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CHICAGO---Last month, a federal appeals court ruled that former Illinois governor George Ryan can stay out of prison while he appeals his convictions of racketeering and fraud.
Now he's suing to keep at least part of his $197,000 state pension.
Ryan, 72, was convicted in April of 22 felony counts of mail fraud, money laundering, extortion, obstruction of justice and bribery while he served as secretary of state and governor between 1991 and 2003. He was sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison and was supposed to begin serving his sentence on Jan. 4.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, Ryan and his attorneys are arguing that at least a third of his pension, $65,000, was earned prior to 1991 during previous public service and that he should be allowed to keep that portion of the pension. The General Assembly Retirement System board had voted to remove his entire pension following his convictions.
The jury found that Ryan accepted gifts, cash and vacations to Jamaica and Walt Disney World in Florida in return for awarding state contracts for computer systems, license plate stickers and other work. He also had staff members work on his campaign during state hours of employment.
Ryan, a Republican was part of wide-sweeping corruption probe which ended his political career in 2003 and resulted in charges against 79 state workers and lobbyists. Ryan's co-defendant, Larry Warner, 67, Ryan's close friend and lobbyist, was convicted of all 12 counts in the indictment against him.
After the trial was underway, two jurors who had failed to disclose prior arrest records were dismissed. Lawyers for the former Governor have appealed the verdict and requested a new trial.
According to pension officials, Ryan may be eligible for a refund of about $235,000 which he paid into the system. 12-28-06
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© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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