(The Wall Street Journal) -- New York state prosecutors have sent subpoenas to several Wall Street firms seeking information related to the packaging and selling of debt tied to high-risk mortgages, people familiar with the matter say, the latest legal woe to hit the stressed industry.

The subpoenas, sent by the office of New York state's attorney general, Andrew Cuomo, are broadly written and request information from firms including Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns and Deutsche Bank, people familiar with the matter say.