UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


Before the 


COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION 


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In the Matter of: 

Total Gas & Power North 

America, Inc., and 

Therese Tran, 

~~~~~~~~_R_e_sp~o_n_d_e_n_t

CFTC Docket No. 16 -03 


s_·~

ORDER INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO 


SECTIONS 6(c) AND 6(d) OF THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT, MAKING 


FINDINGS AND IMPOSING REMEDIAL SANCTIONS 


I. 

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("Commission") has reason to believe that 

Total Gas & Power North America, Inc. ("TGPNA") and Therese Tran ("Tran") (collectively 

"Respondents") violated the Commodity Exchange Act (the "Act") and Commission Regulations 

("Regulations"). Therefore, the Commission deems it appropriate and in the public interest that 

public administrative proceedings be, and they hereby are, instituted to determine whether 

Respondents engaged in the violations set forth herein and to determine whether any order 

should be issued imposing remedial sanctions. 

II. 

In anticipation of the institution of an administrative proceeding, Respondents have 

submitted an Offer of Settlement ("Offer"), which the Commission has determined to accept. 

Without admitting or denying any of the findings or conclusions herein, Respondents consent to 

the entry and acknowledge service of this Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 6(c) 

and 6(d) of the Act, Making Findings and Imposing Remedial Sanctions ("Order"). 1 

1 Respondents consent to the entry of this Order and to the use of these findings in this proceeding and in any other 

proceeding brought by the Commission or to which the Commission is a pa1ty; provided, however, that Respondents 

do not consent to the use of the Offer, or the findings or conclusions in this Order consented to in the Offer, as the 

sole basis for any other proceeding brought by the Commission, other than in a proceeding in bankruptcy or to 

enforce the terms of this Order. Nor do Respondents consent to the use of the Offer or this Order, or the findings or 

conclusions in this Order consented to in the Offer, by any other party in any other proceeding. 
III. 


The Commission finds the following: 

A. SUMMARY 

During the monthly settlement periods (also known as "bid-week") for September 2011, 

October 2011, March 2012, and April 2012 (the "Relevant Period"), TGPNA, through Tran and 

the West Desk (defined below), attempted to manipulate monthly index settlement prices of 

natural gas at four major trading locations in the southwestern and Texas regions of the United 

States through its physical fixed-price trading during bid-week. Respondents executed this 

manipulative scheme at four hubs, including El Paso Natural Gas Co., Permian Basin 

("Permian"), El Paso San Juan Basin ("San Juan"), Southern California Gas Co. ("SoCal"), and 

West Texas, Waha ("Waha") (referred to hereinafter as "relevant hubs"). 

During the Relevant Period, Respondents' fixed price trading during bid-week accounted 

for a substantial percentage of the total market by volume at the relevant hubs even though 

TGPNA had no material customers, assets, or transportation in the region. As the largest player 

in the fixed-price market during these periods, Respondents attempted to favorably affect the 

monthly index settlement prices to benefit TGPNA's related financial or "paper" positions, 

including basis swap and index swap positions (collectively, "financial position(s)"). 

B. RESPONDENTS 

Total Gas & Power North America, Inc. is a natural gas trading and marketing firm 

headquartered in Houston, Texas and incorporated in Delaware. TGPNA is an indirect, whollyowned subsidiary of Total S.A., a French oil and gas company that is among the largest firms 

worldwide in its industry. TGPNA or its predecessors have been engaged in natural gas physical 

and financial trading and marketing activities in the U.S. since 1990. 

Therese Tran is a TGPNA natural gas trader in Houston, Texas. Tran, formerly known 

as Therese Nguyen, was the manager of TGPNA's trading desk operating in the southwestern 

and Texas regions of the U.S. ("West Desk") during the Relevant Period. At all relevant times 

herein, Tran was acting as an agent of TGPNA. References herein to the "West Desk" refer 

primarily to Tran, or other TGPNA employees acting at her direction. 

C. FACTS. 

1. Natural Gas Trading 

Natural gas is a commodity that is typically transported in interstate commerce through a 

network of pipelines across the United States. Natural gas can be traded as a physical 

commodity or as financial instruments without the buyer or seller taking physical delivery. 

Natural gas market patiicipants, including TGPNA, enter into and execute physical trades and 

financial transactions through direct or brokered negotiations with other market pa1iicipants and 

through electronic trading facilities. The Intercontinental Exchange ("ICE") is an electronic 

trading platform that offers trading in physical natural gas contracts for over 100 natural gas hubs 

2 

in N01ih America, including the four relevant hubs. In addition to physical trading, ICE offers 

trading in a number of financial products, including basis swaps and index swaps. 

2. TGPNA's Physical Trading 

During the Relevant Period, TGPNA's West Desk traded both financial and physical 

products, primarily on ICE and through direct negotiations with other market paiiicipants in the 

over-the-counter bilateral market. TGPNA, however, had no material customer business, 

physical assets, or transportation at the relevant hubs during the Relevant Period. 

TGPNA's West Desk priced its monthly physical transactions using one of two methods, 

"fixed-price" or "index." Both pricing methods call for the delivery of natural gas for the prompt 

month at a specified delivery location. Fixed-price transactions are negotiated by the buyer and 

seller and priced at the time of the transaction. The prices for index transactions, on the other 

hand, are determined each month by trade publications, such as Platts' Inside FERC Gas Market 

Report ("Platts") and Natural Gas Intelligence ("NGI") (collectively, "trade publications"). 

