CFTC FILES NOTICE OF INTENT TO REVOKE REGISTRATIONS OF COMMODITY POOL OPERATOR

FROM:  U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION 
November 25, 2014

CFTC Seeks to Revoke the Registrations of John G. Wilkins and His Company, Altamont Global Partners LLC, Based on Court’s Permanent Injunction Order Prohibiting Them from Committing Further Fraud and on Wilkins’ Related Criminal Conviction

Washington, DC—The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today filed a Notice of Intent (Notice) to revoke the registrations of Altamont Global Partners LLC (Altamont), a registered Commodity Pool Operator with its principal place of business in Longwood, Florida, and its registered Associated Person, John G. Wilkins, formerly of Chuluota, Florida. Wilkins is a principal, managing member and approximate one-third owner of Altamont.

The Notice alleges that Altamont and Wilkins are subject to statutory disqualification from CFTC registration based on an Order for entry of default judgment and an amended Order of permanent injunction (together, Orders) entered by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on February 20, 2014 (see CFTC Press Release 6869-14) and July 8, 2014, respectively. The Orders include findings that Altamont and Wilkins misappropriated commodity pool funds and issued false quarterly statements to pool participants. Among other sanctions, the Orders permanently enjoined Altamont and Wilkins from further violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act and a CFTC regulation, as charged, and from applying for registration with the CFTC.

In addition, the Notice alleges that Wilkins is subject to statutory disqualification from CFTC registration based on his conviction for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud in connection with these same activities, as entered by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on January 23, 2014. The District Court sentenced Wilkins to 108 months in federal prison.

CFTC Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this registration action are Rachel Hayes, Peter Riggs, and Charles Marvine.