Ex-WorldCom chief Ebbers to face federal criminal charges

[Robbien]

NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is expected to announce criminal charges Tuesday against former WorldCom Inc. chief executive Bernard Ebbers, according to a television report. The charges would include securities fraud and conspiracy, WNBC-TV reported late Monday, citing anonymous Justice Department sources. Ebbers did not return calls for comment, WNBC reported.

Ashcroft would fly to New York to announce the charges at a news conference, but Ebbers would be arraigned at a later date yet to be determined, the station said.

Ebbers, who was born in Canada, and former WorldCom chief financial officer Sullivan are charged with 15 violations of state securities laws in Oklahoma. They are among six ex-WorldCom employees charged there in an accounting fraud prosecutors say cost state pension funds $64 million.

The company, now known as MCI, also is charged in the case.

Oklahoma's attorney general dropped criminal charges against Ebbers in November but has said he plans to refile them this year.

The end. This is the whole news alert, but here is the link anyway
http://www.canada.com/businesscentre/story.html?id=FC67C5DA-9791-4F94-BB64-8590A602C1AD

[cosmicdot]

1. does Ashcroft typically 'fly in' for such announcements?

[leesa]

2. Notice how they point out that he is a Canadian...not one of us.

US businessmen would never do such horrendous things. No wonder he was indicted while Kenny Boy walks around free as can be. Indict the Dem supporters and 'foreigners'!

[koopie57]

3. I thought that

ashcroft, the poor dear, was in the hospital with a terrible case of pancreatitis. I don't wish him to die, but I do like to think of him in pain. I want him to know what it is like for all those people who are in pain cuz he will not allow them medical marijuana. I think it is okay and fair that he understands what his actions are doing to others