Sep 5, 2006 9:41 am US/Central
Former Gov. Ryan To Be Sentenced Wednesday
Defense: Long Prison Term Would Take Away Ryan's Last Healthy Years
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Former Gov.
George Ryan is to be sentenced on Wednesday after being convicted on corruption charges.
Prosecutors want Ryan to face a minimum of eight years in prison. The Chicago Tribune reported that attorneys want a lighter sentence, saying a long prison term would take away the last healthy years of the 72-year-old Ryan's life.
Ryan was convicted in April of racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, tax fraud and lying to
FBI agents. Longtime businessman and Ryan friend
Larry Warner, 67, also was convicted at the seven-month trial.
Among other things, prosecutors presented evidence that as secretary of state and later governor Ryan steered big-money contracts to Warner and other insiders and used taxpayer dollars for political campaign purposes.
Evidence showed that Ryan dismantled the inspector general's department in the secretary of state's office -- possibly to cover up evidence tying campaign fundraising to the sale of truck drivers licenses.
The Rev.
Scott Willis, whose six children died in a fiery expressway tragedy later linked to the licenses for bribes scandal, had asked to speak at Ryan's sentencing hearing. Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer denied the request, but said a written submission would be accepted.
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
