They are being prosecuted for civil fraud by the govt.
Go ahead and play semantic games.
The govt is suing them in a civil action - not prosecuting them for a criminal offense.
§1442. Federal officers or agencies sued or prosecuted
(a) A civil action or criminal prosecution that is commenced in a State court and that is against or directed to any of the following may be removed by them to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending:
(1) The United States or any agency thereof or any officer (or any person acting under that officer) of the United States or of any agency thereof, in an official or individual capacity, for or relating to any act under color of such office or on account of any right, title or authority claimed under any Act of Congress for the apprehension or punishment of criminals or the collection of the revenue.
(2) A property holder whose title is derived from any such officer, where such action or prosecution affects the validity of any law of the United States.
(3) Any officer of the courts of the United States, for or relating to any act under color of office or in the performance of his duties;
(4) Any officer of either House of Congress, for or relating to any act in the discharge of his official duty under an order of such House.
http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:28%20section:1442%20edition:prelim)
>>They are being prosecuted for civil fraud by the govt.
And how much deterrent jail time will that render?
ZERO.
Hey, why not rob a bank if the only punishment is to pay a fine... with the money you stole!