Illinoians....the Ryan verdict is in...

[mrsv98]

so what do you think? Guilty? I bet the parents of the 6 kids killed in Wisconsin hope it is guilty.

Verdict is being read in 10 mins......

 

[Kitka]

I do think it will be guilty. Based only on the evidence I know of, I'd say that would be the correct verdict. But not sitting in on the case it's impossible to know what kid of case the prosecution put on.

 

[mrsv98]

WOW...guilty on all counts. That is a shocker. Of course with the trouble the jury had, I am sure the appeals are already written and it will be years before he ever sees a jail cell.

 

[troy mcclure]

At least the jury had the courage to reach a decision and I am sure it is the right one. It's probably true that it will be ages before Ryan sees the inside of a cell, if ever. But he certainly deserves to lose his freedom. It's too bad the jury had those problems. It will certainly provide plenty of fodder for appeals.

 

[Chicago526]

GUILTY!!!

 

[mrsv98]

Did anyone see the news conference with Dan Webb and George Ryan after the verdict? Ryan seemed so smug and completely non-apologetic. Not that I expect him to do a mea culpa but geesh, show some humility, and I have NEVER liked Dan Webb, slimy at best.

Cudos to the jury who have given close to a year of their lives to come to this verdict.

 

[troy mcclure]

I watched it on the Internet... Ryan was indeed quite smug but I am sure this is eating him and his wife alive. Of course they're going to put on a "game face" for the media and Webb's probably got them convinced they can overturn the conviction on appeal. He'll pull out all the stops and push every/any angle.

Take comfort in the fact that for now, at least, he's a convicted felon.

 

[lilprincessnbuzz]

What's the story, I haven't heard about it? Thanks

 

[mrsv98]

What's the story, I haven't heard about it? Thanks

Former Gov Ryan was indicted on several charges of corruption and racketeering going back to when when he was Sec of State. It all started with a license for bribe scandal that resulted in the deaths of 6 children. They were in a car that was hit by a truck driven by a man who bought his license. That started the ball rolling. It really expanded into an 8 year probe with 66 indictments and 64 convictions.

There will be automatic appeals because two jurors had to be replaced and alternates used, among other issues but it is nice to see some sort of justice done, especially for the porr Wilgus children.

Here is a report:

Ryan convicted in corruption trial
Co-defendant Warner also guilty

By Matt O’Connor and Rudolph Bush
Tribune staff reporters
Published April 17, 2006, 3:03 PM CDT


A federal jury convicted former Gov. George Ryan today on all charges that as secretary of state he steered state business to cronies in return for vacations, gifts and other benefits for himself and his family.

Lobbyist Lawrence Warner, a close Ryan friend, was also found guilty on all charges against him in the historic trial.

On their 11th day of deliberations, the six-woman, six-man jury found Ryan, 72, guilty on 18 counts of racketeering, mail fraud, false statements and tax violations. Warner, 67, was convicted on 12 counts of racketeering, mail fraud, extortion, money laundering and evading cash-reporting requirements.

The racketeering conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Meeting briefly with reporters in the Dirksen Federal Courthouse lobby after the verdict, Ryan said he would appeal.

"The decision today is not in accordance with the kind of public service I've given to the people of Illinois over 40 years," the Kankakee Republican said.

But at a separate news conference, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Grant said he hoped today's verdict ends "political prostitution" in Illinois, "and begins the resurrection of honest government services in this state that so many people have demanded."

"In this country, in this democracy, no one is above the law,'' Grant said.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Patrick Collins, lead prosecutor in the case against the former governor, said at the same news conference, "A lot of critics indicated that this trial took too long, that we put on too much evidence."

"But there was no smoking gun in this case," Collins said. "This case was tried witness by witness, piece of evidence by piece of evidence, and it was only by looking at the totality of the case that the true picture could be shown to this jury.

"And that was a picture of corruption of the highest levels of government."

As for Ryan's vow to appeal, Collins said, "We have confidence this verdict will stand."

Dan Webb, Ryan's lead attorney, said the defense team first would try to overturn the verdict, and if that fails there would be an appeal. He said grounds for overturning the verdict would be based on "unusual developments during jury deliberations."

"Much of that is under seal, although that seal will be lifted and you all can make your judgment yourself how unusual the developments have been during this jury deliberation," Webb said.

The verdict came three weeks after U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer excused two jurors during deliberations following Tribune stories that both apparently had concealed arrest records during jury selection in September. Rejecting defense calls for a mistrial, Pallmeyer added two alternates in their place and ordered that deliberations restart from scratch on March 29.

The initial eight-day deliberations had been plagued by apparent infighting among jurors, prompting Pallmeyer at one point to instruct them to treat one another "with dignity and respect."

The same problems didn't appear to be taking place with the jury after the two alternates were added. The jury didn't send out any notes raising questions or problems in the final days of deliberations.

Speaking with reporters after the verdict, juror Charles Svymbersky said the panelists delayed announcing their finding until after the holiday weekend because, "We had some things to settle at the very last minute and some people wanted to think about some things."

Another juror, Denise Peterson, praised jury forewoman Sonja Chambers.

"It's been very stressful for all of us, but she did such an amazing job," Peterson said. "She kept us all in hand and made sure we did our job, and we did, we did our job. It was a very long process, and she kept us right on task."

continue >>

 

[Jon99]

While I don't agree with what he did, I wish everyone would know the real Ryan.. He has been one of my better lawncare/landscape clients over the last decade, hate to see it happen because he is a real good man..

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

GUILTY!!!

Amen.

A public servant who betrayed us all and was responsible for the death of innocents. Put his sorry butt in jail.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Amen.

A public servant who betrayed us all and was responsible for the death of innocents. Put his sorry butt in jail.

(And that I agree with you, Joe! )

 

[bevtoy]

Amen.

A public servant who betrayed us all and was responsible for the death of innocents. Put his sorry butt in jail.

What Joe said.......... !

 

[Jon99]

Amen.

was responsible for the death of innocents.

Certainly a stretch!

 

[allisonswonderland]

The man should have never been Govorner, they should have elected former Congressman Glenn Poshard!!!!!

 

[allisonswonderland]

The man should have never been Gov, it should have been former Congressman Glenn Poshard!!!!! The man is smug

 

[mrsv98]

Certainly a stretch!

No not a stretch. If not for the corruption in the Sec of State's office, then the truck driver would not have been able to get the license. The Willis family was devestated because of what he allowed to happen.

Just because he commuted the sentences of the death row inmates does not make him a humanitarian. He may be a "real good man" he is a corrupt politician who should be held accountable for his actions.

 

[Free4Life11]

I'm glad of the verdict. I agreed with what he did with the death penalty sentences, but he was still corrupt. It's nice to see corrupt politicians getting what they deserve!

 

[alite]

On my way to work I was listening to the press conference a little after the verdict was read. They asked the leading prosecuter, now that the trial is finaly over, what are your plans now. He said, I'm going to Disneyworld . None of this suprises me though. The news said that Illinois was ranked in the top three in the country for corrupt politicians.

 

[RAD]

That now makes three Illinois goveners that have been convicted during my lifetime. Kind of makes you wonder how many other officials in this state have also broken the law but haven't been caught because their too far down the food chain. Also wonder how much longer it will be before they go after King Richard since the corruption in Chicago has been getting closer and closer to the mayors office.