Business

Freak Out: Commodities Trader Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Kill Regulators

Vincent McCrudden Guilty Kill Regulators Death Threats“A former commodities trader pleaded guilty on Monday to threatening to kill more than 40 financial regulators, including the heads of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission [CFTC],” Reuters reported.

The accused, Vincent McCrudden, 50, admitted that he sent death threats and the he even went so far as to attempt to recruit assassins. His guilty plea came the day testimony was to begin in his federal trial, said his lawyer Bruce Barket.

McCrudden worked on Wall Street for more than 20 years, specializing in commodities, derivatives and foreign exchange, according to his biography on the website of his company, Alnbri Management LLC.

McCrudden– who had previously denied sending menacing e-mails to a high-ranking official of the National Futures Association and posting death threats to his company’s website —  pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Central Islip, New York, to two counts of “transmission of threats to injure.”

In his ominous and threatening posts, he included the names of current and former officials including SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro and CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler, as well as officials at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Reuters reports that he wrote, “These people have got to go! And I need your help, there are just too many for me alone,” in one post.

He also sent an email last September to Daniel Driscoll, the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the NFA, that said: “It wasn‘t ever a question of ’if’ I was going to kill you, it was just a question of when.”

“This defendant crossed the line when he directly threatened to kill public officials who were working to keep our financial markets fair and open, and invited others to join him,” Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement.

Barket, of law firm Quadrino Schwartz, said McCrudden apologized in court when he entered his plea. He called his client “a talented, decent guy who will find other work.”

His defense is that he only intended the threats to be “provocative,” but that he had no intention of actually harming anyone.

McCrudden, who has been in federal lockup since his January arrest at Newark Airport after a flight from Singapore, will remain jailed until his sentencing.

His confession follows fresh evidence from federal prosecutors that links McCrudden to a Sept. 30 e-mail to Dan Driscoll, the chief operating officer of the National Futures Association.

The new evidence would have shown that McCrudden used the same IP address from a hotel in Singapore to send the threatening e-mail as he did to make threats via Facebook. In a Facebook posting from the same hotel in October, McCrudden allegedly offered $344,850 “to any group or organiziation [sic] with proof of killing” a group of regulators, including Driscoll.

“In the anonymous e-mail to Driscoll, McCrudden said he hired trained assassins to kill Driscoll, whose ‘body will never be found’ because it would be in ‘little bits and pieces.’ McCrudden tried to cover his tracks by sending the e-mail in the name of Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler, who was also on McCrudden’s hit list. Gensler had been scheduled to testify against McCrudden on Wednesday,” The New York Post reported.

If convicted, McCrudden could face up to 10 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for December 5.

Comments (45)

  • slvrserfr
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 5:55pm

    It’s traders like this that are exactly the reason why consumers have felt the pain at the pump when they borrow money from their brokerage house on a portfolio margin account (which the CTFC raised as a minimum requirement and basically what infuriated him) to suppress massive speculation in the oil commodities market and trading it up to $110+ a barrel, despite macroeconomic fundamentals not adding up to conviction of their motive.

    Report Post »  
  • LibertyMama
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 12:48am

    Greed is NOT the problem!

    The unfettered pursuit of success in the form of monetary compensation has been the engine that drove this country, generated amazing inventions, and made our world a better place to be… air conditioning, refrigerators and central heat to name just a few, the poorest among us own things that the richest man could not have purchased 100 years ago.

    Using the gov’t. to create rules and regulations that slam the door on the next person up the ladder is the problem. Keep gov’t. as small and impotent as possible and allow the free-market to reign again. The stock market is rigged by gov’t. and the moguls… so don’t use it. In a free-market something as corrupt as Wall Street would die out from its own bad business dealings.

    Report Post » LibertyMama  
    • truther2
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 7:52am

      Wall Street certainly did die out in 2008 – - and it took Trillions of dollars from Ordinary Americans with it! The filthy rich greedy Banks were revived by Washington within 48 hours,(how soon we forget about the TARP Baliout), while the people who had skin in the game, were stuck with the Prescription of, “DNR.” So, don’t preach to me or anyone about the virtures of unregulated, Predatory Capitalism! Been there, and we have all done that! Victims ALL! No More!

      Report Post »  
  • Cynic-clinic
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 10:20pm

    Actually the head of the SEC should be tried in federal court, convicted and sent to prison for the rest of his life. And that goes for all his buddies too.

    The financial trading regulations should never have permitted wall street traders to deal in financial products ( mortgage, derivitives and credit default swaps) leveraged 300 to one. This is financial madness and the SEC allowed it to happen so all the players could have fun every day while th entire financial structure of this country was crumbling. It has been calculated that the derivitives market has now reached 600 TRILLION dollars worldwide which is nearly 14 times larger than the entire gross domestic product of the entire world (45 trillion). Maybe this guy should get a medal for wanting to kill people like those who are at the root of the financial collapse of this country.

