Ex-Rite Aid boss Bergonzi may get a lesser sentence

Former Rite Aid chief financial officer Frank Bergonzi is likely to escape a maximum five-year jail sentence for his role in an accounting scandal.

According to US press reports, he will be shown leniency because he played a minor role in the events that led to Rite Aid restating earnings in 1998 and 1999 by US$1.6 billion (£905.4 million).

Bergonzi, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy, will be sentenced next week, as will former Rite Aid vice-president for pharmacy purchasing Eric Sorkin and former Rite Aid senior vice president of store development Philip Markovitz.

Sentencing dates are still to be set for others involved.