George Ryan

George Homer Ryan, Sr. (February 24, 1934 - ?) is the former governor of the American state of Illinois, noted for commuting 160 death sentences in response to allegations of torture against corrupt cop Jon Burge, and for declaring the suspension of the death penalty in 1999.

Corruption scandal

In 1994, while Ryan was secretary of state, a terrible road accident occurred in Wisconsin. Six children were killed and their parents, Janet and Duane Willis, were badly burned. An investigation named Operation Safe Road uncovered a system of corruption inside Ryan's office, where drivers who failed their driving tests would receive licences by bribing officials. 76 former state officials were convicted on corruption charges. Ryan's campaign manager, Scott Fawell, along with former deputy campaign manager Richard Juliano, was convicted of racketeering and fraud in 2003. Roger Stanley, a former Republican state representative who had worked for Ryan, pleaded guilty to money laundering and fraud.

In December 2003, former governor George Ryan and lobbyist Lawrence Warner were charged with racketeering, bribery, extortion, money laundering and tax fraud. Ryan was also accused of obstructing justice by trying to end Operation Safe Road to avoid being caught, accepting money in return for his actions as governor and using campaign money to pay his housekeeper. He was found guilty on all counts, although two of them were later dismissed. He was jailed for five years, followed by seven months under house arrest.