    Report Post »  
    • kindling
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 12:08am

      Sad to say it is true. What these people are responsible for should carry the death penalty like treason used to. Frankly, there is no way to repair what they have done and we through our great great great great great grand children will pay for this.

      Report Post » kindling  
    • Patriot-Preacher
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 2:39am

      This guy is a symptom of the bigger more pervasive problem, the people all feel what this doof is saying and did. The over regulation of the people and business ois choking the life out of the economy and peoples future. This guy just did not know how to deal with the frustration of dealing with petty stupid badly educated government drones.

      I feel his pain But we must hang on to the faith that tells us GOD will repay the wicked..

      Report Post » Patriot-Preacher  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:39pm

    A 9/11 truth-er = liberal or is my math bad?

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
    • truther2
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:04pm

      What is a 9/11 Truther? I don’t follow the Tabloids.

      Truther2 is Gent that tells the, “real,” too (2)!)

      Don’t get confused now.

      Report Post »  
    • truther2
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 7:42am

      There you go Sambo, lumping everyone together who doesn’t agree with you. While I dropped out of the Rebulican Party after 35 years, I am now a true Independent. For your information, Liberalism is, and has been the Scourge of Mankind for Centuries. However, the ultra conservative fringe cult attempting to influence policy in Washington is trying hard to replace the liberals.

      I be your resident Truth Watchdog; or Truth Detector – - hence a, “truther too! (2).

      Get my Drift?

      Report Post »  
  • hempstead1944
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 8:53am

    Hope he was a better trader than wannabe assassin……

    Report Post »  
  • truther2
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 8:16am

    Wall Street is out of Control,and it has been for years. This guy undoubtedly made millions during his 20 years on, “the Street.” When is enough, enough? Many of you have said, that these greedy bastards are sucking us dry. You are absolutely correct! And, it is just starting.

    If they are getting away with murder on Wall Street, why would one suspect it would be any different in dealing with perceived obstacles that might limit their ability to continue fleecing the ordinary American? These people are Predators of the worse kind.

    Posters are right again, when they suggest that these guys on Wall Street do not produce anything! except, “junk paper instruments,” backed by a ton of deceit, and they are very good at it.
    Skin in the Game? Not for these unprincipled and immoral bastards! The are governed by a culture that believes that, “if you ain’t doing someone, someone is doing you!”

    Question of the Day: Why are the so-called, best and brightest among us; those supposedly from good families; who have the opportunity to attend the best Ivy League Schools; then are able to influence their way to Wall Street or Corporate America, MOST IN NEED OF REGULATION, CONTROL, AND OUTSIDE OVERSIGHT? Doesn’t take a genius to figure that out, now, does it?!

    Watch you Wallets and Purses; their‘s is a stealthy disease or virus that’s worse that anything ever
    contrived to bring down you computer.

    Report Post »  
  • ObserverOnTheHill
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 7:06am

    TO – JZS – money ( Wall Street ) has no politics except what will be to there advantage – D or R.
    Warren Buffet supports Obama because he gets sweetheart deals that you and I never know of and would never be able to receive. Don’t believe the kindly old “Aw shucks” image he promotes.

    Report Post »  
  • bkfirvine
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:25am

    That’s one way to stop the government takeover of the financial industry.

    Report Post » bkfirvine  
    • truther2
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 9:07am

      BK,

      We have much more to fear from Wall Street and Corporate Moguls than we do the Government. Raw, unregulated Capitalists hav demonstrated they cannot be trusted when it comes to investing your money! In fact, they will sell you an investment product, and then turn around and develop another, that allows others to BET AGAINST the success of your investment. They have no skin in your game; they do have skin in the product that says, you will fail.

      While there is enough blame about government spending on both sides of the political spectrum, you, me – - all of us, cannot forget it was the Rich and Powerful Financial and Wall Street interests that brought about this Recession, and cost investors Trillions of Dollars. As a consequence, the American People have lost their jobs; their homes, their retirement, and their savings for the kid’s college education. Government had very little to do with that, other than turning a blind eye, or failing to provide oversight.

      If you want to blame the Government for anything, blame it for A LACK OF OVERSIGHT AND CONTROL, to prevent the Great Wall Street Heist of 2008 from ever happening.