Both Platts and NGI publish monthly index prices based on the volume-weighted average 

price of all reported fixed-price transactions occurring during the monthly settlement period 

known as "bid-week." Bid-week refers to the natural gas industry's monthly settlement period 

and consists of all reported fixed-price transactions occurring during the last five business days 

of each month. 

During the Relevant Period, bid-week was an important component of TGPNA's trading 

strategy, and TGPNA was an active participant, both as a seller and purchaser, in the 

southwestern and Texas regions' natural gas markets. TGPNA's West Desk rep01ied its physical 

fixed-price bid-week transactions to Platts and NGI. Natural gas market participants, including 

producers and end-users, use monthly index prices to market their gas and to determine their 

risk. 

3. TGPNA's Financial Trading 

During the Relevant Period, TGPNA's West Desk primarily traded financial basis swaps 

and financial index swaps. For financial basis swaps, the buyer pays the seller the NYMEX final 

settlement price plus or minus a differential, and the seller pays the buyer the monthly index 

price at a paiiicular location. For financial index swaps, the buyer pays the monthly index 

settlement price plus or minus a premium or discount in exchange for the daily index price. For 

the purpose of Respondents' scheme, financial basis and index swaps were the intended 

beneficial positions. 

4. TGPNA's Print Risk 

During the Relevant Period, TGPNA monitored its overall risk by assessing its combined 

physical and financial positions in each region. TGPNA grouped its monthly risk or exposure 

into three risk categories: (1) Basis Risk, also called "paper" risk, represents the locational risk 

of a position, relative to the settlement price of the NYMEX futures contract; (2) Index Risk, 

which reflects the pricing risk associated with trading fixed price relative to physical index at a 

3 

particular location; and (3) NYMEX Risk, which represents the risk derived from exposure to the 

NYMEX futures price. 

From this information, Respondents were able to track TGPNA's "print risk" or exposure 

to the monthly index settlement prices published by Platts and NGI. TGPNA measured its print 

risk by subtracting its net index position from its net financial position. TGPNA stood to benefit 

from this exposure depending on the outcome of the monthly index settlement price at a 

particular location. During the Relevant Period, TGPNA reported its bid-week trades, so these 

trades contributed to the monthly index settlement prices published by Platts and NGI. 

During the Relevant Period, the West Desk maintained and updated a sophisticated 

spreadsheet ("bid-week spreadsheet") to track its physical and financial positions the day before 

and during bid-week. Through the bid-week spreadsheets, the West Desk was able to track 

periodically throughout the day the total market volume known to the West Desk versus the 

estimated total volume for bid-week, and was able to track the West Desk's print risk. 

5. TGPNA's Bid-Week Trading 

During the Relevant Period, Respondents traded fixed-price natural gas in a manner 

designed to benefit TGPNA's related financial positions. Specifically, the West Desk acquired 

large print risk exposure prior to the start of bid-week. Depending on the direction of their print 

risk exposure (i.e., long or short), Respondents executed enough fixed-price trades during bidweek with the intent to favorably affect monthly index settlement prices at the relevant hubs. 

Transaction data obtained from ICE and TGPNA shows that the West Desk's fixed price trades 

accounted for well over half of the total market by volume during the Relevant Period even 

though TGPNA had no material customer business, physical assets, or transpmiation at the 

relevant hubs during this period. In addition, TGPNA's own transaction data shows a strong 

co1Telation between increased print risk and increased fixed-price market share during bid-week. 

a. TGPNA Management's Response to Bid-Week Activity 

TGPNA's management wa~ aware ofTGPNA's high market share during bid-week and 

its possible impact on monthly index settlement prices and TGPNA's profit & loss. For 

example, prior to and throughout the Relevant Period, TGPNA's Risk Control group issued daily 

and monthly reports entitled, "Inside FERC/NGI Review" and "TGPNA Share in Index 

Settlement" (hereinafter, "market share reports"). These market share reports highlighted 

TGPNA's high market share at various hub locations throughout the United States. TGPNA's 

market share repo1is were routinely emailed to management and traders, including Tran, after 

each bid-week. 

TGPNA's market share reports also included a comment on "Platts methodology,'' that 

reveals its understanding of how the trade publications calculate bid-week volume: 

If a reported deal is included in the published repmi, there is no discount or 

premium on level of volumes or deals published. Ifwe report 10 on an index and 

our counterpaiiy reports 10, the volume published is 20 and the deal count is two. 

4 

Ifwe report 10 and our counterpmiy reports nothing, the volume published is 10 

and the deal count is one. 

Accordingly, it was TGPNA's understanding that the trade publications factor in the rep01ied 

volumes of both counterparties to a transaction in estimating total fixed-price volume traded 

during bid-week. Assuming all counterparties report, the highest percentage that any one market 

participant could achieve is 50% of a market. It follows that a market participant that has 50% of 

the volume in a market where all counterparties report would be a party to 100% of the 

transactions reported to Platts. 

