Accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP is facing a federal criminal charge over its role in the Enron case.

This afternoon the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment it obtained last week. It alleges that Andersen engaged in obstruction of justice by destroying documents relating to its work on the Enron file.

The Justice department notes that the activity was widespread and systematic, not an isolated incident. It says that document shredding took place in Houston, Chicago, London and Portland, Ore.

None of Andersen’s individual employees are charged in the indictment. The maximum penalty for the charge is a US$500,000 fine and five years probation.