In a New York court, US District Judge Barbara Jones reportedly said it was clear that Ebbers was a leader of criminal activity in the case.
I find that a sentence of anything less would not reflect the seriousness of this crime, she said.
Ebbers, 63, was charged with securities fraud, conspiracy and seven counts of lying to the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The man who had earned the nickname Telecom Cowboy for steering WorldCom’s growth in the late ’90s, reportedly dabbed his eyes with a tissue after the judge read his sentence.
He would not be eligible for prison release until he was 85.
WorldCom’s fraudulently reported earnings allowed it to acquire dozens of companies with stock and caused competitors to struggle to match its phantom growth.
But WorldCom’s stock tumbled in 2002, once the extent of the company’s accounting fraud became clear. The company soon filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
It emerged from bankruptcy as MCI Inc, the name of one of its previous acquisitions. In May, it agreed to itself be acquired by Verizon.
Ebbers remains free on bail until October 12 when he has been ordered by the judge to report to prison.
Ebbers lawyer Reid Weingarten reportedly said he would appeal the sentence.
The problem is that Bernard Ebbers was transformed into a symbol of corporate corruption, Weingarten told reporters after the sentencing.
Five other former WorldCom executives and accountants face sentencing this summer. All have pleaded guilty.
