Thursday August 11, 1:43 pm ET
By Erin Mcclam, Associated Press Writer
Ex-WorldCom CFO Gets 5 Years in Prison for Role in Fraud; Judge Calls Him 'Architect' of Scheme
NEW YORK (AP) -- Former WorldCom finance chief Scott Sullivan, who carried out the largest accounting fraud in U.S. history but insisted he did it under pressure from his boss, was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday by a judge who called him "the architect" of the scheme.
U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones praised Sullivan for pleading guilty last year and helping the government build its case against ex-CEO Bernard Ebbers, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The judge said she was giving Sullivan a break because his wife has diabetes and during her frequent hospitalizations has been unable to care for the couple's daughter.
Still, "Mr. Sullivan's offenses were of the highest magnitude," Jones said. "Mr. Sullivan, I believe, was the architect of the fraud. Mr. Sullivan was the day-to-day manager, if you will, of the scheme."
more:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050811/worldcom_sullivan.html?.v=14