This is just being reported, according to NPR...
As per the US Department of Justice:
Kurt Mix, a former engineer for BP plc, was arrested today on charges of intentionally destroying evidence requested by federal criminal authorities investigating the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon disaster, announced Attorney General Eric Holder, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten of the Eastern District of Louisiana and Kevin Perkins, Acting Executive Assistant Director for the FBI’s Criminal Cyber Response and Services Branch.
Mix, 50, of Katy, Texas, was charged with two counts of obstruction of justice in a criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana and unsealed today.
According to the affidavit, Mix was a drilling and completions project engineer for BP. and was working on internal BP efforts to estimate the amount of oil leaking from the well. The first attempt, known as "Top Kill" failed. BP allegedly sent numerous notices to Mix requiring him to retain all information concerning Macondo, including his text messages.
“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 that led to the devastating tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Attorney General Holder. “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.”
According to the
Houston Chronicle's Fuel Fix, the charges against Mix allege that he deleted around 200 text messages, despite orders from the company to save them, including numerous reports that "Top Kill" - the initial attempt to plug the well with heavy drilling mud - was failing.
Mix is scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court this afternoon.
The complaint presumes Mix is innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, Mix could face a maximum of 20 years in prison, and fines of up to $250,000 on each count.
This afternoon's regular Gulf Watchers diary will have more.