Dec. 7 -- Ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, convicted of political corruption is determined today to address the judge rejected his claim that he deserves leniency because he never collected money in exchange for official acts.
Blagojevich lawyer said U. S. District Judge James B. Zagel in Chicago yesterday that 15 to 20 years in prison, prosecutors offered to its customers with 18 sentences in the two studies is too stiff given that they received campaign donations and other personal benefits he asks. The judge replied that the former governor is expected to be more than 1600000 dollars and is responsible for its efforts, including trying to sell the former U. S. Senate seat Barack Obama.
"Governor of Illinois has the power to cause significant penalties for those who do not pay," said Zagel.
The judge said that although twice elected Democrat would be entitled under federal sentencing guidelines imprisonment for 30 years to life, that severe punishment is "simply not appropriate in the context of this case."
Blagojevich, 54, led the fifth most populous U.S. state since January 2003 for his impeachment and removal from January 2009. He was arrested a month earlier, U. Chicago S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald at the time as "political corruption crime Spree."
His sentencing hearing began on Monday and the judge is expected to impose punishment today. Blagojevich lawyer Carolyn Gurland, Zagel said yesterday that the defendant intends to address the court.
Gurland said yesterday that illegal economic benefit to the Government of the reason that his client is too speculative and should not be a factor in their beliefs.
'Received Nothing'
"Here, Mr. Blagojevich received anything and never received anything," says Gurland. He also claims that he was influenced by this, it works.
Assistant U. Attorney Reid Schar C. fight this thing is what I wanted Blagojevich, not what he really was.
Zagel rejected the claim of his client Gurland is a follower than a leader, and refers to the wiretapped recordings of the governor heard during his trial.
"With these bands, I do not think it's easy to stop," said the judge who was appointed to bench in 1987, Republican President Ronald Reagan.
History of Corruption
Gurland also asked the judge not to impose harsh sentences, simply because Illinois is political corruption or because the predecessor Blagojevich, George Ryan is in prison, only 6 1 / 2 years. Ryan, a Republican, was convicted in 2006 for trading political favors gifts, trips and money.
"This is not necessarily the right strategy to double down" if the current approach to prevent these crimes does not work, he said. "If it does not work, do not apply to him anymore."
Such an approach, Gurland said, is "manifestly unfair to Mr. Blagojevich".
Another defender, Sheldon Sorosky, also called leniency, calling Blagojevich crimes "relatively minor mistake."
"They are right, they are minimal compared to the scandalous behavior of wrong in those other cases," he said, referring to Ryan of Illinois and other state and local officials who were responsible for past corruption.
'Tragic Figure'
Defense, called Blagojevich "tragic figure" in court filings in December first claimed deprivation of liberty should be longer than 51 months, and require less.
The prosecutor said that the only significant punishment can deter potential future offenders in areas where the last four nine governors have been convicted of crimes before, during or after they are in office.
Blagojevich was charged with 24 criminal counts in 2009. The jury deadlock in 2010, 23 24 charges, his sentence simply lying to federal agents.
Prosecutors dropped three matters before the trial, which ended with a new jury found him guilty of 17, including all 11 Senate seat opposition. Jurors deadlock two counts and acquitted him together.
They found that the former governor guilty of 10 of wire fraud, two counts of attempted extortion and extortion conspiracy on two grounds, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was also convicted of corruption inquiries, which has a maximum of 10 years, corruption, conspiracy and two counts, which carry top sentences of five years.
Tony Rezko
Antoine "Tony" Rezko, a former fund-coach for Blagojevich and Obama received 10 1/2-year sentence in federal court in Chicago on 22 Nov for his role in a scheme to take bribes from companies receiving investment activities of the state teachers' pension system, and companies that may be helpful in making hospital construction certificates.
Prosecutors said Rezko and Ryan cases the Court on November 30 filing urged Zagel is "to prevent current and future employees to participate in criminal activities such as Blagojevich".
"Blagojevich sitting governor of Illinois, where he made a crime," they said. "As president of the state, Blagojevich is the special position of responsibility to society. Abuses its mandate is particularly dangerous because I think people put it in Illinois."
Stephen A. Miller, a former federal prosecutor who is now a staff defense attorney, agreed to a phone interview last week.
"It will be a penalty, which takes oxygen from the courtroom when he announced that" Miller, a partner in the Chicago office of Pittsburgh-based Reed Smith LLP. He predicted that in 14 years.
'Reform Candidate'
"He ran as a reform governor candidate," said Miller, who served 18 years as a federal prosecutor in Chicago, four of the leading division responsible for prosecuting corruption in state government before private practice in 1997.
"Hypocrisy is huge," he said.
Miller said that the history of public corruption Illinois has not abated crime.
"There is disappointment in the court," he said. "It never seems to end." Ryan's sentence, he said, is likely to be too light and should not be used as a benchmark punish Blagojevich.
James Montana, another former federal prosecutor now in private practice as a criminal lawyer staff, Blagojevich said he expects to receive over 12 years.
"Rezko for 10 years, and Rezko is not official," said the lawyer. "More than 10 years but less than 15 years must comply with terms anyone to justice."
