Bernard “Bernie” Ebbers, the mastermind behind one of the largest accounting frauds in United States history, is receiving an early release from prison.
On Wednesday afternoon, Judge Valerie Caproni granted the former WorldCom Inc. CEO a compassionate release due to the 78-year-old’s diminishing health.
Ebbers currently suffers from both dementia and cardiovascular disease, as well as being legally blind.
During his tenure at WorldCom, Ebbers exaggerated the telecommunication company’s profits by about $3 billion in 2001 and $797 million in the first quarter of 2002, reporting a profit of $1.4 billion in place of what should have been a net loss.
Ebbers was ousted as CEO later that same year before finally being convicted in 2005 for the orchestration of the accounting scandal worth more than $11 billion.
Ebbers, who used the Mississippi-based WorldCom, to take advantage of people all over the state, will now be returning to live with his daughter, in the same place where so many people once trusted him.
