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TechnographRyan convicted, receives 6 1/2 years in prison
Eight-year investigation reaches end
By The Associated Press
Posted: 9/7/06 Section: News
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CHICAGO - Former Gov. George Ryan, who gained international fame as a critic of the death penalty, was sentenced Wednesday to 6 1/2 years in federal prison for steering big-money state contracts to political insiders, using taxpayer dollars for his campaign and other offenses.
"When they elected me as the governor of this state, they expected better, and I let 'em down and for that I apologize," the 72-year-old Ryan told U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer before she imposed the sentence.
"The jury's verdict speaks for itself in showing that I simply didn't do enough - should have been more vigilant, should have been more watchful, should have been a lot of things, I guess," Ryan said.
Ryan called it "the saddest day of my life" and asked the judge to give him a break "if you believe there is some good in me and my life is not solely confined or defined in the pages of an indictment."
Ryan was convicted April 18 of racketeering, mail fraud, tax fraud, filing false tax returns and lying to FBI agents. Convicted along with him was businessman Larry Warner, who received a sentence of just under 3 1/2 years.
The sentencing capped an eight-year federal investigation of corruption in state government in the Ryan era that has seen 79 individuals charged and 75 convicted.
"Government leaders have an obligation to stand as the example," Pallmeyer said. "Mr. Ryan failed to meet that standard."
Ryan, who was joined by about a dozen family members, was stoic and showed no tears as Pallmeyer imposed the sentence - exactly the same sentence she ordered for Scott Fawell, Ryan's former campaign manager and top aide.
One Ryan daughter did lift a handkerchief to her mouth as Pallmeyer imposed the sentence. As for his wife of 50 years, Lura Lynn, Ryan said: "We face the prospect of involuntary separation and it's very excruciating to us."
Lead prosecutor Patrick Collins referenced Fawell in arguing for a tough sentence for Ryan.
"When they elected me as the governor of this state, they expected better, and I let 'em down and for that I apologize," the 72-year-old Ryan told U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer before she imposed the sentence.
"The jury's verdict speaks for itself in showing that I simply didn't do enough - should have been more vigilant, should have been more watchful, should have been a lot of things, I guess," Ryan said.
Ryan called it "the saddest day of my life" and asked the judge to give him a break "if you believe there is some good in me and my life is not solely confined or defined in the pages of an indictment."
Ryan was convicted April 18 of racketeering, mail fraud, tax fraud, filing false tax returns and lying to FBI agents. Convicted along with him was businessman Larry Warner, who received a sentence of just under 3 1/2 years.
The sentencing capped an eight-year federal investigation of corruption in state government in the Ryan era that has seen 79 individuals charged and 75 convicted.
"Government leaders have an obligation to stand as the example," Pallmeyer said. "Mr. Ryan failed to meet that standard."
Ryan, who was joined by about a dozen family members, was stoic and showed no tears as Pallmeyer imposed the sentence - exactly the same sentence she ordered for Scott Fawell, Ryan's former campaign manager and top aide.
One Ryan daughter did lift a handkerchief to her mouth as Pallmeyer imposed the sentence. As for his wife of 50 years, Lura Lynn, Ryan said: "We face the prospect of involuntary separation and it's very excruciating to us."
Lead prosecutor Patrick Collins referenced Fawell in arguing for a tough sentence for Ryan.
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