Ebbers starts porridge

Worldcom boss goes to prison

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 26th September 2006 09:37 GMT

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Worldcom ex-CEO Bernie Ebbers starts a 25-year prison sentence today for his role in the $11bn collapse of the firm.

Ebbers was found guilty of conspiracy and fraud in early 2005 for massively overstating the company's results in order to keep in line with market expectations.

US officials have not said where Ebbers will serve his sentence, although the two closest prisons are Yazoo City Federal, Mississippi, and Oakdale Correctional Complex, Louisiana. For Ebbers, a 65-year-old man, the term is effectively a life sentence.

Ebbers was at home yesterday chasing an AP reporter off his lawn. He told the reporter: "You're not even supposed to be on this property." He then walked outside smoking a cigar to check the pesky hack had left. More from AP here.

Ebbers' location should be made available tomorrow via the federal prison database - searchable online here. At the moment, Bernard Ebbers is listed as a prisoner - but "Not in BOP (Bureau of Prisons) custody". ®

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