• September 5, 2024

CFTC Orders $209.61 Million Penalty for Fraudulent Investment Scheme

According to Odaily, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) reported on Tuesday that Judge Mary Rowland of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has ordered Oregon resident Sam Ikkurty and several associated entities to pay a total of $209.61 million in penalties. The entities involved include Jafia LLC, Ikkurty Capital LLC, Rose City Income Fund I LP, Rose City Income Fund II, and Seneca Ventures LLC. The court's decision follows the CFTC's findings of fraudulent solicitation and misappropriation of funds, which the CFTC described as a Ponzi scheme disguised as cryptocurrency and carbon investment projects. The judgment requires Sam Ikkurty to pay $83.7 million in restitution to investors, offset by $36.9 million in disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, in addition to a civil monetary penalty of $110.9 million.

  • September 5, 2024

Forvis Mazars Economist Predicts 25 Basis Points Rate Cut

According to Odaily, Forvis Mazars Chief Economist George Lagarias expressed his views on the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting during an interview with CNBC on Thursday. Lagarias firmly supports a 25 basis points rate cut, emphasizing that a larger cut of 50 basis points is unnecessary and could send the wrong signals to the market and the economy. He stated, 'I don't see the urgency for a 50 basis points cut. Such a move might convey the wrong message to the market and the economy. As we know, a recession can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, so making such a decision without a compelling reason would be very dangerous. Unless something happens to unsettle the market, there is no need to cause panic.'