In a February 2007 email, a TGPNA manager noted the compliance benefit of the market 

share reports: 

This report constitutes a reliable monitoring of trading activity during bid week. In light 

of the recent development of the CFTC and their increased scrutiny, we need to be more 

accountable of our activity in places where TGPNA holds a substancial [sic] share of the 

overall volume traded at one single point. 

Therefore, I suggest that the middle/back office enquires [sic] about the specific reason 

which have [sic] prompted TGPNA to trade more than 40% of the overall volumes traded 

at one single point. This should be a written exercise where the concerned trader will be 

able to explain his/her motivation. 

TGPNA's management, however, never questioned or disciplined traders, including Tran, for 

having high market share at any pmiicular hub location. From February 2009 through February 

2011, TGPNA's compliance officer performed an in-depth analysis of TGPNA's monthly price 

reporting and its impact on published index prices as well as its impact on TGPNA's profit and 

loss. In February 2009, TGPNA's compliance officer issued the first report to management 

recommending: 

TGPNA Management may wish to contemplate ramping down its fixed price and 

physical basis trading in the markets in which it has a large share. Consider compliance 

both in terms of fact and appearance. 

Again, TGPNA's management never questioned or disciplined any traders, including Tran, in 

connection with their large presence in the physical price setting market during bid-week. 

b. September 2011 Bid-Week Trading 

Prior to bid-week for September 2011, Respondents knowingly and/or recklessly 

employed a scheme intended to manipulate the monthly index settlement prices at SoCal and 

Permian to benefit a related financial spread position established by the West Desk at the same 

hub locations. As of August 25, 2011, the first day of bid-week, the West Desk had acquired a 

print risk position of 259,981 MMBtus/day (long) at SoCal and 460,563 MMBtus/day (short) at 

Permian. 

5 

TGPNA's market share rep01i showed that the West Desk's fixed price trading during 

bid-week accounted for approximately 42% of the total reported NGI market volume at SoCal 

and 45% of the total rep01ied Platts market volume at Permian.2 The West Desk's bid-week 

trading was ultimately intended to benefit TGPNA's financial spread position by increasing the 

spread between the monthly index settlement price at SoCal and Permian. 

c. October 2011 Bid-Week Trading 

Prior to bid-week for October 2011, Respondents knowingly and/or recklessly employed 

a scheme intended to manipulate the monthly index settlement price at San Juan to benefit a 

short financial position established by the West Desk prior to bid-week. According to TGPNA's 

risk report, as of September 26, 2011- the first day of bid-week- the West Desk had acquired 

a print risk position of approximately 304,952 MMBtus/day (sh01i) at San Juan. TGPNA's 

market share report showed that the West Desk executed approximately 41 % of the total reported 

market volume of fixed-price transactions to benefit this position. The West Desk's bid-week 

trading was ultimately intended to benefit TGPNA's short financial position held at San Juan by 

narrowing the spread between the NYMEX settlement price and the monthly index price at San 

Juan. 

d. March 2012 Bid-Week Trading 

Prior to bid-week for March 2012, Respondents knowingly and/or recklessly employed a 

scheme intending to manipulate the monthly index settlement price at SoCal to benefit a short 

financial position established by the West Desk prior to bid-week. According to TGPNA's risk 

report, as of February 23, 2012 - the first day of bid-week- the West Desk had acquired a 

print risk position of approximately 100,028 MMBtus/day (short) at SoCal. During bid-week, 

Tran encouraged another West Desk trader to execute fixed-price trades in a manner that was 

intended to benefit TGPNA's related short financial position established by the West Desk prior 

to bid-week. Tran also executed some fixed price trades during bid-week. 

Tran's and the West Desk trader's fixed-price trades combined for approximately 53% of 

the total ICE market volume traded at SoCal during bid-week. 3 Respondents' bid-week trading 

was ultimately intended to benefit TGPNA's short financial position held at SoCal by narrowing 

the spread between the NYMEX settlement price and the monthly index price at SoCal. 

2 TGPNA calculates this market share percentage by dividing its daily volume traded during bid-week by the total 

volume published by Platts and NGI. For this bid-week, TGPNA atTived at the 42% by dividing its daily volume by 

the total volume reported by NGI (i.e., 305,000 MMBtus/day +719,000 MMBtus/day). Assuming all counterparties 

report, ifTGPNA is on half of every single reported fixed-price trade, then it would be 50% of the index; thus, no 

market participant could be more than 50% of the index. 

3 TGPNA's records did not have a total volume figure for SoCal Needles location so this market share figure instead 

reflects the total volume traded on ICE during this month (i.e., total volume of all of Total's trades divided by the 

total volume traded on ICE). ICE data does not reflect bilateral transactions not executed on ICE. TGPNA's 

transaction data shows that the majority of its fixed-price transactions (144,516 MMBtus/day of 145,516 MMBtus) 

occurred at Needles, one of several sub-locations at SoCal. The West Desk trader described the Needles location as 

the "discounted" SoCal sub-location, and noted that TGPNA focused its trading at this discounted sub-location to 

amplify TGPNA's effect on the index. 

6 

The West Desk trader stated that when Tran initially asked him to participate in bidweek, he understood that he was to "flatten" TGPNA's physical position by trading fixed-price 

during bid-week. The trader also stated that, during the March 2012 bid-week, Tran began to 

"encourage" him to do more than simply "flatten" the physical position but also to trade more by 

buying and selling fixed-price natural gas. This "buying and selling" of fixed-price in volume 

during bid-week affected the monthly index price. 

