Defense Attorney: Texas Lawyer Indicted Over Oil Spill Fraud

A Texas lawyer faces criminal charges after he was accused of submitting thousands of false claims for damages from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Robert McDuff, a lawyer for San Antonio attorney Mikal Watts, confirmed Wednesday that Watts was indicted in Mississippi and will appear in court Oct. 29 in Gulfport.

“I look forward to a speedy trial and the opportunity to prove to a jury that I am not guilty of any crimes,” Watts said in a statement.

McDuff said the indictment is sealed and he wouldn’t discuss the specific charges against Watts. He said they are related to allegations that Watts committed fraud or forgery when he claimed to represent 44,000 clients in litigation against BP PLC.

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