Mistrial Declared in Case of Duke Energy Trader

A Houston judge declared a mistrial after a jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked on 12 fraud and related charges against a former natural gas and electricity trader for a unit of Duke Energy Corp., the largest U.S. utility owner.

The trader, Timothy Kramer, was found not guilty on seven other charges Dec. 6 when a co-defendant, Todd Reid, was acquitted on all charges against him.

They were vice presidents of Houston-based Duke Energy North America in 2001 when the alleged crimes happened.