e. April 2012 Bid-Week Trading 

Prior to the start of bid-week for April 2012, Respondents knowingly and/or recklessly 

employed a scheme intended to manipulate the monthly index settlement prices at SoCal and San 

Juan to benefit a related financial spread position established by the West Desk at the same hub 

locations. According to TGPNA's risk rep01i, as of March 26, 2012- the first day of bid-week 

- the West Desk had acquired a print risk position of 306,658 MMBtus/day (long) at SoCal and 

306,097 MMBtus/day (sh01i) at San Juan. 

TGPNA's market share report showed that the West Desk's fixed price trading accounted 

for approximately 18% of the total reported market volume at SoCal during bid-week. In 

addition, the West Desk trader, supervised by Tran, executed fixed price transactions that 

accounted for approximately 29% of the total reported market volume at San Juan during bidweek. Respondents' bid-week trading was ultimately intended to benefit TGPNA's financial 

spread position by increasing the spread between the monthly index settlement price at SoCal 

and San Juan. 

The West Desk trader acknowledged that for the April 2012 bid-week, he was 

responsible for preparing the West Desk's bid-week spreadsheet and therefore was aware 

of the desk's positions going into bid-week and, as a result, TGPNA's impact on the 

monthly index. 

IV. 

LEGAL DISCUSSION 

A. 	 By Attempting to Manipulate Natural Gas Prices, Respondents Violated Sections 

9{a)(2) and 6(c)(3) of the Act, and Regulation 180.2 

Together, Sections 6(c) and 6(d) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 9 and 13b (2012), authorize the 

Commission to serve a complaint and provide for the imposition of, among other things, civil 

monetary penalties and cease and desist orders if the Commission "has reason to believe that any 

person" has "attempted to manipulate the price of any commodity in interstate commerce or for 

future delivery on or subject to the rules of any registered entity," or otherwise "is violating or 

has violated ... any other provisions of [the] Act." Similarly, Section 9(a)(2) of the Act, 

7 U.S.C. § 13(a)(2) (2012), makes it unlawful for "[a]ny person to manipulate or attempt to 

manipulate the price of any commodity in interstate commerce, or for future delivery on or 

subject to the rules of any registered entity." 

7 

For conduct occurring on or after August 15, 2011, Section 6(c)(3) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 

§ 9(3) (2012), prohibits manipulation or attempted manipulation of the price of any commodity 

in interstate commerce. Moreover, Regulation 180.2, 17 C.F.R. § 180.2 (2015), which also 

became effective on August 15, 2011, in relevant part, makes it "unlawful for any person, 

directly or indirectly, to manipulate or attempt to manipulate the price of any swap, or of any 

commodity in interstate commerce." 

Two elements are required to prove an attempted manipulation: (1) an intent to affect the 

market price, and (2) an ove1i act in fmiherance of that intent. See In re Ho hen berg Bros. Co., 

[1975-77 Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep. (CCH) ~ 20,271, at 21,477 (CFTC Feb. 18, 

1977); CFTC v. Bradley, 408 F. Supp. 2d 1214, 1220 (N.D. Okla. 2005). To prove the intent 

element of attempted manipulation, it must be shown that Respondents "acted (or failed to act) 

with the purpose or conscious object of causing or effecting a price or price trend in the market 

that did not reflect the legitimate forces of supply and demand." In re Indiana Farm Bureau 

Coop. Ass'n, [1982-1984 Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep. (CCH) ~ 21,796, at 27,289 

(CFTC Dec. 17, 1982). A profit motive may also be evidence of intent, although profit motive is 

not a necessary element of an attempted manipulation. See In re DiPlacido, [2007-2009 Transfer 

Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep. (CCH) if 30,970, at 62,484 (CFTC Nov. 5, 2008) (citing In re 

Hohenberg Bros. Co., [1975-1977 Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep. (CCH) at 21,478)), 

aff'd, 364 Fed. Appx. 657, No. 08-5559-ag, 2009 WL 3326624 (2d. Cir. 2009). It is also not 

necessary that there be an actual effect on price. See CFTC v. Amaranth Advisors, LLC, 554 F. 

Supp. 2d 523, 533 (S.D.N.Y. 2008). 

Here, as evidenced by TGPNA's trading data and the facts set forth above, Respondents 

specifically intended to execute enough fixed-price trades during bid-week to affect the monthly 

index settlement prices of natural gas in the September 2011, October 2011, March 2012, and 

April 2012 bid-weeks, at the relevant hubs. Respondents' intent is also made clear by the 

evidence that their primary motive was to benefit the West Desk's related financial positions, 

whose value was derived from the published index price at each ofthe relevant locations. 

TGPNA, through Tran, took ove1i acts in furtherance of the intent to affect the monthly index 

settlement prices at the relevant hubs by establishing financial positions prior to bid-week at the 

relevant hub locations and by actively trading in the fixed-price market during bid-week, despite 

having no material customers, assets, or transp01iation in these regions. By this conduct, 

Respondents violated Sections 9(a)(2) and 6(c)(3) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 13(a)(2), 9(3) (2012), 

and Regulation 180.2, 17 C.F.R. § 180.2 (2015). 

