[JURIST] Former WorldCom accounting executive Betty Vinson was sentenced Friday to five months in jail with an additional five months under house arrest for her role in the $11 billion fraud at the telecommunications giant that resulted in its bankruptcy. Vinson initially pleaded guilty to fraud in October 2002 and later aided the government's prosecution of former WorldCom Chief Executive Bernie Ebbers [JURIST news archive], who was recently sentenced to a 25-year prison term [JURIST report]. At Ebber's trial, Vinson claimed she was pressured in 2000 into making improper accounting entries to keep the stock from plummeting. Accountant Troy Normand is likely to face sentencing later today as well. AP has more.
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