Ailing former WorldCom CEO ordered freed from prison

[TexasTowelie]

By Larry Neumeister


NEW YORK — A former top executive sentenced to 25 years in prison in one of the largest corporate accounting scandals in U.S. history was ordered freed from prison Wednesday for medical reasons.

U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni ordered the release of former WorldCom chief Bernard Ebbers after hearing lawyers discuss his medical problems. Ebbers was not in court and his lawyers said he was hospitalized Wednesday.

Several family members for Ebbers who attended the proceeding rejoiced, sobbing and hugging one another, when the judge announced her ruling. She said she'll issue a written ruling explaining her reasons at a later time.

"I'll get to hold his hand," one woman called out. Another threw her arms into the air as the judge stepped down from the bench.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/ailing-former-worldcom-ceo-ordered-freed-from-prison/566316372/

[dalton99a]

1. An $11 billion fraud.

[erronis]

2. And how many POOR invalid inmates are freed before the system kills them?

0

[TexasTowelie]

3. I occasionally read about a few inmates released for humanitarian reasons

when they have terminal cases and are near death, but those are few and far between. I think that part of it is that the state no longer wants to bear the financial costs with the inmate's healthcare.