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).
According to court documents, Counts I and II of the Amended Complaint as to Mr. Dembro were dismissed with prejudice, with each party bearing its own fees and costs. The dismissal was entered without any settlement, and no finding of liability was made against Mr. Dembro, nor did he admit any wrongdoing. A dismissal with prejudice is the most definitive resolution available, permanently extinguishing the claims and preventing them from being refiled.
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. The dismissal underscores the importance of a robust defense in regulatory actions, and it highlights that even when federal agencies bring claims, they can be successfully challenged when the evidence does not support them.
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, and is the founder of a transaction advisory practice.
