The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has dismissed with prejudice the claims brought by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) against Arthur J. Dembro, a New York-based chief financial officer and M&A finance executive. The order, entered by the Honorable Evelyn Padin on July 15, 2026, came on the CFTC's own motion in CFTC v. WorldWideMarkets, Ltd., et al., No. 2:21-cv-20715 (D.N.J.).
The dismissal applies to Counts I and II of the Amended Complaint as they pertain to Mr. Dembro. It is with prejudice, meaning the claims are permanently extinguished and cannot be refiled. Each party will bear its own litigation fees and costs. The dismissal was entered without any settlement, and there was no finding of liability against Mr. Dembro, who made no admission of wrongdoing.
The CFTC filed the action in December 2021. After four and a half years of litigation and discovery, and following the Court's summary judgment rulings on December 31, 2025, the CFTC chose to dismiss its claims against Mr. Dembro with prejudice rather than proceed to trial. Mr. Dembro contested the claims from the start and participated fully in the proceedings.
"This is the best possible outcome, and it is a complete and permanent resolution," said Mr. Dembro. "From the beginning I believed I had acted lawfully and in good faith, and I am satisfied that the matter is now conclusively behind me. I appreciate that the CFTC reviewed the record and took the proper step of ending its claims against me with prejudice." He added, "I am grateful to my counsel, and to the clients, colleagues, and friends who stood with me throughout. My full attention is now on my work and the people I serve."
This outcome underscores the importance of a robust defense in regulatory enforcement actions. It also highlights that the CFTC is willing to reassess its position when evidence does not support its claims, even after years of litigation. For executives and companies facing similar investigations, this case serves as a reminder that perseverance and a strong legal team can lead to a definitive and favorable resolution.
Mr. Dembro was represented by Chris Gekas of Gekas Law Ltd. in Chicago.
