* 10:19 am - From Natasha Korecki’s Twitter page…
Breaking: VERDICT reached by Cellini jurors. Will be read at noon, according to Clerk of Court
*** UPDATE 1 *** WBEZ has the best breakdown of the counts against Cellini…
The jury found Cellini guilty of:
Count 2 – Conspiracy to Extort – Cellini knowingly joined a conspiracy – He knew what Rezko and Kelly were about and he didn’t walk away and he knew they were trading state contracts for campaign contributions to Blagojevich.
Count 4 – Aiding and Abetting Bribery – Cellini knowingly aided and abetted an agent of a state agency (Levine in his role as a TRS trustee) in corruptly soliciting something of value in connection to official state action.
He was found not guilty of:
Count 1 – Conspiracy to defraud – Defendant knowingly joined a conspiracy to use Levine’s role as a public official to defraud the people of Illinois, specifically the teachers who entrusted Levine to act with their best interests at heart.
Count 3 – Attempted Extortion – Cellini knowingly attempted, with Levine, to get money from Rosenberg. They threatened to hold back Rosenberg’s $220 million allocation believing that that would force Rosenberg to pay the bribe. This count also requires that the extortion could have potentially affected interstate commerce which it would have as the $220 million would have been invested in companies nationwide.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Chris Wetterich talked with Dick Ciccone, Bill Cellini’s spokesman, about an appeal…
Cellini plans appeal, Ciccone says. They were pleased that he was found not guilty on “the two most serious charges.”
Ciccone noted that Cellini was convicted of conspiracy to extort but not attempted extortion.
“Inconsistencies in a verdict are fertile ground for appeal,” Ciccone said.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Statement from defense attorney Dan Webb…
“We are very gratified that the jury found Mr. Cellini not guilty of the most serious charges in the indictment. Mr. Cellini was found not guilty of the major conspiracy count, Count 1, in which the government alleged a conspiracy to commit honest services crimes for 15 months. Further the jury found Mr. Cellini not guilty of even attempting to extort money from Mr. Rosenberg, Count 3.
“Whatever the jury determined Mr. Cellini did to be guilty of a conspiracy to commit extortion, Count 2, that conduct did not even rise to the level of being an attempted extortion.
“As far as the counts on which Mr. Cellini was found guilty, we are confident we will be able to obtain a reversal on appeal.”
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- unclesam - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:35 am:
Rich, what’s the over/under? My gut tells me the tapes (and the laugh) were crucial and he will be found guilty.
- tubbfan - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:35 am:
For my money, he will be found “guilty.” I don’t believe Stu Levine’s character will sway the jurors against a guilty verdict. The testimony of that Hollywood guy was pretty damning as well as the “listen to the sound of corruption” quote from the prosecutors.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:38 am:
Even Blago had a locked jury the first time around. Only takes one juror. Prediction: not guilty.
- Publius - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:38 am:
So this will finally mean that we can see sentencing for our former beloved governor too in the near future? They were waiting for this trial to end, were they not?
- OneMan - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:42 am:
I would put $10 on Not Guility
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:43 am:
Suprised for Aquittal … not suprised for Hung Jury …
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:52 am:
That was quick.
Despite what they tell you, the presumption of guilt among juries is strong, the thought being, the nice folks from the government wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble if the defendant wasn’t guilty of something.
They would have taken more time if they were going to discount the government’s case.
Prediction: Guilty.
- downstate hack - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:52 am:
No hung Jury. They have a verdict. A weak case; I predict not guilty, but who knows.
- Quinn T. Sential - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:58 am:
My prediction stands as not guilty; or over-turned on appeal if necessary.
- langhorne - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:00 am:
i expect a guilty verdict. as unsavory as levine is, the tapes and rosenbergs testimony i think will carry the day for the prosecution. they must have been very near a verdict when they met last to conclude so quickly today.
- Knome Sane - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:04 am:
My prediction: Split decision. Guilty on two, acquitted on two.
- Esquire - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:05 am:
Going back in the to an earlier prosecution, which involved a more than a few of the same players, will Tony Rezko ever be sentenced? If he receives credit for time served prior to sentencing, he may have completed his sentence or become eligible for parole in the interim.
