Ex-WorldCom CFO jailed for five years

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.

Sullivan became the fifth WorldCom executive to be sentenced to prison in the £6bn 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.