Case is against U.S. Blagojevich, 08-CR-888, U. S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Chicago).
Blagojevich lawyer said U. S. District Judge James B. Zagel in Chicago yesterday that 15 to 20 years in prison, prosecutors offered to its customers with 18 sentences in the two studies is too stiff given that they received campaign donations and other personal benefits he asks. The judge replied that the former governor is expected to be more than 1600000 dollars and is responsible for its efforts, including trying to sell the former U. S. Senate seat Barack Obama.
"Governor of Illinois has the power to cause significant penalties for those who do not pay," said Zagel.
The judge said that although twice elected Democrat would be entitled under federal sentencing guidelines imprisonment for 30 years to life, that severe punishment is "simply not appropriate in the context of this case."
Blagojevich, 54, led the fifth most populous U.S. state since January 2003 for his impeachment and removal from January 2009. He was arrested a month earlier, U. Chicago S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald at the time as "political corruption crime Spree."
His sentencing hearing began on Monday and the judge is expected to impose punishment today. Blagojevich lawyer Carolyn Gurland, Zagel said yesterday that the defendant intends to address the court.
Gurland said yesterday that illegal economic benefit to the Government of the reason that his client is too speculative and should not be a factor in their beliefs.
'Received Nothing'
"Here, Mr. Blagojevich received anything and never received anything," says Gurland. He also claims that he was influenced by this, it works.
Assistant U. Attorney Reid Schar C. fight this thing is what I wanted Blagojevich, not what he really was.
Zagel rejected the claim of his client Gurland is a follower than a leader, and refers to the wiretapped recordings of the governor heard during his trial.
"With these bands, I do not think it's easy to stop," said the judge who was appointed to bench in 1987, Republican President Ronald Reagan.
History of Corruption
Gurland also asked the judge not to impose harsh sentences, simply because Illinois is political corruption or because the predecessor Blagojevich, George Ryan is in prison, only 6 1 / 2 years. Ryan, a Republican, was convicted in 2006 for trading political favors gifts, trips and money.
"This is not necessarily the right strategy to double down" if the current approach to prevent these crimes does not work, he said. "If it does not work, do not apply to him anymore."
Such an approach, Gurland said, is "manifestly unfair to Mr. Blagojevich".
Another defender, Sheldon Sorosky, also called leniency, calling Blagojevich crimes "relatively minor mistake."
"They are right, they are minimal compared to the scandalous behavior of wrong in those other cases," he said, referring to Ryan of Illinois and other state and local officials who were responsible for past corruption.
'Tragic Figure'
Defense, called Blagojevich "tragic figure" in court filings in December first claimed deprivation of liberty should be longer than 51 months, and require less.
The prosecutor said that the only significant punishment can deter potential future offenders in areas where the last four nine governors have been convicted of crimes before, during or after they are in office.
Blagojevich was charged with 24 criminal counts in 2009. The jury deadlock in 2010, 23 24 charges, his sentence simply lying to federal agents.
Prosecutors dropped three matters before the trial, which ended with a new jury found him guilty of 17, including all 11 Senate seat opposition. Jurors deadlock two counts and acquitted him together.
They found that the former governor guilty of 10 of wire fraud, two counts of attempted extortion and extortion conspiracy on two grounds, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was also convicted of corruption inquiries, which has a maximum of 10 years, corruption, conspiracy and two counts, which carry top sentences of five years.
Tony Rezko
Antoine "Tony" Rezko, a former fund-coach for Blagojevich and Obama received 10 1/2-year sentence in federal court in Chicago on 22 Nov for his role in a scheme to take bribes from companies receiving investment activities of the state teachers' pension system, and companies that may be helpful in making hospital construction certificates.
Prosecutors said Rezko and Ryan cases the Court on November 30 filing urged Zagel is "to prevent current and future employees to participate in criminal activities such as Blagojevich".
"Blagojevich sitting governor of Illinois, where he made a crime," they said. "As president of the state, Blagojevich is the special position of responsibility to society. Abuses its mandate is particularly dangerous because I think people put it in Illinois."
Stephen A. Miller, a former federal prosecutor who is now a staff defense attorney, agreed to a phone interview last week.
"It will be a penalty, which takes oxygen from the courtroom when he announced that" Miller, a partner in the Chicago office of Pittsburgh-based Reed Smith LLP. He predicted that in 14 years.
'Reform Candidate'
"He ran as a reform governor candidate," said Miller, who served 18 years as a federal prosecutor in Chicago, four of the leading division responsible for prosecuting corruption in state government before private practice in 1997.
"Hypocrisy is huge," he said.
Miller said that the history of public corruption Illinois has not abated crime.
"There is disappointment in the court," he said. "It never seems to end." Ryan's sentence, he said, is likely to be too light and should not be used as a benchmark punish Blagojevich.
James Montana, another former federal prosecutor now in private practice as a criminal lawyer staff, Blagojevich said he expects to receive over 12 years.
"Rezko for 10 years, and Rezko is not official," said the lawyer. "More than 10 years but less than 15 years must comply with terms anyone to justice."
Case is against U.S. Blagojevich, 08-CR-888, U. S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Chicago).
