Criminal Chaises Still on the Table for VW, Even After Justice Department Civil Lawsuit

摘要

The federal government may follow up a multibillion-dollar civil complaint it filed against Volkswagen AG with a criminal indictment related to the automaker's use of illegal technology in its diesel vehicles, according to attorneys following the case. The attorneys indicated the Jan. 4 civil lawsuit could end up being a prelude to the Justice Department filing a variety of criminal charges against Volkswagen, including potential charges of obstruction of justice, conspiracy and making false statements to government officials. It is also possible the government could choose to pursue charges against individual Volkswagen executives, which attorneys said would be consistent with the DOJ's memorandum in September 2015 encouraging such prosecutions.