* Ali Ata cooperated with the government and will avoid prison…

Ali Ata will not go to prison for his role in the “pay-to-play” scheme of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Ata is the former head of the Illinois Finance Authority. He was appointed to that post by Blagojevich after making a pair of $25,000 contributions to the Governor.

Ata pled guilty to making false statements to a government agent and to filing a false income tax return in 2002.

He has already paid $150,474 in restitution and was fined $50,000 on top of the four-year probation sentence.

* The US Attorney’s office and Ata’s defense counsel both argued for a light sentence…

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fox said Ata is the most “honorable man” among all of the defendants in the case and said his testimony was important in winning the convictions of the former governor and of political fixer Tony Rezko.

Ata, a chemical engineer, was let go by Nalco, the Naperville company where he’d worked for 25 years, soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, according to his lawyer, Thomas McQueen. Ata was questioned by the FBI following the terrorist attacks and, because of his name, was asked to take a retirement package, McQueen said.

It was after his job dismissal that Ata focused on his real estate investments and met Rezko, McQueen said.

Ata fell under Rezko’s “spell,” he said.

In court, McQueen said that once Ata got away from Rezko’s influence, he was able to “right his wrong.”

* His firing because of his name after 9/11 was taken into consideration by Judge James Zagel…

Zagel said that seemingly wrongful dismissal may have been a significant factor in Ata’s decision to depart from an otherwise useful and honorable career.

* The Sun-Times tells us who got what so far…

† Tony Rezko, former top fund-raiser for Blagojevich and President Barack Obama, shook down companies seeking state business: 10 1/2 years in prison.

† John Glennon, a former adviser to now-imprisoned ex-Gov. George Ryan, covered up kickbacks that involved Stuart Levine, who was convicted of corrupting two state boards Blagojevich controlled: Two years of probation.

† John Harris, Blagojevich’s former chief of staff, helped Blagojevich try to sell an appointment to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Obama: 10 days in prison.

† Alonzo “Lon” Monk, law school roommate and former chief of staff who schemed with Blagojevich to get rich off state deals: Two years in prison.

† Joseph A. Cari Jr., tried to extort an investment company that sought pension-investment business from Blagojevich’s administration: Three years of probation.

* One Blagojevich-related defendant still awaiting sentencing is Bill Cellini. His lawyers are asking for a delay…

Attorneys for a Springfield powerbroker with links to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich are expected to ask for a delay to his sentencing hearing scheduled for Monday.

William Cellini’s lawyers requested a hearing for Wednesday to argue for a later sentencing date. But the motion they filed in federal court in Chicago was sealed and so their grounds for a delay weren’t clear.

Cellini’s sentencing hearing was already delayed once. Prosecutors have asked that he get up to 8 years behind bars.

*** UPDATE *** Cellini’s sentencing was, indeed, delayed today until October…

Cellini, 77, was scheduled to be sentenced July 23 but his attorneys asked U.S. District Judge James Zagel to postpone the date because of Cellini’s failing health.

Cellini’s attorneys said that their client suffered a heart attack in June. A few days later, he suffered a blood clot, they said.

Cellini’s lawyer Dan Webb wouldn’t comment further but said Cellini’s doctors were made available to prosecutors.

“The issue is Bill’s health and whether he can travel for sentencing,” Webb said.

Prosecutors did not object to the continuance request.