, dating back to when I first joined the Commission, Alicia has skillfully led my Market Risk Advisory Committee for which I am very grateful. I’m looking forward to continuing our work together.”
Currently, Lewis serves as the Designated Federal Officer for the CFTC’s Market Risk Advisory Committee for which Acting Chairman Behnam serves as the sponsor. She has held this role since 2017. From 2017 to 2019, she was a member of then-Commissioner Behnam’s legal team where she covered clearing and international regulatory matters. Most recently, Lewis served as Special Counsel in the Office of International Affairs (OIA). While in OIA, Lewis focused on international clearing initiatives, cooperative arrangements with European authorities, and represented the CFTC in international standard setting bodies such as CPMI-IOSCO. Prior to joining OIA, Lewis served as Special Counsel in the International and Domestic Clearing Initiatives and Chief Counsel Branches of the Division of Clearing and Risk (DCR). While in DCR, Lewis worked on numerous clearing matters including central counterparty (CCP) recovery and wind down, CCP resolution, and represented the CFTC at U.S. CCP crisis management groups. Additionally, she served as team leader for the CFTC’s Dodd-Frank Act Governance and Conflicts of Interest rulemakings.
Before the CFTC, Lewis was Interim Legal Counsel at the Managed Funds Association where she was responsible for monitoring and commenting on regulatory developments affecting the alternative investment industry at U.S. financial regulatory agencies. Lewis began her legal career as an associate in the Securities Enforcement and Investment Management practices at K&L Gates where she served for eight years. Lewis is also licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (inactive status) and previously worked on investment company audit engagements at Price Waterhouse LLP. Lewis holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business Undergraduate Division (BS) and William & Mary Law School (JD). 
Lewis joins David Gillers, Chief of Staff, and John Dunfee and Laura Gardy, also Special Counsels in the Acting Chairman’s office.

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Within the framework of the INNOVATRUF project, the Center for Forest Science and Technology of Catalonia (CTFC) and the University of Lleida (UdL) have managed to produce black truffles outside their natural area and in a period of only five years in an experimental plantation located in the municipality of Maials, in the province of Lleida.
In a statement, the agencies explained that the experimental plantation, which was set up in the spring of 2015, has some 300 oaks mycorrhized with black truffle and summer truffle. Different devices and irrigation doses are tested, permanently monitored with the help of sensors to control the temperature and humidity.
“These first productions are a new milestone in the domestication of truffle cultivation and could entail the introduction of the crop in irrigated areas of the Lleida plain,” said CTFC technician Daniel Oliach. He also highlighted that thanks to the agronomic techniques used they have achieved the first black truffle productions outside their natural area in just 5 years, “when this usually happens when the trees are 8 or 10 years old.”
According to the entities, this step forward will help mitigate the impact of climate change on the fungus, which has seen its natural production threatened by higher temperatures and irregular rainfall.
The economic profitability of black truffle plantations exceeds 6,000 Euro per hectare per year once they reach their full potential. The price paid to the picker ranges between 300 and 600 Euro per kilo. “Taking into account its economic value, the UdL and the CTFC are making a big effort to promote and monitor its cultivation,” says Bonet.
Source: agroinformacion.

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Washington, D.C. — The Market Risk Advisory Committee (MRAC) will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. (EST) via teleconference in accordance with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s implementation of social distancing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Acting Chairman Rostin Behnam is the sponsor of the MRAC.
At this meeting, the MRAC will receive reports from its subcommittees: Climate-Related Market Risk, CCP Risk and Governance, Market Structure, and Interest Rate Benchmark Reform. The meeting will also include a discussion regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in the derivatives industry as well as other related financial markets. A formal agenda for this meeting is forthcoming.
Members of the public may access a live feed via streaming or phone. The live feed will be streamed on cftc.gov. Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations to listen to the meeting should notify Alicia Lewis, the MRAC Designated Federal Officer at (202) 418-5862 or [email protected].

What:

Market Risk Advisory Committee

Location:

Teleconference

Date:

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Time:

9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST

Viewing/Listening Instructions: To access the live audio feed, use the dial-in numbers below. Call-in participants should be prepared to provide their first name, last name, and affiliation, if applicable. Materials presented at the meeting, if any, will be made available on cftc.gov.