Early on, there was speculation that he would be cooperating with the Feds and acting as a government witness, but I have seen no indication of that actually happening.
My instinct is that Cellini may be found guilty not so much due to the quality of the US Attorney’s case, but because the jurors may simply be disgusted with “Pay to Play” politics in Illinois generally and say damn them all anyway. The case against Cellini is thin gruel, but there is enough to convict.
- chad - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:05 am:
While there are evidentiary weak points in the case against Cellini, a key factor individual members of the jury will privatly consider is whether he is viewed as having assembled “ill-gotten-gains”. This question is not in the jury instructions, but the tapes and other evidence presented certainly places the subject matter in play — and not in a manner favoring the defendant.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:07 am:
C’mon people, just wait another hour and spare us the predictions. Some of you are going to look very foolish and the others will be insufferable in their gloating.
- Aristotle - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:15 am:
Once they got his nickname “The Pope” in front of the jury, it was over.
- PaGo - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:34 am:
I predict a verdict at 12:12pm.
- amalia - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:04 pm:
Rich, once again, awesome coverage. thanks for pulling together all the live streams.
- Shore - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:24 pm:
guilty on 2 of 4 counts. what were 1 and 3 that he was not guilty of?
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:24 pm:
Knome Sane wins a cigar.
- Bob $hellander - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:27 pm:
So he is only half guilty?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:28 pm:
Oxford has a new resident in its future … but short-term for sure
- Joe from Joliet - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:30 pm:
…So he is only half guilty?…
He is a fully convicted felon.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:32 pm:
I think he’s too old for Oxford. He’ll likely be going to Indiana.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:35 pm:
then the irony would continue, eh Rich. You could have had Eddie V., George, and Cellini at the same lunch table … with Rod serving the meals (Rod ain’t going to Indiana!). What a difference 10 years makes.
- who else burns - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:35 pm:
he’s 76–got loads of cash but not much time–he is going to squeel like a pig–
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:38 pm:
who else burns …
Last on the Bus, means no seat for the tush.
If Cellini would have rolled a couple years ago, he would get far less than the “months” he is going to get now. Webb rolled the dice and it came up snake eyes …
- nino brown - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:40 pm:
how long does he get?
- Laura - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:43 pm:
When sentencing, is age and health status a consideration?
- Jim - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:45 pm:
Cellini, in my view, was always the biggest fish the feds were after, no matter that Blago was governor.
Now he’s in deep trouble, facing prison at his age.
But he deserves what he’s going to get and a whole lot more.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:46 pm:
I think “health” is a consideration for “location”. “Age”, isn’t too often, I believe, a “strong” factor in the length of a prison term.
- In absentia - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:47 pm:
Probably appeal?
- Bill - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:50 pm:
Another one bites the dust.
Can we get rid of SuperFitzie now?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:59 pm:
11, 1, 11 … “One” time five “aces” didn’t help.
I would guess they are going to try to appeal and keep Bill out, but I dunno if that would fly with this judge.
- Cook County Commoner - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:09 pm:
Could Ryan, Blagojevitch and Cellini all end up being together for a period of time in the Terra Haute lock-up? Ryan’s not scheduled to walk until July 4, 2013, according to the Federal Dept. of Prisons’ website. Two former Illinois governors and a Springfield power-broker all wearing a jumpsuit could pose for a group photo, which would be prominently displayed in the 1st Floor Rotunda of the Capitol Building. And excerpts from wiretaps would be playing gently in the background. Maybe Cellini can “convince” Holywood the trio are worth a reality show.
- nino brown - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:09 pm:
will any media call Peter Fitzgerald today?
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:14 pm:
High marks to Fitzgerald, his team, and the FBI.
- PPHS - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:18 pm:
I predicted this. I would have like to see Cellini plead guilty to a lesser charge. There will be no slap on the hand, now.
Yes, Indiana would probably be an option, if Bill has medical issues, which I believe that he does. Blago will go elsewhere.
- Hi - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:45 pm:
George Ryan’s comment: At least I didn’t have to pay Webb his legal fees for the same result.
- Plutocrat03 - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:05 pm:
Cellini is a lucky man. Hope he likes a structured environment.
Bravo Super-Fitz. It sure is great that he is in such a target rich environment.
“Can we get rid of SuperFitzie now?”
