First criminal charges filed in 2010 BP spill

[Bucktail]

Finally!  Let this be a lesson in what will, hopefully, be a long series of lessons for those who aspire to be stooges for the big oil companies.

From the article:
"If convicted, Mix, a resident of Katy, Texas, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the two criminal counts against him, the Justice Department said."


Engineer first to face criminal charges in 2010 BP spill

By Miguel Llanos, msnbc.com

The first criminal charges in the 2010 BP gulf spill were filed on Tuesday against a former BP engineer accused of intentionally deleting hundreds of text messages about the size of the spill.

Kurt Mix, 50, was arrested earlier Tuesday and was set to appear in federal court in Houston, Texas, later in the day on two charges of obstruction of justice.

"The department has filed initial charges in its investigation into the Deepwater Horizon disaster against an individual for allegedly deleting records relating to the amount of oil flowing from the Macondo well after the explosion," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.

 "The Deepwater Horizon Task Force is continuing its investigation into the explosion and will hold accountable those who violated the law in connection with the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history," he added.

In the complaint, Mix is accused of deleting text messages on two occasions "after being repeatedly informed of his obligation to maintain such records." Most of those messages were later retrieved, the Justice Department said.

In one thread, Mix allegedly deleted a string of some 200 messages that had to do with a process dubbed "Top Kill" that was aimed at stopping the spill.

"Too much flowrate -- over 15,000" barrels of oil per day, Mix allegedly said in one text.

"At the time," the Justice Department noted, "BP’s public estimate of the flow rate was 5,000 BOPD -- three times lower than the minimum flow rate indicated in Mix’s text."

Moreover, BP "continued publicly to state that Top Kill was broadly proceeding according to plan," the complaint says.

"Before Top Kill commenced," the department added, "Mix and other engineers had concluded internally that Top Kill was unlikely to succeed if the flow rate was greater than 15,000 barrels of oil per day."

If convicted, Mix, a resident of Katy, Texas, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the two criminal counts against him, the Justice Department said.

Lawsuits have been filed seeking financial compensation from BP, and the oil giant has reached a tentative $7.8 billion settlement with thousands of individuals and businesses.

In addition, the U.S. government is expected to seek billions of dollars in environmental fines.

But Tuesday's charges were the first against an individual in the blast that killed 11 workers and spilled 200 million gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico.

Mix resigned from BP a few months ago, the Justice Department stated.

Link to article and related videos

[SurfJockey]

 

[Andys Delight]

   Someone has to send a message that these corporations are going to be held liable for reckless actions. 

[IKAT]

   Sounds like they took a long time to find a "SCAPEGOAT"

1 person--is this REAL  

What happened to our friendly NOAA REP. that shredded the info   

[Bucktail]

IKAT,

The word first implies there will be others.

This statement also implies there will be others.  "The Deepwater Horizon Task Force is continuing its investigation into the explosion and will hold accountable those who violated the law in connection with the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history."

It took almost two years for these charges to be brought.  I suppose we will just have to be patient, as sometimes justice is not always swift.

[IrishAyes]

IKAT, we are again thinking alike. Eric Holder is a joke as Attorney General. Wouldn't do anything about the New Black Panthers intimidating Philly voters. Another missteps for him.

Now he goes after the little man at BP and I'll bet those in charge, who really have/had the ability to do something to PREVENT the disaster in the first place will continue living their lavish life. What a freaking joke this country has become.  

[IKAT]

IKAT,

The word first implies there will be others.

This statement also implies there will be others.  "The Deepwater Horizon Task Force is continuing its investigation into the explosion and will hold accountable those who violated the law in connection with the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history."

It took almost two years for these charges to be brought.  I suppose we will just have to be patient, as sometimes justice is not always swift.

Yes Bob--I am with you on this I should have stateded the QUOTE-- With (individual) in it

"But Tuesday's charges were the first against an individual in the blast that killed 11 workers and spilled 200 million gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico."




 

[IKAT]

IKAT, we are again thinking alike. Eric Holder is a joke as Attorney General. Wouldn't do anything about the New Black Panthers intimidating Philly voters. Another missteps for him.

Now he goes after the little man at BP and I'll bet those in charge, who really have/had the ability to do something to PREVENT the disaster in the first place will continue living their lavish life. What a freaking joke this country has become.  

   Must have something to do with us being the same age   

[Bucktail]

Joe,

Seriously?  The new Black Panther Party?  A couple of scumbags in matching hats should not be allowed to call themselves a party.

Anyway, here is the outcome of the case you referred to.

"The Obama Justice Department did not improperly let politics or the race of the defendants affect the handling of a high-profile civil voter intimidation case against members of the New Black Panther Party, a probe by DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) concluded after an extensive investigation.

Justice Department attorneys “did not commit professional misconduct or exercise poor judgment, but rather acted appropriately, in the exercise of their supervisory duties in connection with the dismissal of the three defendants in the NBPP case,” the head of OPR wrote in a letter to Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) obtained by TPM.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/justice_dept_ethics_office_no_evidence_that_politics_race_influenced_new_black_panther_party_case.php

Naturally FOX News, would spin this story anyway they can in order to promote their agenda.

However,

Getting back to the point.  Isn't it a good thing that people are finally being held accountable for this tragedy?  Yes, it is only one, so far.  Hopefully, it is the tip of the iceberg.  Personally, I would not feel bad for this "little man". 

And I agree with you that most of the higher ups will, unfortunately, probably, go free.  But that's the way it's been for a long, long time.  Hasn't it?  Wealth is power.  The rich rule.

[Luna Sea 5]

 

[BigAl13]

Joe,

Seriously?  The new Black Panther Party?  A couple of scumbags in matching hats should not be allowed to call themselves a party.

Well then what do we call it when 12 njswf guys in hats will be on the Bingo friday

[IKAT]

Joe,

Seriously?  The new Black Panther Party?  A couple of scumbags in matching hats should not be allowed to call themselves a party.

Well then what do we call it when 12 njswf guys in hats will be on the Bingo friday

AYE--   o-69-BINGO YOU WIN  

[Andys Delight]

True story:

years ago when I was still a teen, my dad, my godfather, and a buddy of their's went on a fishing trip on some lake in upstate NY.  After a couple hours we were sitting in a quiet spot bait fishing and my godfather and his friend got to talking about politics.  They were arguing on and on, and I was interjecting with my youthfully oblivious comments as well and it was starting to get heated.  I noticed my dad was just sitting quietly staring out at his line and not saying a word.  I finally blurted over to him asking what he thought and he just sighed, scrunched his forehead a bit, and in a very fed up disgusted voice he said "you know just about the only thing capable of busting up the bond between fishing buddies is a conversation on politics".  At the time I thought it was a cop out but today I get it. 

[IrishAyes]

Andy's Delight   

[IKAT]

Andy's Delight   

DITTO 

[BigAl13]

Andy's Delight   

DITTO 

Tritto

[Bucktail]

I agree Mike.

I would also add that only a few years ago stuff like this was not even considered controversial.  A guy that had a hand in a cover up in one of the worst, if not the worst, oil spills in our history is finally going to have to answer for what he did.

That used to be a good thing.

Nowadays, there is such an air of hostility and deliberate misinformation in the media that everything becomes divisive depending upon which side of the aisle you are on. It's a shame.

Well then what do we call it when 12 njswf guys in hats will be on the Bingo friday

That would definitely be a party!   Wish I could have made that day work out.  Good luck!

[BigAl13]

yeah i was hoping to finaly get to fish with you. next time

[JeffL]

 

[Bucktail]

yeah i was hoping to finaly get to fish with you. next time

Definitely Al!