Domestic Toll-Free:

1-877-951-7311

International Numbers:

International Numbers

Conference Passcode:

2513365

Members of the public may submit public comments in connection with the meeting, identified by “Market Risk Advisory Committee,” by February 16, 2021. Statements may be submitted online. If you are unable to submit comments online, contact Ms. Lewis, via the contact information above, to discuss alternate means of submitting your comments. Statements submitted in connection with the committee meeting will be made available to the public, including publication on cftc.gov. The meeting agenda may change to accommodate other MRAC priorities. For agenda updates and more information about this advisory committee, including its members, visit MRAC.
There are five active Advisory Committees overseen by the CFTC. They were created to provide advice and recommendations to the Commission on a variety of regulatory and market issues that affect the integrity and competitiveness of U.S. markets. These committees facilitate communication between the Commission and market participants, other regulators, and academics. The views, opinions, and information expressed by the Advisory Committees are solely those of the respective Advisory Committee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, its staff, or the U.S. government.

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Washington, D.C. — Commodity Futures Trading Commission Acting Chairman Rostin Behnam released the following statement regarding recent trading in the silver markets:
“The CFTC is closely monitoring recent activity in the silver markets,” said Acting Chairman Behnam. “The Commission is communicating with fellow regulators, the exchanges, and stakeholders to address any potential threats to the integrity of the derivatives markets for silver, and remains vigilant in surveilling these markets for fraud and manipulation.

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Washington, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today filed a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against John Patrick Gorman III, a swaps trader at a global investment bank, charging him with engaging in a scheme to deceive and to manipulate the price of an interest rate swap between a bond issuer and the bank. Additionally, Gorman is charged with making materially false statements to the CFTC in the course of the investigation.
“Manipulative and deceptive conduct on swap execution facilities and in the swaps markets harms their integrity and market participants, and we will take action to hold those who commit this type of misconduct accountable,” said Acting Director of Enforcement Vincent McGonagle. “Further, the Commission will seek to hold accountable individuals who make false statements in our investigations.”
Case Background
The complaint alleges that on February 3, 2015, a bond issuer was pricing bonds and a related swap with the bank using a specific screen displaying prices from a swap execution facility (SEF), including the price for U.S. dollar interest rate swap spreads with a 10-year maturity (10-year swap spreads). Gorman, who was located in Japan at the time, knew that the swap would be more profitable to the bank, at the expense of the issuer, if the screen reflected a lower price for 10-year swap spreads. Gorman therefore traded to manipulate the price of 10-year swap spreads by selling 10-year swap spreads to move the price down on the screen during the pricing of the bond and swap. Although he spoke to the issuer during the pricing call about the price, Gorman did not disclose that he was himself trading to move the price of 10-year swap spreads down.
In addition, the complaint alleges that Gorman expressed his manipulative intent in text messages he sent from his personal phone before, during, and after the pricing. For example, Gorman texted a colleague that he traded through a SEF broker in the United States—which he usually did not do—because Gorman “only care[d] who can move the screen the quickest.” Gorman, who was aware that market prices were rising before the pricing, also told his supervisor in text messages that he would “get the print at” (i.e., move the screen to) a lower level.      
The complaint also alleges that Gorman later tried to cover up his misconduct. In its investigation, the Division of Enforcement asked Gorman to preserve certain messages on his personal phone. According to the complaint, after receiving the request, Gorman deleted messages that were covered by the request, including messages on WhatsApp, and then falsely told the CFTC, both in a letter from his counsel and in investigative testimony under oath, that he had complied. 
In its continuing civil litigation, the CFTC seeks, among other relief, civil monetary penalties, disgorgement, restitution, trading bans, and a permanent injunction against future violations of the federal commodities laws, as charged.
The CFTC thanks and acknowledges the assistance of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority.
The Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this case are Gabriella Geanuleas, Devin Cain, James Wheaton, Trevor Kokal, Candice Aloisi, Stephen Painter, Jr., Lenel Hickson, Jr., and Manal M. Sultan. Staff members Yusuf Capar, Alejandra de Urioste, Jennifer Diamond, Gates Hurand, Mary Lutz, Jack Murphy, and Elizabeth Padgett also provided assistance with this matter.

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