Tesla stock drops after company reportedly faces US criminal probe over Musk statements

Peter Parks | AFP | Getty Images

Elon Musk, chairman and chief executive officer of Tesla Motors

Tesla shares dropped more than 2 percent after Bloomberg News reported that the company is facing a criminal probe over CEO Elon Musk’s statements about taking the company private.

Musk tweeted on Aug. 7 that he was thinking about taking the electric car maker private at $420, sending the stock soaring 11 percent, near an all-time high, that day to $387.46.

Securities lawyers have previously said his off-the-cuff comments will likely draw fines from the SEC for the company and exposed Musk to possible criminal charges. At the very least, all of those gains — and then some — have since been erased.

Tesla’s value has fell by almost a third as more than $21 billion in market capitalization has been wiped away.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

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