Ex-governor convicted of racketeering

updated 2:33 p.m. ET April 17, 2006

CHICAGO - Former Gov. George Ryan, who drew international praise when he commuted the sentences of everyone on Illinois’ death row, was convicted of racketeering and fraud Monday in a corruption scandal that ended his political career in 2003.

Ryan, 72, sat stone-faced as the verdict was read and afterward vowed to appeal.

“I believe this decision today is not in accordance with the kind of public service that I provided to the people of Illinois over 40 years, and needless to say I am disappointed in the outcome,” the former governor said.

Ryan faces up to 20 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy charge alone, the most serious against him in the 22-count indictment. The jury found him guilty of all counts, including fraud, obstructing the Internal Revenue Service and lying to the FBI.

Co-defendant Larry Warner, a Chicago businessman and Ryan friend, was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, attempted extortion, illegally structuring bank withdrawals and money laundering.

Neither man took the stand during their six-month trial.

$25 million IBM deal
Prosecutors accused Ryan of steering big-money state contracts and leases, including a $25 million IBM computer deal, to his friends and political insiders while he was secretary of state in the 1990s and then as governor starting in 1999.

In return for that help, Ryan was rewarded with annual winter vacations in Jamaica, stays in Cancun and Palm Springs and gifts ranging from a golf bag to $145,000 in loans to his brother’s business, prosecutors said.

Warner, 67, raked in $3 million from Ryan-era deals, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald — who during the trial was also leading the federal investigation into the leak of CIA officer Valerie Plame’s identity.

The case against Ryan and Warner was the state’s biggest political corruption trial in decades, and it had it share of troubles.

In late March, months of testimony nearly went down the drain when the judge discovered two jurors had failed to mention past arrests on their court questionnaires. Rather than declare a mistrial, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer decided to replace the two jurors with alternates and, over the objection of Ryan’s attorneys, ordered the jury to start deliberations over.

The new jury had deliberated for 10 days when it announced its verdict Monday.

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Texas raid nets 20,000 exotic animals Man in court over ’81 ‘Octopus Murders’ case DNA testing clears man who served 28 years   Custody dispute may have led to shooting deaths Calif. police fatally shoot woman on playground Jury convicts Seattle Jewish center shooter Cops accused of cover-up in immigrant attack Ohio court: Cell phone searches need warrant Feds arrest 26 in massive Medicare fraud Husband of missing Utah mom isn’t talking Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: