BP (BP) Now Investigated Via Task Force

Instead of criminal investigations of BP (NYSE:BP) going through a variety of agenies, the U.S. Justice Department announced it'll consolidate the investigation into a single task force to oversee the effort.

Leading the task force will be criminal division senior counsel, John Buretta, under the supervision of Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, who is in charge of the criminal division of the department.

A department spokesman said the task force will be created in order "to maximize department resources devoted to the criminal investigation" and "to avoid duplication of effort."

Deputy Attorney General James Cole made the decision to create the task force.

BP closed Monday at $48.15, falling $0.41, or 0.84 percent.