‘Telecom Cowboy’ faces 85 years in jail

BERNARD EBBERS, who built WorldCom from a humble Mississippi long-distance firm into a telecommunications titan, is facing up to 85 years in jail after being convicted yesterday of engineering the colossal accounting fraud that sank the company.

A federal jury in Manhattan deliberated for eight days before returning guilty verdicts on counts of conspiracy, securities fraud and seven counts of false regulatory filings crimes that carry up to 85 years in jail.

Ebbers, 63, sat with his hands folded as the verdict was read and showed little reaction.