Prosecutor says Texas lawyer acquitted of BP oil spill fraud

Published August 18, 2016

A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office says a Texas lawyer and at least two other people have been acquitted of charges that they tried to commit fraud after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Jurors began delivering verdicts Thursday afternoon, according to Sheila Wilbanks, the spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Gregory Davis in southern Mississippi.

She says San Antonio lawyer Mikal Watts, his brother David Watts and Watts law firm employee Wynter Lee were acquitted of all charges.

Seven people faced 66 charges of mail fraud, wire fraud and identity theft. Other verdicts weren't yet available.

Prosecutors said they created a list of bogus plaintiffs, using names and Social Security numbers without permission. Defendants said prosecutors never proved they acted with criminal intent.

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https://www.foxnews.com/us/prosecutor-says-texas-lawyer-acquitted-of-bp-oil-spill-fraud