In the Matter of Secured Precious Metals International, Inc., Secured Precious Metals Management, Inc. and Linda Laramie, CFTC Docket No. 13-12; In the Matter of Barclay Metals, Inc., Universal Clearing, LLC, Sean Stropp and Sylvia Williams, CFTC Docket No. 13-13.  On January 28, 2013, the CFTC announced it issued two Orders settling charges against Secured Precious Metals International, Inc., Secured Precious Metals Management, Inc., and their sole owner and principal, Linda Laramie (collectively, “SPM”), as well as Barclay Metals, Inc., Universal Clearing, LLC, and their owners and principals, Sean Stropp and Sylvia Williams (collectively, “Barclay”), all for engaging in illegal off-exchange financed transactions in precious metals with retail customers.  The CFTC Orders find that SPM and Barclay solicited customers to buy and sell precious metals in off-exchange leverage transactions where customers paid a percentage of the purchase price for the metals, and SPM and Barclay financed the rest of the purchase price and charged customers interest on the amount borrowed.  Such financed off-exchange transactions became illegal in July 2011, when certain amendments of the Dodd-Frank Act became effective.  Without admitting or denying the allegations, the SPM and Barclay consented to entry of the CFTC Orders which require them to cease and desist from violating Section    4(a) of the Commodity Exchange Act and prohibit them from trading on or pursuant to the rules of any registered entity for five years.  The Orders also require certain undertakings, including cooperating with the CFTC in related matters.  The Orders do not impose civil monetary penalties in acknowledgment of Respondents’ cooperation with the CFTC’s investigation.