End-Of-Game Problem

Essay

End-of-game problem. In mid-2005, former WorldCom Inc. Chief Executive Bernard Ebbers asked a federal judge for a lighter sentence than the "draconian life sentence" recommended by the government. Ebbers made the request in a presentencing report that followed his conviction in March of nine counts of fraud, conspiracy and making false filings with regulators. In a brief filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, attorneys for Ebbers, who was then 63 years old, cited his good character, age, poor health and low risk of a repeat offense among the reasons they asked Judge Barbara Jones to give Ebbers a lighter sentence.
WorldCom, now known as MCI Inc., was at the center of the biggest accounting fraud in U.S. history and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection shortly after the $11 billion fraud began to come to light in 2002. It has since reemerged from bankruptcy protection. Five former executives, including former Chief Financial Officer Scott Sullivan, plead guilty to fraud-related charges in connection with the scandal.