- Text
Report: Criminal charges mulled in BP rig blast
The Justice Department is considering filing the first criminal charges in its probe of the Gulf oil spill, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The charges could be brought against employees of British oil giant BP, including U.S.-based engineers, with the investigation focusing on whether they provided false information to regulators regarding the risks at the Gulf well, according to the Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter.
Gulf oil spill: Complete coverage
An explosion on the Deep Water Horizon oil rig in 2010 killed 11 workers and led to a massive oil spill of more than 4 billion barrels. It was the worst offshore oil spill ever in the U.S., prompting BP to set up a $20 billion compensation fund for those affected by the disaster.
The charges, which could be brought early next year, carry penalties of a fine and up to five years in prison, according to the report. The Justice Department has still not made a final decision on whether to go forward with the charges.
- Crews battle wildfires in West, Mich.
- Tropical storm warnings for Southeast coast
- Ind. man releases hostages, fatally shoots self
- Game of matches claims 2 tots in Calif.
- Patz suspect charged with 2nd-degree murder
- Fast-moving Michigan wildfire burns 17,000 acres
- N.Y. man admits to pouring bleach into kids' milk
- Ind. man takes hostages, shoots self in office
- Ex-PSU president sues, eyes Sandusky emails
- Ex-HS football star cleared of rape conviction
- Fast-moving wildfire in Mich. consumes 9,500 acres
- 2 female Army officers sue to reverse combat ban
- Jury in John Edwards trial starting 6th day in NC
- Tornadoes strafe Kansas, damaging homes; 1 hurt
- Oregon police find mother of 3 abandoned kids
- N.J. judge: Text sender not liable in car crash
