Havana, March 14 (IANS/EFE): Nineteen officials of state-run companies could face prison sentences of up to 20 years for running a scheme that diverted eight million eggs to the black market, Cuba's official media reported on Friday.

Prosecutors accuse the defendants of "embezzlement, misappropriation and falsification of bank and commercial documents" that cost state enterprises 8.9 million pesos (roughly $371,000), Communist Party daily Granma said.

The crime also drove up prices for consumers, the newspaper said.

The accused used their positions at two state firms in Havana to divert 8 million eggs from official distribution channels, preparing 389 phony invoices to cover their activities, according to the prosecution.

A special audit of the two firms in 2012 revealed "accounting errors, non-compliance by executives, specialists and drivers, violations of routes established for the distribution of eggs, falsification of invoices and the existence of an entire criminal network".

Based on "provisional conclusions the prosecutors have asked penalties between eight and 20 years in prison along with civil liabilities", the Granma daily said.