The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) appointed Brian Young as director of its whistleblower office.
In announcing the move in a press release Thursday, CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam emphasized the critical role whistleblowers play in assisting the agency to be a “strong cop on the beat.”
“Much of our Division of Enforcement’s success is tied to the strength of our whistleblower office,” Behnam said. “[Young]’s extensive experience covering the issues directly impacting our markets will ensure the continued success of the CFTC’s whistleblower program and the urgent need to provide individuals who have information the assurances needed to come forward.”
Young succeeds Christina McGlosson, who served as interim director since July, when longtime head of the program Christopher Ehrman stepped down.
Previously, Young served as acting director of litigation for the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and chief of the Fraud Section’s Litigation Unit, where he helped oversee the litigation activity of approximately 150 white-collar prosecutors.
Young brings experience as a derivatives and commodities fraud trial specialist who has tried significant white-collar crime matters, the CFTC said, adding he supervised and prosecuted public corruption, defense procurement, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases.
He began his career at the DOJ in the Fraud Section of the Civil Division, where he prosecuted whistleblower-initiated violations of the False Claims Act.
“Leads generated from insiders are critically important to any financial enforcement program,” Young said. “The tremendous accomplishments of the CFTC’s whistleblower program confirm this view.”
In fiscal year 2023, the CFTC’s whistleblower program issued approximately $16 million in awards to seven whistleblowers. So far in FY2024, the program has awarded $18 million to whistleblowers.
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