[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 17, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 17CFR3.56]

[Page 140-142]
 
              TITLE 17--COMMODITY AND SECURITIES EXCHANGES
 
             CHAPTER I--COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
 
PART 3--REGISTRATION--Table of Contents
 
       Subpart C--Denial, Suspension or Revocation of Registration
 
Sec. 3.56  Suspension or modification of registration pursuant to section 8a(11) of the Act.

    (a) Notice. (1) On the basis of information obtained by the 
Commission, the Commission may at any time serve written notice upon a 
registrant in any capacity under the Act that:
    (i) The Commission alleges and is prepared to prove, by reference to 
an information, indictment or complaint authorized by a United States 
Attorney or an appropriate official of any State that the registrant is 
charged with the commission of or participation in a crime involving a 
violation of the Act or a violation of any other provision of Federal or 
State law that would reflect on the honesty or the fitness of the person 
to act as a fiduciary that is punishable by imprisonment for a term 
exceeding one year, and that continued registration of the person may 
pose a threat to the public interest or may threaten to impair public 
confidence in any market regulated by the Commission;
    (ii) An Administrative Law Judge shall make a determination, based 
upon written evidence and any oral hearing granted, as to whether the 
registrant is charged with the Commission of or participation in such a 
crime and whether the continued registration of the person may pose a 
threat to the

[[Page 141]]

public interest or may threaten to impair public confidence in any 
market regulated by the Commission; and
    (iii) If the registrant is found to be charged with the commission 
of or participation in such a crime and it is found that the continued 
registration of the person may pose a threat to the public interest or 
may threaten to impair public confidence in any market regulated by the 
Commission, the registration of the registrant shall be suspended or 
modified.
    (2) The notice referred to in paragraph (a) of this section shall 
include a short and plain statement that the continued registration of 
the registrant may pose a threat to the public interest or may threaten 
to impair public confidence in any market regulated by the Commission.
    (b) Response. (1) If the registrant wishes to challenge the accuracy 
of the allegations in the notice, the registrant may submit written 
evidence as to:
    (i) The registrant's identity;
    (ii) The existence of a clerical error in any record documenting the 
information, indictment or complaint;
    (iii) The nature of the information, indictment or complaint; or
    (iv) The statement accompanying the notice referred to in paragraph 
(a)(2) of this section and, in an effort to have his registration 
modified rather than suspended, the Supplemental Sponsor Certification 
Statement signed by a sponsor, supervising floor broker or, in the case 
of a floor trader, a supervising registrant, principal or contract 
market, as appropriate for the registrant in accordance with 
Sec. 3.60(b)(2)(i) and who meets the standard set forth in 
Sec. 3.60(b)(2)(i)(A) and (C).
    (2) The registrant may also request an oral hearing, which shall 
include a statement of the issues to be addressed, a list of any 
witnesses to be called, a summary of the testimony to be elicited and 
copies of any documents to be introduced. An oral hearing shall be 
granted upon request.
    (3) Such written submissions must be served upon the Division of 
Enforcement and filed with the Proceedings Clerk within twenty days of 
the date of service of notice to the registrant under paragraph (a) of 
this section.
    (c) Reply. Within ten days of receipt of any written submission 
filed by the registrant, the Division of Enforcement may serve upon the 
registrant and file with the Proceedings Clerk a reply.
    (d) Oral hearing. An oral hearing shall be conducted pursuant to 
such sections of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 CFR part 10, as 
the Administrative Law Judge deems necessary and in a manner which shall 
ensure that the proceeding is resolved expeditiously.
    (e) Determination by Administrative Law Judge. (1) A determination 
by the Administrative Law Judge as to whether the Division of 
Enforcement has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the 
registrant is charged with the commission of or participation in a crime 
as set forth in the notice and that the continued registration of the 
registrant may pose a threat to the public interest or may threaten to 
impair public confidence in any market regulated by the Commission must 
be based upon the evidence of service, the response, if any, filed by 
the registrant, any written reply submitted by the Division of 
Enforcement and such other papers as the Administrative Law Judge may 
require or permit, and the oral hearing, if any. If the Division of 
Enforcement has made the required showings, the Administrative Law 
Judge, within thirty days after the last written submission or the oral 
hearing, shall issue an order suspending or modifying the registration 
of the registrant. If the Division of Enforcement has not made the 
required showings, the Administrative Law Judge, within thirty days 
after the last written submission or the oral hearing, shall issue an 
order to that effect. The Administrative Law Judge's order shall include 
a written determination setting forth the basis for his ruling.
    (2) The Proceedings Clerk shall promptly serve a copy of such order 
on the registrant, the Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight 
and the Division of Enforcement. Such Order shall be effective as a 
final order of the Commission fifteen days after the date it is served 
upon the registrant in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 3.50(a) 
unless a timely application for review is filed in accordance with 
Sec. 10.102 of this chapter. The appellate procedures

[[Page 142]]

set forth in Secs. 10.102, 10.103, 10.104, 10.106, 10.107 and 10.109 of 
this chapter shall apply to any appeal brought under paragraph (e)(2) of 
this section.
    (f) Any order of suspension or modification issued under this 
section shall remain in effect until such information, indictment, or 
complaint is disposed of or until terminated by the Commission.
    (g) On disposition of such information, indictment, or complaint, 
the Commission may issue and serve on such registrant a notice under 
Sec. 3.55 or Sec. 3.60 to suspend, restrict, or revoke the registration 
of such person.
    (h) A finding of not guilty or other disposition of the charge shall 
not preclude the Commission from thereafter instituting any other 
proceedings under the Act or its rules.
    (i) A person aggrieved by an order issued under this section may 
obtain review of such order in the same manner and on the same terms and 
conditions as are provided in section 6(c) of the Act.

[58 FR 19595, Apr. 15, 1993, as amended at 60 FR 54801, Oct. 26, 1995; 
67 FR 62351, Oct. 7, 2002]