Ebbers to be sentenced today
Former WorldCom chief executive to be sentenced today after request for retrial was rejected
Former WorldCom chief executive Bernie Ebbers will be sentenced in a New York
court today, after his request for a new trial was turned down yesterday.
US District Judge Barbara Jones rejected his lawyers’ arguments that he was
denied a fair trial on the basis that certain former executives had declined to
testify because they had not been granted immunity.
As a result, Ebbers, convicted of leading an $11bn fraud at the former
telecoms giant, faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison.
Judge Jones will hear pleas for leniency from Ebbers’ legal team based on his
heart problems, significant charitable work and testimonials from former
colleagues. This may result in a 10 or 15-year sentence, but analysts say a life
sentence is more likely.
Ebbers is expected to lodge an appeal after being sentenced.