B. 	 By Employing a Manipulative Device, Respondents Violated Section 6(c)(l) of the 

Act and Regulation 180.l 

Section 6(c)(l) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 9(1) (2012), provides, among other things, that it is 

unlawful for any person to "use or employ, or attempt to use or employ, in connection with any swap, 

or a contract of sale of any commodity in interstate commerce ... any manipulative or deceptive 

device or contrivance, in contravention of [Commission rules and regulations]." Pursuant to this 

authority, the Commission promulgated Regulation 180.l (a), 17 C.F.R. § 180.l (2015), which, with 

respect to conduct on or after August 15, 2011, makes it "unlawful for any person, directly or 

indirectly, in connection with any swap, or contract ofsale of any commodity in interstate commerce, 

or contract for future delivery ... to intentionally or recklessly: (1) Use or employ, or attempt to use 

8 

or employ, any manipulative device, scheme, or artifice to defraud." 17 C.F.R. § 180.l(a)(l) (2015).4 

See Prohibition on the Employment, or Attempted Employment, ofManipulative and Deceptive 

Devices and Prohibition on Price Manipulation, 76 Fed. Reg. 41,398, 41,401(July14, 2011). 

"Section 6(c)(l) and[] Rule 180.1 augment the Commission's existing authority to prohibit fraud and 

manipulation." 76 Fed. Reg. at 41,401(July14, 2011). 

The phrase "manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance" is not defined by the Act or 

Regulations, but precedent applying very similar provisions in the Securities and Exchange 

Commission regime provides guidance: "The language of CEA section 6( c )(1 ), particularly the 

operative phrase 'manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance,' is virtually identical to the 

terms used in section lO(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act")." 76 Fed. 

Reg. at 41,399. Indeed, when the Commission promulgated Rule 180.1, the Commission 

observed that "[g]iven the similarities between CEA section 6(c)(l) and Exchange Act section 

lO(b), the Commission deems it appropriate and in the public interest to model final Rule 180.1 

on SEC Rule lOb-5." Id. Accordingly, case law developed under Section lO(b) ofthe Exchange 

Act and SEC Rule 1 Ob-5 is instructive in construing CEA Section 6( c )(1) and Commission 

Regulation 180. l(a). The Commission explained, however, that because of "the differences 

between the securities markets and the derivatives markets, the Commission will be guided, but 

not controlled, by the substantial body ofjudicial precedent applying the comparable language of 

SEC Rule lOb-5." 76 Fed. Reg. at 41,399. 

Under long-standing Commission precedent regarding Section 9(a)(2), manipulation has 

been described as "any and every operation or transaction or practice, the purpose of which is not 

primarily to facilitate the movement of the commodity at prices freely responsive to the forces of 

supply and demand; but, on the contrary, is calculated to produce a price distortion of any kind in 

any market either in itself or in relation to other markets." In re Indiana Farm Bureau Coop. 

Ass 'n, Inc., CFTC No. 75-14, 1982 WL 30249, at *4 (citing Volkart Bros., Inc. v. Freeman, 311 

F.2d 52, 58 (5th Cir. 1962)). Under securities law, comis have found that "[t]he gravamen of 

manipulation is deception of [market patiicipants] into believing that prices at which they 

purchase and sell securities are determined by the natural interplay of supply and demand, not 

rigged by manipulators." Gurary v. Winehouse, 190 F.3d 3 7, 45 (2d Cir. 1999); see also SEC v. 

Sierra Brokerage Servs., Inc., 608 F. Supp. 2d 923, 961 (S.D. Ohio 2009) (quoting SEC v. 

Resch-Cassin & Co., 362 F. Supp. 964, 975 (S.D.N.Y. 1973)); SECv. Kwak, No. 3:04-cv-1331, 

2008 WL 410427, at *4 (D. Conn. Feb. 12, 2008) (finding violation of Section lO(b) for scheme 

that tricked investors into believing that stock prices were "solely the product of independent 

forces of supply and demand"); In re Koch, SEC Release No. 3836, 2014 WL 1998524, at *14 

(May 16, 2014) (finding Section lO(b) manipulation in a "marking the close" case when paiiies 

"were not participating in the market to find the best available prices but with the intent to raise 

4 The plain language of Section 6( c )(1) and Regulation 180.1 establishes that these provisions were intended to 

prohibit two distinct categories of conduct: (1) manipulative devices and (2) deceptive devices (i.e., an "artifice to 

defraud"). In the Commission's Notice of Final Rules for Regulation 180.1, the Commission rejected requests that 

it interpret Section 6( c )(1) as simply extending the Commission's prior anti-fraud and anti-manipulation authority to 

swaps, noting that Section 6(c)(l) "granted the Commission broad new authority to prohibit 'any manipulative 

device or contrivance."' 76 Fed. Reg. at 41,401. The Commission also confirmed that Regulation 180.1 "requires a 

fraud or manipulation, or attempted fraud or manipulation," suggesting, consistent with the plain language of 

Section 6( c )(1 ), that these words prohibit distinctly different conduct. Id. (emphasis added). 

