Judge orders early prison release for former WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers

Dec. 18 (UPI) -- A federal judge on Wednesday authorized the early release from prison of former WorldCom Inc. CEO Bernard Ebbers due to his deteriorating health.

Judge Valerie Caproni granted a request from Ebbers' family to release the 78-year-old 13 years into his 25-year sentence for his role in what is described as the largest fraud in U.S. corporate history.

Ebbers' family told the court he has dementia, had lost a great amount of weight and is legally blind.

Federal prosecutors in a court filing last month suggested Ebbers was faking his illness to be granted early release.

In 2005, he was convicted on charges of conspiracy, securities fraud and filing false statements in WorldCom's collapse in an $11 billion accounting scandal.

Ebbers was set to remain in prison until 2028 before Wednesday's ruling.