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, permanently extinguishes the claims and prevents the CFTC from refiling them.
The order was issued in the case CFTC v. WorldWideMarkets, Ltd., et al., No. 2:21-cv-20715 (D.N.J.), and applies to Counts I and II of the Amended Complaint as to Mr. Dembro. The dismissal was entered without settlement, and each party bears its own litigation fees and costs. Notably, there was no finding of liability against Mr. Dembro, and he 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 moved to dismiss its claims against Mr. Dembro with prejudice rather than proceed to trial. Mr. Dembro 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 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.”
Mr. Dembro was represented by Chris Gekas of Gekas Law Ltd., Chicago.
This dismissal with prejudice is significant because it represents the most definitive resolution available in litigation. Unlike a dismissal without prejudice, which would allow the CFTC to refile, this order permanently bars the claims. It underscores the strength of Mr. Dembro's defense and the lack of evidence supporting the CFTC's allegations. The outcome also highlights the importance of rigorous legal representation and the protections afforded to individuals facing regulatory actions.
Mr. Dembro, who has more than 25 years of experience as a CFO and M&A finance executive, co-founded Crypto-Systems, LLC, a financial technology firm acquired in February 2022, where he served as CFO. He has held roles at Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, and KPMG, and is the founder of a transaction advisory practice.
