Volkswagen Could Face Criminal and Civil Charges in Justice Department Probe

Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Officer Matthias Mueller Speaks To Shareholders At Annual General Meeting

Matthias Mueller, chief executive officer of Volkswagen AG, reacts during an annual general meeting (AGM) with shareholders in Hannover, Germany, on Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Mueller sought to appease shareholder anger over the worst crisis in the carmakers history by shoring up internal controls to prevent a repeat of the diesel-emissions scandal. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Photo by Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Volkswagen (VLKAY) and the U.S. Justice Department have held preliminary settlement talks about resolving a criminal probe into the automaker’s diesel emissions scandal, two sources briefed on the matter said.

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Reuters reported in June that a criminal settlement could include a consent decree, an independent monitor overseeing the German automaker’s conduct and significant yet-to-be determined fines for emissions violations.

For more about the Volkswagen cheating scandal (a.k.a. “Dieselgate”), watch:

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the fines could top $1.2 billion.