Former WorldCom finance chief Scott Sullivan has today been sentenced to five years in prison for his high-ranking role in the largest accounting fraud in US history.
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| WorldCom CFO Scott Sullivan leaves federal court after his fraud conviction sentencing today in New York. Pic: Getty Images |
Sullivan became the fifth WorldCom executive to be sentenced to prison in the $6 billion scandal. His sentence is topped only by that of ex-CEO Bernard Ebbers, who got 25 years.
Sullivan (43), was the star witness at Ebbers' trial earlier this year, testifying the CEO repeatedly instructed him to "hit the numbers" - or adjust WorldCom's books to meet Wall Street expectations.
"I made horrible decisions," Sullivan told the court. "It was a misguided effort to save the company...I ask for leniency so I can get back to my family as soon as possible," said Sullivan.
"Mr Sullivan was the architect of the fraud at WorldCom," said US District Judge Barbara Jones.
AP