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 dismissal, entered by the Honorable Evelyn Padin on July 15, 2026, came on the CFTC's own motion in the case CFTC v. WorldWideMarkets, Ltd., et al., No. 2:21-cv-20715 (D.N.J.). The order specifies that Counts I and II of the Amended Complaint as to Mr. Dembro are dismissed with prejudice, with each party to bear its own litigation fees and costs. Notably, the dismissal was entered without settlement, and there was no finding of liability against Mr. Dembro, who made no admission of wrongdoing.
The CFTC initiated 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 moved to dismiss its claims against Mr. Dembro with prejudice rather than proceed to trial. Mr. Dembro had contested the claims from the outset and participated fully in the proceedings throughout.
“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 also expressed gratitude to his counsel and supporters, stating, “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.”
Mr. Dembro was represented by Chris Gekas of Gekas Law Ltd., Chicago.
The dismissal with prejudice is the most definitive resolution available in civil litigation, as it extinguishes the claims permanently and prevents the CFTC from refiling them. This outcome underscores the strength of Mr. Dembro's defense and the lack of evidence supporting the allegations. It also highlights the importance of rigorous legal representation and the judicial process in resolving regulatory disputes.
Arthur J. Dembro is a chief financial officer and M&A finance executive with more than 25 years of experience spanning operating leadership and Big Four transaction advisory. He co-founded Crypto-Systems, LLC, a financial technology firm acquired by a strategic acquirer in February 2022, and served as its chief financial officer. He most recently served as chief financial officer and operating partner of a healthcare operating company. Earlier in his career, he held transaction advisory roles at Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, and KPMG. He is also the founder of a transaction advisory practice.
