Ex-Gov. Ryan sentenced to 6½ years (Illinois)

Chicago Tribune ^ | September 6, 2006 | Matt O’Connor

[RWR8189]

Former Gov. George Ryan was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison today following his historic conviction for steering lucrative state business to cronies in return for vacations, gifts and other benefits for himself and his family.

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

Federal prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 8 to 10 years.

But defense attorneys argued before U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer that even a sentence of up to 30 months could deprive Ryan, 72, of the last healthy years of his life. Ryan is said to be suffering from Crohn's disease and diabetes.

Ryan was ordered to surrender to begin serving his sentence Jan. 4.

Pallmeyer postponed ruling on a defense request for Ryan to remain free on bond while he appeals his conviction, a process that could take months. Prosecutors asked for additional time to respond in writing.

Ryan's sentence represented the stiffest doled out in Operation Safe Road, the eight-year federal probe that exposed rampant bribery in state driver's license facilities and then brought down Ryan's inner circle and finally Ryan.

[RWR8189]

That crook got off too easy IMHO.

[pierrem15]

Should have been hung, then gibbeted.

Of course if they did that for every crooked Illinois politician, you'd be able to smell the rot all the way to Ohio.

[DAC21]

Was this the clown that was married to that hottie Actress Jeri Ryan?

[avg_freeper]

Is George Ryan related to Jack "SevenOfNine just doesn't do it for me" Ryan?

[WKUHilltopper]

If he was four feet tall, they wouldn't even send him to jail.

[RWR8189]

Heh, no.

That was Jack Ryan.

We also had a fellow run for governor in 2002 named Jim Ryan.

George Ryan is the crook and RINO among them, they're all unrelated.

[weegee]

Don't think so. He looks too old.

He's this clown:

"raised the national debate on capital punishment by issuing a moratorium on executions in 2000 "

[avg_freeper]

"Was this the clown that was married to that hottie Actress Jeri Ryan?"

No, this is an older dude. But I'm wondering if they're related.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

That was Jack Ryan.

I think we're done with Ryans for a while here.

[RWR8189]

See post 6

[jmq]

Different Ryan. Jack I believe, no, not our Jack Ryan of the CIA, some Politician who like to see his wife in strip clubs.....

[litehaus]

3 cheers for the state where SHOEBOXES were made famous by a politician..........

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

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

You know, George, if you had had this revelation in about 1990 or so, you could have spared the state -- and yourself -- a lot of trouble.

Enjoy your retirement.

[Larry Lucido]

Growing number of CBS affiliates refusing to carry profanity laden program

How many people did this MF deprive of the right to carry arms? I'm still glad I voted for Glen Poshard.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Yep. I remember that one too. Good ol' Paul Powell. There must be something in the water here.

[DonnDe]

But defense attorneys argued before U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer that even a sentence of up to 30 months could deprive Ryan, 72, of the last healthy years of his life

Works for me.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

In addition to steering state business to cronies, Ryan was convicted of gutting corruption-fighting efforts to protect political fundraising and misusing state resources for political gain.

Ryan is now trying to figure out why he's in the clinker for this while Bubba Krinton is traveling the world spending his bribe money in luxury. It all depends on who you are, Georgie-boy.

[Wings-n-Wind]

Criminal George Ryan -- DHIMMI-CRAT.... Illegal-noise...

Some of this info is conspicuous by it's absence...

[RWR8189]

Ryan was actually a giant RINO.

In 1998 he defeated a pro-life Democrat for the governorship.

[Rembrandt_fan]

The article read, "But defense attorneys argued before U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer that even a sentence of up to 30 months could deprive Ryan, 72, of the last healthy years of his life."

Yes, it would, but a betrayal of trust of this magnitude merits the 'last healthy years of his life' in trade, and even then, it isn't nearly enough. Equating bribery with treason (as I do) and making it a crime punishable by death might clear up this problem once and for all.