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Ryan Apologizes For 'Letting Down' Illinoisans

Deaths Of Six Children In Crash Not To Be Considered In Sentence

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CHICAGO (CBS) ― Former Gov. George Ryan apologized on Wednesday for letting down the residents of Illinois before he was to be sentenced on racketeering and fraud charges stemming from a corruption scandal that ended his political career in 2003.

"People of this state expected better, and I let them down," Ryan said in a statement delivered to the courtroom.

In preparing to hand down her sentence, U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer also listened to arguments from federal prosecutors and Ryan's defense attorneys.

Earlier, Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer said she will not consider the deaths of six children in an accident connected to an unqualified driver when she sentences Ryan.

Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer says the Willis children's deaths were tragic but cannot be used to enhance Ryan's sentence for his convictions on racketeering conspiracy and other charges.

Those deaths occurred in a 1994 crash involving a trucker with a bribe-tainted license. The children's father, the Rev. Scott Willis, had asked to speak at Ryan's sentencing hearing, but Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer denied the request. Pallmeyer did allow Willis to submit a letter, and Scott and Janet Willis were present for the sentencing hearing.

As of just before 3 p.m., Ryan had yet to be sentenced, but had been ordered to pay $603,048 in restitution.

Ryan and co-defendant Larry Warner were convicted of racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, tax fraud and lying to FBI agents.

Ryan is 72, and everyone is wondering how, or if, that will affect the judge's decision for the length of his sentence.

The Ryan sentencing has been the talk of the city and elsewhere.

This morning, newspaper vendor Jeremy Price was shouting the stories of the day. That meant a call of, "Today, Ryan gets sentenced."

And residents were weighing in right away.

"Finally, a high-ranking official is going to pay for he did," Price said.

The question remains of how long Ryan will spend in prison.

Ryan's attorneys have argued he is ailing and suffering from Crohn's disease, and a long sentence could mean he dies in prison.

They have said his work over the years should be considered, and have been arguing for a shorter sentence.

But, Scott Fawell, the former governor's campaign manager and chief of staff, is serving 6-1/2 years in prison, and prosecutors have said anything less for Ryan would not be fair.

CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller said Ryan was certain to get more time in prison than his own attorneys want.

"His attorneys are asking for 30 months," said CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller said. "That's not going to happen."

Miller said on the CBS 2 Morning News that a longer stay behind bars is more likely because of federal sentencing guidelines, and the sentence even longer if Pallmeyer gives considerable weight to Willis' letter.

"Janet and I rejoice in the airing of the truth," Willis said after Ryan's conviction.

Chicago residents were split when it came to what the Willis accident should mean for Ryan's sentencing.

"For the family that lost in the tragedy that started the whole thing, I think he should get at least 50 years – 50 years per child," Chicago resident Frank Aldama said.

But Chicago resident Frances Rogers said: "(Ryan) wasn't behind the wheel. He might have made a mistake, but he did not commit murder."

Rogers said the judge should consider Ryan's work as a public servant, his age, and the word that he is ailing before handing down a sentence.

While that matches the defense team's contention, Miller said, "This judge wants to deter other public servants from doing the same thing, and that's going to be the main thrust in asking for eight to 10 years despite his health and age."

But the popular radio talk show host Cliff Kelley, who 20 years ago served nine months after a federal conviction for taking bribes that he still claims were campaign contributions, says Ryan is too old, too sick, and did too many good things to warrant a stiff sentence.

"Their request for sentence should be in keeping with what really happened, and in this instance eight to ten years is a death sentence," Kelley said. "I don't think that's right."

Another major question is whether Ryan might offer some kind of apology before sentencing.

Right after his conviction in April, Ryan said, "I believe the decision is not in accordance with my over 40 years of public service, and needless to say, I am disappointed in the outcome."

Miller said Ryan would be between a rock and a hard place if he admitted guilt.

"If he says, 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it, judge, it won't happen again, I've learned my lesson,' he's then taking an appeal away," Miller said. "He's basically admitting that he committed a crime, and his attorneys will have a tough time trying to get conviction overturned -- yet if he does say, 'I'm sorry,' he may get a lesser sentence."

On Tuesday, Rob Warden, the director of Northwestern University's Center on Wrongful Convictions, said it was not clear whether Ryan was likely to speak, but it was also unlikely that he would admit guilt.

"I'll bet you they don't even know right now," said. "I'll bet they go right down to the wire… weighing this and deciding whether they will [speak] or not."

To Northwestern's wrongful convictions unit, Ryan's death penalty moratorium made him a hero. Warden spoke with the former governor several times this weekend. If Ryan does make a statement, Warden has a pretty good idea of what he'll say.

"I'm quite sure he can express remorse for errors in judgment, but I don't think he'd entertain for a second the admission he committed a crime," Warden said.

Ryan's attorneys have also asked Judge Pallmeyer to consider allowing an appeal bond, under which the former governor could stay out of prison pending an appeal.

Warner will also be sentenced today. He faces three to five years in prison.

Stay with CBS 2 and cbs2chicago.com for more.

(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)