The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has obtained a consent order from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee against Michael and Amanda Griffis, a Tennessee couple who defrauded at least 145 people through a fraudulent commodity pool. The court’s decision requires them to pay $5,528,121 in restitution to victims and a $1,355,232 civil monetary penalty, totaling more than $6.8 million in relief.
The Griffises, both local realtors in Clarksville, Tennessee, operated the scheme under the name Blessings Thru Crypto. They used personal and professional connections in the real estate community to solicit more than $6.5 million, claiming the funds would be traded in commodity futures on the Apex Trading Platform. Investors were told trades would be executed with guidance from a mysterious figure known only as “Coach Wendy.”
According to the court, these claims were false. The Apex Trading Platform was a sham—an illegitimate copy of an overseas exchange. Over $4 million of investor funds were wired to this fraudulent platform and quickly dispersed through a web of offshore accounts. The remaining money was misappropriated by the Griffises for personal debts and consumer purchases, underscoring the fraudulent nature of the pool.
Permanently Banned From Trading
The consent order not only imposes monetary penalties but also permanently bans Michael and Amanda Griffis from registering with the CFTC and from participating in trading activity governed by the Commodity Exchange Act. This ensures they cannot re-enter the commodities markets in any capacity…