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| WorldCom Fraud InfoCenter is an
Internet resource that offers you an opportunity to research the WorldCom
scandal and your legal rights associated with WorldCom fraud. WorldCom Fraud
InfoCenter does not offer legal advice or referrals. |
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| WorldCom Fraud Information |
WorldCom Fraud Information
In June 2002, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawyers filed
civil fraud charges against WorldCom for what would later be estimated
at over $9 billion worth of accounting errors.
When was the fraud discovered?
While the current suit wasn’t filed until June 2002, it is apparent
that some in the public were aware of illegal practices at WorldCom
over a year earlier. A previous lawsuit was filed in June 2001 by
several WorldCom shareholders, only to be thrown out. That suit
included testimony from a dozen former WorldCom employees, detailing
the same problems that would eventually bring about the company’s
downfall.
How was the fraud committed?
Financial executives at WorldCom exercised various methods of hiding
expenses for a period of more than two years between 2000 and 2002.
They delayed reporting some expenses and misrepresented others to give
investors the appearance of growth during secretly hard times.
What is the current status of the case?
The Justice Department has brought criminal charges against several
company executives, four of which have pled guilty. Meanwhile, the SEC
continues to pursue the civil case that it filed in June. So far, they
have uncovered more than $9 billion in erroneous accounting. This has
led to a partial settlement for an undisclosed fine and the right to
continued government oversight of company operations.
The court-appointed monitor for WorldCom’s affairs, Richard Breeden,
said that this settlement represents a step in the right direction, but
expects more company resignations as the case is pursued further.
Former chief financial officer Scott Sullivan maintains his innocence
in the face of an indictment, and other executives are suspected but
have yet to be charged directly.
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