9 

the price of the stocks"). As with market manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) of the Act and 

Section 1 O(b) of the Exchange Act, the prohibition on the use of any manipulative or deceptive 

device under Section 6(c)(l) is also concerned with protecting markets from illegitimate pricing 

forces. 5 

1. Manipulative Device 

Here, Respondents' attempt to manipulate the monthly index prices at the relevant hub 

locations, as described above, also constitutes a violation of Section 6(c)(l) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 

§ 9(1) (2012), and Regulation 180.1, 17 C.F.R. § 180.1 (2015). Specifically, Respondents 

intentionally employed a manipulative device by purchasing and/or selling large volumes of fixedprice natural gas at the relevant hubs before and during bid-week that were intended to benefit 

TGPNA's related financial positions. See In re Pia,~ 32,014, CFTC No. 11-17, 2011WL3228315, 

at *2 (CFTC July 25, 2011) (settlement order) (describing scheme in which a trader executed large 

volumes in the final ten seconds before the end oftrading day); SEC v. Ficeto, 839 F. Supp. 2d 1101, 

1104 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) (describing similar scheme in securities context); In re JPMorgan Chase Bank, 

NA., CFTC Docket No. 14-01, 2013 WL 6057042, [2013-2014 Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep. 

(CCH) ~ 32,838 (CFTC Oct. 16, 2013) (settlement order) (Commission found that selling an 

abnormally large volume of a particular swap in a "short period oftime at month-end" constituted a 

manipulative device). 

2. Scienter 

As described above, circumstantial evidence establishes Respondents' specific intent to 

manipulate natural gas prices at the relevant hubs. See, e.g., CFTC v. Amaranth Advisors, LLC, 

554 F. Supp. 2d 523, 532 (S.D.N.Y. 2008) ("Because 'proof of intent will most often be 

circrn11stantial in nature, manipulative intent must normally be shown inferentially from the 

conduct of the accused"') (quoting In re Indiana Farm Bureau Coop. Ass'n, 1982 WL 30249, at 

*6); Valicenti Adv. Servs., Inc. v. SEC, 198 F.3d 62, 65 (2d Cir. 1999) (holding proof of scienter 

under securities laws need not be direct but may be inferred from circumstantial evidence). 

However, under Commission Regulation 180.1, the Commission need only find recklessness. 

See Prohibition on Manipulative and Deceptive Devices, 76 Fed. Reg. at 41,404, & n. 87 

(quoting Drexel Burnham Lambert, 850 F.2d at 748). Consistent with long-standing precedent 

under the commodities and securities laws, the Commission defines recklessness as an act or 

omission that "departs so far from the standards of ordinary care that is very difficult to believe 

the actor was not aware of what he or she was doing." Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. v. CFTC, 

850 F.2d 742, 748 (D.C. Cir. 1988); see also First Commodity Corp. v. CFTC, 676 F.2d 1, 7 (1st 

Cir. 1982). Under this standard, a showing of actual knowledge is not required, see Hollinger v. 

Titan Capital Corp., 914 F.2d 1564, 1569-70 (9th Cir. 1990), nor is proof that the defendant's 

motive or primary motive was to interfere with the forces of supply and demand, SEC v. US. 

Envtl., Inc., 155 F.3d 107, 111 (2d Cir. 1998). For example, "[e]ven if [a trader] were motivated 

by a desire to obtain compensation rather than by a desire" to affect a market price, if the trader 

recklessly "effected the manipulative trades," he will be held liable. Id. at 112; see also 

5 See In re Indiana Farm Bureau Coop. Ass 'n, Inc., CFTC No. 75-14, 1982 WL 30249, at *4; see also Frey v. 

CFTC, 931 F.2d 1171, 1175 (7th Cir. 1991) (finding that manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) of the Act is "an 

intentional exaction of a price determined by forces other than supply or demand"). 

10 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA., 2013 WL 6057042, at* 11 (settlement order) (selling a massive 

volume of swaps during a "concentrated period" while recognizing position size "had the 

potential to affect or influence the market" demonstrates the scienter required by Regulation 

180.1). 

Respondents at a minimum acted recklessly or with reckless disregard for the potential 

impact of their trading on natural gas prices and the integrity of the natural gas market. "[I]t is 

very difficult to believe that [Respondents] were not aware" of the possible impact of their 

physical fixed-price trading on their related financial positions. See Drexel Burnham Lambert 

Inc., 850 F.2d at 748. Respondents knew that their fixed-price trading during bid-week had the 

potential to affect the monthly index prices and they carried out their bid-week trading in an 

attempt to influence their concurrently held financial positions. In fact, Tran monitored in realtime the relationship between her bid-week trading activities and related financial positions 

through TGPNA's bid-week spreadsheets. TGPNA's trade data shows that Tran acted on her 

understanding that bid-week trading activities affect financial positions, structuring her trades in 

a manner that was intended to take advantage of the relationship. 

Moreover, as early as 2007, TGPNA's management issued monthly market share reports 

highlighting locations where Respondents had high market share in the fixed price market. 

TGPNA's compliance officer also conducted monthly reviews, from 2009 through early 2011, of 

TGPNA's reporting impact on the monthly index price and TGPNA's P&L. TGPNA's 

compliance officer also warned TGPNA management that it should "contemplate ramping down 

its fixed price ... in the markets in which it has a large share." Despite these warnings and the 

understanding that TGPNA rep01iing impacted the monthly index, Respondents continued their 

manipulative trading. 

