The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission reports that it won record enforcement awards in its fiscal 2007.

During the year ended Sept. 30, the CFTC’s Division of Enforcement was awarded a record total of more than US$540 million in civil monetary penalties, restitution, and disgorgement from respondents and defendants in actions involving fraud, manipulation, and other misconduct, it said.

Over the past five years, the CFTC’s enforcement division was awarded in excess of US$1.8 billion in civil monetary penalties, restitution, and disgorgement.

“The CFTC’s impressive enforcement record compliments our effective principles-based approach to market oversight by sending the strong message that market malfeasance will not be tolerated,” said CFTC acting chairman Walt Lukken.

Of the 41 new actions that were filed during fiscal 2007, the commission filed eight actions against hedge funds/pool operators/trading advisors, and three attempted manipulation cases in the energy markets involving Amaranth Advisors L.L.C., Energy Transfer Partners LP, and Marathon Petroleum Company LLC.

Since December 2002, the CFTC has charged an all-time high of 38 companies and 25 individuals in the energy sector for manipulation, attempted manipulation, false reporting and wash trading violations. So far, it has been awarded $308 million in civil monetary penalties from a number of the companies and individuals charged in those energy prosecutions.

During the same period, the CFTC has worked with the Department of Justice to assist in the criminal prosecution of 42 traders and energy companies. It adds that it continues its enforcement crackdown in the energy markets with dozens of traders, hedge funds, and brokerage firms currently under investigation for potential manipulation of various energy products.