      The biggest concern we have today, is that the wheels are coming off our Representative Democracy.
      An Oligarchy is developing whereby a few very rich, and very powerful people are able to buy Congress in order to get whatever they want. The Problem is, in most instances, those decisions benefit special interests and cost the American Peop

      Report Post »  
  • Gypsy123
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:04am

    Trying to keep our money safe the liberals on wall street are hard at work helping bring down the country

    Report Post » Gypsy123  
  • Netsurfer2
    Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:03am

    I strongly agree, greed is an evil that will eat you alive! What ever happened to those that save hard, but also learn to have fun with it? You can’t take it all with you, so why not also learn to have some fun at times!

    Report Post » Netsurfer2  
  • orcainohio
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:51pm

    The words didn’t kill neither did his checkbook , Just a court led tax shake down

    Report Post »  
  • junior1971
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:11pm

    Should I dare comment on this, or should I fear that my thoughts are reflective of my actions? Do I dare speak my mind, for fear of retribution or imprisonment? Actions speak louder than words. He spoke, they acted !!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post » junior1971  
  • jzs
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:03pm

    Typical Republican. Probably tries to pick up men in bathrooms, or hikes the Appalachian trail with his mistress. Sorry to be the one to inform you but, just like Muslims are all terrorists, all Republicans on Wall Street are exactly like this guy. Willing to threaten and kill to get his money. What’s sad about conservatives is that they are unwilling to accept that guys like this are exactly like you, like all conservatives, except he has the guts to follow through. I’m going to make millions from suckers like you with my new 12 step program to get over your addiction to one of the seven deadly sins: GREED.

    Report Post » jzs  
    • Hobbs57
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:19pm

      You worked that 12 step program there JZS ?? Cause if you have and truley understood it, you would certainly not be the person you are. I do know many who have “worked” the steps, used them to get the results they needed, but continued being the same jerk they were before their problem, only to substitute one addiction for another. Ego and Pride dripping from their pores, but they had worked the steps, just missed the point !

      Report Post » Hobbs57  
    • bigfatslob
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:34pm

      Troll, but you know already

      Report Post » bigfatslob  
    • sweetnsalty
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:39pm

      Boy you sure are full of yourself you have your nose stuck so high in the air you have Obama beat.This guy deserves to be in jail and that is where he will end up. Greed is a bad thing but for you to say only Republicans are greedy is laughable.

      Report Post » sweetnsalty  
    • Alvin691
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:06pm

      @JZS Douche – Here are a list of his contributions. He is a Liberal!

      MCCRUDDEN, VINCENT
      MELVILLE, NY 11747
      SELF-EMPLOYED/TRADER
      DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (D) $1,000
      primary 11/12/09

      McCrudden, Vincent
      Melville, NY 11747
      MAAM LLC/Trader OBAMA, BARACK (D)
      President
      OBAMA FOR AMERICA $2,300
      primary 04/19/07

      McCrudden, Vincent
      Dix Hills, NY 11746
      Self-Employed/Trader BISHOP, TIMOTHY (D)
      House (NY 01)
      TIM BISHOP FOR CONGRESS $1,000
      primary 03/30/06

      Report Post »  
    • AWAKENEDAWARE
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:16pm

      Umm. nowhere does it say he was or is a Republican. and you are just showing your retarded liberal ignorance. I love you. Dumbass. You prove the CONSERVATIVE point every TIME you POST. Dbag. Have a nice day.

      Report Post » AWAKENEDAWARE  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:41pm

      The guy had probably had a beer or two too many.. Typical damn filthy Marxist wanting to regulate free speech.. You know if you don’t like our Constiution then go back where you came from??? Oh yeh they don’t want you there either??? lol These Nation Wreckers are running out of places to hide.. They don’t like our Free Speech, our Chrisitan religion, our 2nd amendment, our electoral process, immigration laws, marriage traditions, and our Consitution in general… Anyone catching on yet??? Making the connections?

      Report Post » techengineer11  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:14am

      “I’m going to make millions from suckers like you with my new 12 step program to get over your addiction to one of the seven deadly sins: GREED.”

      Sounds pretty greedy on your part… “millions from suckers”, if that isn’t the fuel for greed, i don’t know what is…

      Report Post »  
  • heyjim55
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:29pm

    Watch the video Inside Job (Youtube) it’s about Wall Street and what happened in 2008, he isn’t the only creep on Wall Street to threaten someone over much needed regulations. These guys really believe in what they are doing (destroying ) to us and the country is their god given right. There will always be a few of these guys prosecuted by the courts but it’s nothing compared to what really needs to be done. Watch the video and you will see how high up the corruption goes and why no one at the very top gets investigated. They are taking us down on purpose , Chinese media and Russian media and Government officials have expressed their amazment on what they are witnessing in the US.the greatest act of treason against it’s own people.

    Report Post »  
  • tom
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:55pm

    Violence is never justified.

