BP Engineer Found Guilty in 2010 Oil Spill That Resulted in the Death of 11 Employees

According to a press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred on April 20, 2010 has led to the conviction of Kurt Mix, a British Petroleum engineer. The well experienced an unexpected blowout and subsequent explosions, killing 11 workers on board the rig and resulting in the greatest environmental disaster in American history. He was convicted of intentionally destroying evidence sought after by federal prosecutors related to the incident. The case was prosecuted by the Department’s senior trial attorney Jennifer L. Saulino, as well as Trial Attorney Leo R. Tsao of the divisional Fraud Section.

“Today a jury in New Orleans found that Kurt Mix purposefully obstructed the efforts of law enforcement during the investigation of the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history,” acting Assistant Attorney General Raman said in a statement. “This prosecution shows the commitment of the Justice Department to hold accountable those who attempt to interfere with the administration of justice. I want to thank the committed prosecutors and agents who have worked tirelessly over so many years on the Deepwater Horizon Task Force for their dedication and tenacity.”

Mr. Mix, 52 years old, of Katy, Texas, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a federal jury based in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Mr. Mix was judged guilty of one count of obstruction of justice and was acquitted on a second count of obstruction of justice. He faces the maximum 20 year sentence in prison when he is processed on March 26, 2014.