Former WorldCom CEO Gets 25 Years in the Big House

Two days ago, former WorldCom Chief Executive Officer Bernard Ebbers was denied a request for a new trial. Yesterday, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Ebbers was convicted in March on charges of securities fraud and other similar charges in relation to a giant accounting fraud scandal that took place within WorldCom, which led to its bankruptcy back in 2002. Ebbers requested a new trial, claiming that that three witnesses should have been granted immunity, which could have helped his case. The judge didn't agree with Ebbers' reason. "I find that none of these new grounds requires a new trial," wrote Judge Barbara Jones in a ruling. "Defendant fails to show that the government has used immunity to gain a tactical advantage over him, or that the testimony of Beaumont, Lomenzo or Scott would be exculpatory" Erin McClam of AP latest ebusiness news