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Former Ill. governor gets 78 months

CHICAGO, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Former Republican Illinois Gov. George Ryan was sentenced in Chicago Wednesday to 6 1/2 years in federal prison for racketeering, conspiracy and mail fraud.

Lawyers for the stoic 72-year-old Ryan had appealed for a lenient sentence or probation while prosecutors had argued for a sentence of at least eight years, the Chicago Tribune reported.

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Ryan, the third Illinois governor convicted of wrongdoing in office, was found guilty April 18 of awarding state contracts and business to friends and backers in return for gifts, vacations and cash; corruption in fundraising and misusing state resources.

His high-profile trial lasted 5 1/2 months.

"People of this state expected better, and I let them down," the misty-eyed one-term former governor said in a statement before sentencing. He said he was proud of his accomplishments during 36 years of public service.

Ryan's co-defendant and friend, businessman Lawrence Warner, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and other charges.

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