    Report Post » tom  
    • chazman
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:20pm

      Money is your master, McCrudden … and it just ate you alive.

      Report Post »  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:24pm

      You hit the nail on the head. Greed is mostly at fault for why this country is in such the mess it is. When is enough, enough.

      Report Post » Cemoto78  
    • Wurlitzer28
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 3:13pm

      Tom, violence is never justified? Nice for a bumper sticker but instant death for everyone else.

      When confronted with violence a diplomat is never to be found, a cop is minutes away and a government official is too busy finding another unconstitutional way to screw you.

      Thomas Jefferson would take out behind the woodshed for such a stupid remark. He knew there was a good possibility that the federal government would eventually reach well beyond its constitutional limits and the public would lose the ability to retain control via the ballot box.

      Jefferson, made sure we had the tools to combat such abuse and he told us what to do should it happen but thanks to decades of the communist infiltrating our educational system and journalists (a product of that system) all too many are ignorant of Jefferson’s words and that is EXACTLY how the progressives (aka Marxists/Communists/Socialists) want it.

      Report Post »  
  • Eblaze44
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:47pm

    yes, let’s send him to jail for three hots and a cot, all the tv and other entertainment he can want – we’ll be glad to pay for it for ten years more of free loading. You people are truly serious, aren’t you? Throw him out in the street and let him scratch for a living, forbid him from any investing activity – except perhaps in exercising his muscles – since the one in his head doesn’t work very well.

    Report Post » Eblaze44  
  • momrules
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:46pm

    When will Malik Shabazz get tried for threatening to kill white people?

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:44pm

    This man’s nuttiness could get him 10 years in prison. I’m still waiting for Malik Shabazz to see the inside of a courthouse for his threats to white people. Should I keep holdind my breath?

    Report Post »  
  • discardofevil
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:30pm

    Someone needs to throw the freeloader socialist and his commie friends in jail! They are destroying this country! I pray everyday that flipping liar gets put in his place! God please end it soon!!! Before it is too late!

    Report Post »  
  • iwillnotbequiet
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:59pm

    Hey I want a lot of prople GONE…however I will vote them GONE and then fire all their gang..
    This guy is an idot in a big way.. However there are those that would take him up on getting rid of these people for $$. Take a look at Detroit then at America as it is today because that is where we are headed if we don’t start fixing this mess. God help us all if we don’t get obama GONE..

    Report Post »  
    • BeerSnob
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:12pm

      Vote them gone…. cute that somebody still believes THAT tactic will work. We’re doomed…

      Report Post » BeerSnob  
  • GadsdenPatriot
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:58pm

    I’m sure he was merely voicing what many others are thinking. One thing is for sure, the left are mentally unstable; when things don’t go their way THEY are the first to fire the first shot, so to speak. Regardless this was foolish behavior when our best tactic is to continue to hold pressure on them and wait. Until 2012 that is.

    Report Post » GadsdenPatriot  
  • mossbrain
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:56pm

    That guy is a two legged weasel. Go gnaw on your prison bars you stinking rat.

    Report Post » mossbrain  
  • REPUB1
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:53pm

    “This defendant crossed the line when he directly threatened to kill public officials who were working to keep our financial markets fair and open” what a line of B.S

    Report Post »  
    • bigfatslob
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:36pm

      Only “sticks and stone will break bones but WORDS” will never hurt the regulators

      Report Post » bigfatslob  
  • momprayn
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:49pm

    This is what I’m afraid of increasing b/c so many are pushed to their limits in frustration, anger, fear. I see this as an ominous sign of bad things happening in the near future. I don’t understand Revolutionaries such as Obama & Admin. – who have set out to actually take down America, capitalism, etc. – a humongous undertaking but apparently they think they can do it. They’re probably getting help worldwide from all our enemies. Didn’t they know what chaos, anger, violence this would cause? or did and don’t care? the “end justifies the means”? Terrifying. Pray.

    Report Post »  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:51pm

      Was he trying to be funny?

      Report Post »  
    • PrfctlyFrank
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:06pm

      Come on folks.. This guy makes his living trading paper.. Trading worthless idea’s and sucking money out of the economy.. He‘s as cannibalistic as the federal gov’t.. So he can’t get away with what he wants to get away with so he starts threatening to kill them the regulators.. Good… Throw the leech in jail where the standard of trade takes on a little more ominous tone..

      I consider federal regulators to be very specifically significant.. This is a case in which they are needed and required, in regulating these speculators and derivative traders..

      Report Post » PrfctlyFrank  
  • Caniac Steve
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 6:38pm

    Now he understands the Free Speech also comes with “respondsibility” too…gee i hope they don’t use the “OJ Defence”…hehehe..

    Report Post » Caniac Steve  

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