Blagojevich sentencing set for Oct. 6

CHICAGO, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Chicago Monday set Oct. 6 as the sentencing date for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, convicted on 17 corruption counts.

Blagojevich was convicted in a scheme to cash in on President Barack Obama's Senate seat after the 2008 election.

The ousted governor also faces sentencing on an 18th count for a conviction from his first trial last year, which yielded a deadlock on most charges, the Chicago Tribune reported.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel presided over both trials.

The prosecution has not indicated how much prison time it will request, but it could be a decade or more. Blagojevich's predecessor, George Ryan, is serving a 6 1/2-year term for his federal corruption conviction from 2006.