My hope is that he is only getting started. Lots of the current and former city hall types still roaming around free….. I hope they are nervous!
- mokenavince - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:08 pm:
The Teflon Don has finally got caught.Blago screws up another career.What about the hotel that
he bought and were still paying for. Seems like to old Capone verdict where they got him
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:17 pm:
This is one weird verdict. Contradictory in many regards.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:18 pm:
For instance, I thought they had Cellini on the “Rosenberg believed a message was sent by Levine through Cellini” charge. He was acquitted of that attempted extortion charge.
- PPHS - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:21 pm:
I agree that the verdicts sound goofy. I wouldn’t want to be judged by a jury of my peers.
I suppose that the appeal will be lengthy.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:34 pm:
Every defense lawyer says there are strong grounds for appeal. There rarely are.
Verdicts don’t have to be entirely consistent.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:39 pm:
what are the sentencing guidelines for the counts he was found guilty of?
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:43 pm:
A costly appeal will drag on for a couple more years at least and even if successful, it simply means Cellini will stand trial again. Assuming the tapes aren’t excluded at the next trial, I think he still gets convicted on the same two counts.
Webb is ready and billing (I mean willing) to appeal. But if Cellini doesn’t get bail on appeal, his sentence will likely be finished before his retrial could be scheduled and his reputation can never be repaired after those tapes were played in open court.
They’ll appeal, but if Cellini has anything he wants to share with the U.S. Attorney, it might help him at sentencing, or maybe even getting bail while the appeal is underway.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:09 pm:
Unless Judge Zagel finds a significant possibility of his own error — wich is unlikely, Cellini is highly unlikely to get bail pending appeal.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:14 pm:
Ryan initially got an appeal bond.
- Louis Howe - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 4:10 pm:
Edgar’s comments indicate that he’s still clueless about the misdeeds during the GOP “Golden Age.” Twenty-six years of continuous GOP dominance led to Cellini types running state government. The verdict was long overdue and a welcome statement that the public was finally fed-up.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 4:18 pm:
But where, oh where, is Bill’s office mate and compadre, Big Bob $hellander, aka “Individual K” in all of this?
Perhaps he got an early seat or two on the bus?
- LincolnLounger - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 4:33 pm:
I wasn’t at the trial nor did I hear all the evidence. That being said, I don’t understand this verdict at all. It’s like the jury just wanted to split the difference and ended up issuing a verdict that conflicts itself.
I’ll believe Bill Cellini going to prison on the day I witness it.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 4:41 pm:
-”I think he’s too old for Oxford. He’ll likely be going to Indiana.”
Can we give him a tax break to stay? Can’t afford to lose another mover & shaker in the Illinois economy.
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 4:49 pm:
I’m guessing most of you on here haven’t had a lot of direct experience dealing with BC on state government contracts, leases, so forth. You primarily know only what you’ve heard or read from others.
I had a great deal of direct experience with him. He is very bright, very well organized and thorough, very persistent. He represented blue-chip clients (notice the return on investment his fund got for TRS), think IBM and similar.
He never, ever asked me to do anything I thought was even remotely illegal. I’m very sad at what has happened. From personal experience I don’t believe he deserved this.
- soccermom - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 5:10 pm:
Schnorf — I know how it feels to see people that you worked with, liked and respected treated harshly in the media and in the courts. It’s tough to watch. My sympathies on a rough day.
- Bill - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 5:38 pm:
==He never, ever asked me to do anything I thought was even remotely illegal. I’m very sad at what has happened. From personal experience I don’t believe he deserved this.==
I feel the same way about Rod.
- Anon again - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 6:04 pm:
Good people do bad things and most get caught he deserves his time just like blgo ryan levine
- Ain't No Justice - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 6:56 pm:
Steven, I have to agree with you but one point…BC was too intelligent to hang with Blago. I still can not get over that one! I know his family and some of his personal battles, but I imagine he will eventually walk.
- Buckley-Reagan - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 7:35 pm:
Most of you are blind to the fact that he kept company and dealt with Levine. Amazing how Levine can be classified as a dirtbag, but Cellini is deemed respectable. He had more than the King Midas touch going when it came to making money off state government. I pay a lot of taxes and he was enriched over the years by it. Now I will be paying to feed and house the Illinois Combine in prison. We just keep paying the bill one way or another!
