Former Illinois governor convicted of racketeering

Former Gov. George Ryan, who drew international praise when he commuted the sentences of everyone on Illinois' death row, was convicted of racketeering and fraud Monday in a corruption scandal that ended his political career. Ryan, 72, faces up to 20 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy, the most serious of the charges in the 22-count indictment.

The jury found him guilty on all charges. Ryan was accused of steering big-money state contracts and leases, including a $25 million IBM computer deal, to his friends and political insiders. In return, Ryan was rewarded with annual winter vacations in Jamaica, stays in Cancun and Palm Springs and gifts ranging from a golf bag to $145,000 in loans to his brother's business, prosecutors said, reports the AP.

N.U.