Report: Prosecutors Readying Criminal Charges Against BP Workers

U.S. Coast Guard via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Federal prosectors are reportedly working on criminal charges against BP employees over the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion in April 2010 that killed 11 people and sent millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reports prosecutors are looking at several Houston-based engineers and at least one of their supervisors who they believe may have given regulators false information about the drilling risks associated with the well.

Should the charges be brought against them, the employees may face up to five years in prison and a fine, the Journal says.  The newspaper's sources say the charges may be disclosed early next year.

The Department of Justice has not issued any comments on the matter.

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