The former chief operating officer and the company’s former chief financial officer have also been charged with fraud.
Mr Mozilo is the most high-profile executive so far to face charges arising from the credit crisis.
Mr Mozilo, the butcher’s son who founded the California-based company in 1960, is accused of misleading investors about the level of risk the company was running in selling unaffordable mortgages to poor Americans.
He built Countrywide into a mortgage giant by pushing into every area of home lending. The company’s earnings jumped $500 million in 2001 to $2.7 billion in 2006.
The men are expected to plead not guilty to the civil charges.
Frenkels have a wealth of experience in fraud investigations, for more information contact John Frenkel or Vivian Cohen.