Lance Armstrong Investigation: Criminal Charges May Be in the Works

According to CBS News, federal investigators are considering criminal charges against Lance Armstrong. The main charges being considered are obstruction of justice, intimidation and witness tampering. I'd say intimidation is his specialty but the others are right up his alley too.

This investigation comes after the original criminal investigation was suddenly dropped a year ago by the now, infamous, Andre Birotte. Birotte had a few words about his investigation saying that he basically stands by his decision to drop it.

Here are some excerpts from CBS News:

Federal investigators are in the midst of an active criminal investigation of disgraced former Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, ABC News has learned.

The revelation comes in stark contrast to statements made by the U.S. Attorney for Southern California, Andre Birotte, who addressed his own criminal inquiry of Armstrong for the first time publicly on Tuesday. Birotte's office spent nearly two years investigating Armstrong for crimes reportedly including drug distribution, fraud and conspiracy -- only to suddenly drop the case on the Friday before the Super Bowl last year.

Sources at the time said that agents had recommended an indictment and could not understand why the case was suddenly dropped.

Today, a high level source told ABC News, "Birotte does not speak for the federal government as a whole." 

According to the source, who agreed to speak on the condition that his name and position were not used because of the sensitivity of the matter, "Agents are actively investigating Armstrong for obstruction, witness tampering and intimidation."

...The source said that Birotte is not in the loop on the current criminal inquiry, which is being run out of another office.

...Investigators are not concerned with the drug use, but Armstrong's behavior in trying to maintain his secret by allegedly threatening and interfering with potential witnesses.

I'm amazed that this case got as far as it has but now it's starting to look like Lance is just beginning to experience the wrath of justice in his life.