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 8:11 pm:
Do federal prisons allow toupees?
- Objective Dem - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 8:36 pm:
I would really like to see a newspaper do a story on Cellini, his business with the state, and sources of clout. It might help dispel people’s attitude’s that he is an innocent man, unfairly convicted.
Years ago a reporter for State Journal Register told me that they weren’t allow to write anything critical of Cellini. The Chicago media hasn’t done any better. I found it interesting this weekend while the jury deliberated there was a huge article in one of the Chicago daily’s about how Levine was a big dirtbag but barely a word on Cellini’s influence.
I remember a deal where Cellini bought Concordia Seminary in Springfield and turned around and leased it to the state at a nice profit within the week.
I remember when he was head of the state asphalt association, the state changed the formula to increase the asphalt used in highways. It made for more potholes and road construction, but his people made money. Part of the process was firing a state employee who wouldn’t agree to prepare a false study showing the higher percentage of asphalt was better. I heard rumors that the Sec. of Transportation later owned the Black Angus with Cellini as an investor.
I saw Springfield destroyed (in my opinion) by the numerous second class office buildings built by Cellini and others all over the City in formerly residential zones. Instead of a core sector where state offices are within walking distance, we have a pathetic downtown and a city dominated by parking lots.
I saw Illinois politics devolve into a cesspool of patronage so bad that the US Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional twice. Who was the head of patronage at the time? Janis Cellini, Bill’s sister.
Remember the default on the hotel loans? Who got the first riverboat license in the state? What else occurred that we don’t know about?
The exact details of my rant may not be exact, but I’m sure you get the picture. I have no doubt that Cellini is smart, hard working, charming etc, etc. But as a citizen of Illinois, I view him as one of the major reasons that the state is so corrupt. I’m very happy to see him convicted and hope the sentence is as long as possible. (But I wouldn’t mind if he got a deal for spilling the dirt on other dirty politicians. LOL)
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 9:40 pm:
The Tribune’s former managing editor is Cellini’s spokesman?
Wow. This case really does sum it all up.
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:20 pm:
I absolutely see that your rants aren’t exact (your words)
- Springfield Resident - Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:38 pm:
Mr. Schnorf, If you want something more exact how about Cellini paying $50k for the Alton Casino license and making more than $60 million off of it.
Cellini’s deals with the State go back 40 years. Objective Dem isn’t claiming to know the details, but saying that a good reporter should expose these details.
One thing that has gone without comment is that Cellini placed Principal Schmidt on the TRS board so that he would vote for another Cellini ally. The Republican party has promoted Schmidt’s son to State’s Attorney and then judge. It is my understanding this is how Cellini works, by doing taking care of his friends, he has people in positions of influence throughout the government.
I can give you the specific names of a person I worked with that who freely used their connections with him to intimidate superiors. I know the best friend of the person who was head of testing at IDOT when they requested a study that showed asphalt was superior to concrete. He wouldn’t do it and was demoted and never got another promotion. His former assistant was promoted and gave them the study (comparing a road in western Il to a Chicago expressway). The former assistant was then given a job at the asphalt association. Illinois also pays more for asphalt than any of our neighboring states.
People seem to forget that con men are confidence men. They get your confidence by being charming and impressive. Mr. Cellini charmed a lot of people and the taxpayers paid for it.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 2, 11 @ 12:09 am:
=Do federal prisons allow toupees? =
I know I don’t have to say it, but THAT was not ME. (Crass.)
- Sick of It All - Wednesday, Nov 2, 11 @ 2:11 am:
Wow. My hats off to Attorney Fitzgerald. He is awesome. But, Cellini will appeal and may get it overturned. I thought he would walk. The case seemed weak to me. Cellini deserves prison…he has helped to ruin Springfield and this state. He has made obscene profits. Does Fitzgerald sleep with one eye open? I would, because Cellini is “connected” in more ways than one and with more nefarious sorts that just politicos. This is well known among those in the know…
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 2, 11 @ 2:59 am:
Anonymous, you really need to get a real handle.
- Objective Dem - Wednesday, Nov 2, 11 @ 8:50 am:
Thanks Springfield Resident.