It is difficult to believe that Respondents were not aware of their impact on the monthly 

index at the relevant hub locations during the Relevant Period given the monthly share rep01is, 

compliance officer warnings, and the fact that TGPNA had no material customers, assets, or 

transportation in these regions to otherwise justify the bid-week trading. 6 Accordingly, 

Respondents acted with the requisite intent. 

C. TGPNA Is Liable for the Violations of its Agents 

TGPNA is liable as a principal for the acts, omissions, or failures of any TGPNA 

employee or agent in relation to the conduct described above. Pursuant to Section 2(a)(l)(B) of 

the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2(a)(l)(B) (2012), as well as Regulation 1.2, 17 C.F.R. § 1.2 (2015), a 

principal is strictly liable for the violations of its agents made within the scope ofthe agents' 

employment. See, e.g., Rosenthal & Co. v. CFTC, 802 F.3d 963, 966 (7th Cir. 1986); DohmenRameirez & Wellington Advismy, Inc. v. CFTC, 837 F.2d 847, 857-58 (9th Cir. 1988). 

Accordingly, TGPNA is liable for Tran's violations of Sections 6(c)(l), 6(c)(3), and 9(a)(2) of 

the Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 9(1), 9(3), and 13(a)(2) (2012), and Regulations 180.1and180.2, 17 C.F.R. 

§§ 180.1and180.2 (2015), as set forth above. 

6 As the Commission has observed, "[a] market or price effect may well be indicia ofthe use or employment of a 

manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance; nonetheless, a violation of final Rule 180.1 may exist in the 

absence of any market or price effect." Prohibition on Manipulative and Deceptive Devices, 76 Fed. Reg. at 41,401. 

11 

v. 

FINDINGS OF VIOLATION 

Based on the foregoing, the Commission finds that, during the Relevant Period, 

Respondents violated Sections 6(c)(l), 6(c)(3), and 9(a)(2) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 9(1), 9(3), 

and 13(a)(2) (2012), and Commission Regulations 180.1and180.2, 17 C.F.R. §§ 180.1 and 

180.2 (2015). 

VI. 

OFFER OF SETTLEMENT

Respondents have submitted the Offer in which they, without admitting or denying the 

findings and conclusions herein: 

A. 	 Acknowledge receipt of service of this Order; 

B. 	 Admit the jurisdiction ofthe Commission with respect to all matters set forth in this 

Order and for any action or proceeding brought or authorized by the Commission based 

on violation of or enforcement of this Order; 

C. 	 Waive: 

1. 	 The filing and service of a complaint and notice of hearing; 

2. 	 A hearing; 

3. 	 All post-hearing procedures; 

4. 	 Judicial review by any court; 

5. 	 Any and all objections to the participation by any member of the Commission's 

staff in the Commission's consideration of the Offer; 

6. 	 Any and all claims that they may possess under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 

5 U.S.C. § 504 (2012) and 28 U.S.C. § 2412 (2012), and/or the rules promulgated 

by the Commission in conformity therewith, Paii 148 ofthe Commission's 

Regulations, 17 C.F.R. §§ 148.1-30 (2015), relating to, or arising from, this 

proceeding; 

7. 	 Any and all claims that they may possess under the Small Business Regulatory 

Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-121, §§ 201-253, 110 Stat. 

847, 857-868 (1996), as amended by Pub. L. No. 110-28, § 8302, 121 Stat. 112, 

204-205 (2007), relating to, or arising from, this proceeding; and 

12 

8. 	 Any claims of Double Jeopardy based on the institution of this proceeding or the 

entry in this proceeding of any order imposing a civil monetary penalty or any 

other relief; 

D. 	 Stipulate that the record basis on which this Order is entered shall consist solely of the 

findings contained in this Order to which Respondent(s) has/have consented in the Offer; 

E. 	 Consent, solely on the basis of the Offer, to the Commission's entry of this Order that: 

1. 	 Makes findings by the Commission that Respondents violated Sections 6(c)(1 ), 

6(c)(3), and 9(a)(2) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 9(1), 9(3), 13(a)(2) (2012), and 

Regulations 180.1and180.2, 17 C.F.R. §§ 180.1and180.2 (2015); 

2. 	 Orders Respondents to cease and desist from violating Sections 6(c)(l), 6(c)(3), 

and 9(a)(2) ofthe Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 9(1), 9(3), 13(a)(2) (2012), and Regulations 

180.1and180.2, 17 C.F.R. §§ 180.1and180.2 (2015); 

3. 	 Orders Respondents to pay, jointly and severally, a civil monetary penalty in the 

amount of three million and six-hundred thousand dollars ($3,600,000) within ten 

(10) business days of the date of entry of this Order, plus post-judgment interest; 

4. 	 Orders Respondents, and their successors and assigns, to comply with the 

conditions and undertakings consented to in the Offer and as set forth in Part VII 

of this Order. 

Upon consideration, the Commission has determined to accept the Offer. 

VII. 

ORDER 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 

A. 	 Respondents shall cease and desist from violating Sections 6(c)(l), 6(c)(3), and 9(a)(2) 

of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 9(1), 9(3), 13(a)(2) (2012), and Regulations 180.1and180.2, 17 

C.F.R. 	§§ 180.1and180.2 (2015). 

