Hewlett-Packard reports Justice Department fraud probe at Autonomy December 27, 2012, 2:33 p.m. According to an annual report filed Thursday by Hewlett-Packard, the U.S. Department of Justice has officially opened an investigation into its allegations of accounting fraud at Autonomy, the British software maker it acquired for $11 billion last year. In November, HP announced it had uncovered widespread accounting fraud at Autonomy, a discovery that played it a big role in the decision to write down $8 billion in the value of the company. While HP had previously said it had submitted evidence to federal regulators, this is the first confirmation that an actual investigation is under way. According to the filing: As a result of the findings of an ongoing investigation, HP has provided information to the U.K. Serious Fraud Office, the U.S. Department of Justice and the SEC related to the accounting improprieties, disclosure failures and misrepresentations at Autonomy that occurred prior to and in connection with HP's acquisition of Autonomy. On Nov. 21, 2012, representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice advised HP that they had opened an investigation relating to Autonomy. HP is cooperating with the three investigating agencies. More to come as we read through the filing.