B. 	 Respondents shall pay, jointly and severally, a civil monetary penalty in the amount of 

Three Million and Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,600,000) within ten (10) business 

days of the date of entry of this Order (the "CMP Obligation"). Ifthe CMP Obligation is 

not paid in full within ten ( 10) business days of the date of entry of this Order, then postjudgment interest shall accrue on the CMP Obligation beginning on the date of entry of 

this Order and shall be determined by using the Treasury Bill rate prevailing on the date 

of entry of this Order pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961 (2012). Respondents shall pay the 

CMP obligation by electronic funds transfer, U.S. postal money order, certified check, 

bank cashier's check, or bank money order. Ifpayment is to be made other than by 

electronic funds transfer, then the payment shall be made payable to the Commodity 

Futures Trading Commission and sent to the address below: 

13 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission 

Division of Enforcement 

ATTN: Accounts Receivables 

DOT/F AA/MMAC/ AMZ-341 

CFTC/CPSC/SEC 

6500 S. MacArthur Blvd. 

Oklahoma City, OK 73169 

(405) 954-7262 office 

(405) 954-1620 fax 


nikki. gi bson@faa.gov 


Ifpayment is to be made by electronic funds transfer, Respondents shall contact Nikki 

Gibson or her successor at the above address to receive payment instructions and shall 

fully comply with those instructions. Respondents shall accompany payment of the CMP 

Obligation with a cover letter that identifies the paying Respondents and the name and 

docket number of this proceeding. The paying Respondents shall simultaneously 

transmit copies of the cover letter and the form of payment to the Chief Financial Officer, 

Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW, 

Washington, D.C. 20581; and 

C. 	 Respondents and their successors and assigns shall comply with the following 

unde1iakings: 

1. Public Statements: Respondents agree that neither they nor any of their 

successors and assigns, agents or employees under their authority or control shall 

take any action or make any public statement denying, directly or indirectly, any 

findings or conclusions in this Order or creating, or tending to create, the 

impression that this Order is without a factual basis; provided, however, that 

nothing in this provision shall affect Respondents': (i) testimonial obligations; or 

(ii) right to take legal positions in other proceedings to which the Commission is 

not a party. Respondents and their successors and assigns shall undertake all 

steps necessary to ensure that all of their agents and/or employees under their 

authority or control understand and comply with this agreement. 

2. 	 Partial Satisfaction: Respondents understand and agree that any acceptance by 

the Commission of any partial payment of Respondents CMP Obligation shall not 

be deemed a waiver of their obligation to make further payments pursuant to this 

Order, or a waiver of the Commission's right to seek to compel payment of any 

remaining balance. 

3. 	 Change of Address/Phone: Until such time as Respondents satisfy in full their 

CMP Obligation as set forth in this Consent Order, Respondents shall provide 

written notice to the Commission by ce1iified mail of any change to their 

telephone number and mailing address within ten (10) calendar days of the 

change. 

14 

D. 	 Respondents and their successors and assigns shall also comply with the following 

undertakings set forth below for a period of two (2) years from the date of this Order. 

Respondents agree and undertake: 

1. 	 Trading Limitation: Respondents TGPNA and Tran shall not trade physical basis 

or physical fixed-price natural gas for next month delivery during bid-week at hub 

locations when TGPNA also holds, prior to and during bid-week, any financial 

natural gas position whose value is derived in any material part from natural gas 

bid-week index prices. This trading limitation, however, shall not affect (1) 

Respondents' marketing of TGPNA affiliate Total E&P USA, Inc.'s physical 

bid-week natural gas in the Barnett Shale or Utica Shale regions, or Respondents' 

financial trading related to such purchases or sales; or (2) Respondents' physical 

bid-week trading of natural gas or Respondents' financial trading, in connection 

with the Sabine Pass LNG terminal. 

The trading limitation set for~h above shall begin no later than sixty (60) days 

from the date of entry of this Order. 

2. 	 Rep01iing: Respondent TGPNA shall provide to the Division, on a quaiierly 

basis: (i) a full listing (or record) of its bid-week trading, including all physical 

and related financial trading; (ii) a rep01i of TGPNA's monthly purchases and 

sales of natural gas in the Barnett Shale and Utica Shale regions, and TGPNA's 

fixed-price monthly sales of those purchased volumes, including the volumes of 

fixed-price natural gas sales, the trading hubs specific to those sales, and 

TGPNA's financial trading in connection with such purchases and sales; and (iii) 

a report of TGPNA's total withdrawals from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal for 

export, including the volumes of fixed-price monthly natural gas purchases and 

sales, the trading hubs specific to those purchases and sales, and TGPNA's 

financial trading in connection with the exports from the Sabine Pass LNG 

terminal. 

The reporting obligation set f01ih above shall begin no later than sixty (60) days 

from the date of entry of this Order. 

3. 	 Preservation of Documents and Communications: Respondent TGPNA shall 

record and maintain all written documents and communications, whether created 

or stored electronically, on paper, or in any other manner, related to TGPNA's 

domestic natural gas trading. Upon request, TGPNA shall provide these 

documents and communications, or a portion thereof, to the Division. 

The preservation of documents and communications set forth above shall begin 

no later than sixty ( 60) days from the date of entry of this Order. 

15 

The provisions of this Order shall be effective as of this date. 

By the Commission. 

Dated: December 7, 2015 

16