Good News!
- The federal judge who sentenced former Gov. George Ryan to 61/2 years in prison in 2006 refused Tuesday to release him early from custody, saying that while she was saddened by his wife's terminal illness, Ryan was to blame for his own plight.
Ryan's wrongdoing "has exacted a stiff penalty not only for himself but also for his family," U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer concluded near the end of her 58-page ruling.
Coming a few days before Christmas, the decision is a bitter blow for Ryan's family. The former governor's son and namesake, George Ryan Jr., paused to keep his composure as he started to address more than a dozen reporters and photographers in front of the family's Kankakee home and then in a shaky voice ripped the ruling as "heartless and cruel."
"Is this what American justice is now?" he said.
Why, yes, yes it is.
Labels: corruption, state politics
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
54 Comments:
Meanwhile the biggest crook in the states history rides off into the sunset having stolen millions upon millions leaving the city in ruins. Yeah justice is fair.
Big Jim Thompson was dissapointed with the decision. I'm glad. How many innocent police officers did You prosecute in order to make a name for yourself. Go f**k yourself big jim
Glad to see a Judge with some Balls,well in spirit anyway.
This is not fair. The Bureau of Prisons should allow Lura Lynn to become his cellmate just so they can be together in Terre Haute.
How many people have lost loved ones while serving their time? Should everyone be let go to tend to them? Or only Ryan because he's so special? Free Cozzi first. There would be some justice! F*ck Ryan. I'm sure the family who lost all their children are satisfied with this ruling, Christian or not!
Cruel, heartless, mean. Sort of like prison is supposed to be.
Ask Rev Willis and his family about cruel and heartless. Look at the scars on his hands from trying to pull his 6 children from the burning hulk of their mini-van. And if you could, look into his memories of watching his 6 children being burned to death in front of his eyes.
Then let me know if you feel any compassion at all for George and Lura Lynn Ryan.
The Ryan family has not yet begun to comprehend what cruel and heartless really means.
Let six of them climb into a van with a 5 gallon can of gasoline, ignite same and allow their remaining family members to watch.
That will begin to educate them in what cruel and heartless means.
FREE COZZI
The distance between Kankakee illinois and Terre Haute Indiana is only 140 miles, how far is Bill Cozzie from home??
With all that has happened up to now, this was a welcome relief. Hearing a judge tell a politician that he was responsible for his own actions (or in actions) just brought a tear to my eye.
This just brings a renewed sparkle to the holiday season.
God bless us one and all!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Did you notice who the Ryan family attorney is, none other than former Cook County Public Defender Andrea Lyons. Fuck her, fuck them. And Big Jim Thompson didn't give a flyin' fuck about the families of a copper he indicted for recieving two bottles of bourbon for Christmas from a 015th district saloon owner.
Why isn't the media splashing stories on every channel that Bill Cozzi should be able to spend Christmas with his family?
Where are all the lawyers wanting the spotlight screaming "Fix this injustice!"?
Funny how those of influence and celebrity seek out (and many times get) leniency and repeated probation (Hollywood justice - Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton,etc.), whereas those of lesser means and anonimity are simply told "justice will be served".
Did they ever say they were sorry to the family whose children burned to death? That was heartless and cruel. It amazes me how these asshole politicians feel that they have a RIGHT to steal and suffer no consequences for the plight they leave the public in as a result of their corruption.
Merry Christmas...the following on Rahm's question and answers for Mayoral canidates.
"The Superintendent’s contract expires early in the next mayor’s term, and Mr. Weis has indicated that he will not seek another contract."
The only bright spot I saw. The rest is political double talk.
Too bad she didn't tell his son this: "We don't have all the criminals, but we have your Dad."
Hey Georgie-Boy, I just received a call from Nelson Muntz. He wanted me to relay the following message: "HA HA" !!!!
Scott and Janet Willis are gonna have a crappy Christmas this year too. Just like they have every year. Maybe the torment the Ryan family is now experiencing will give them...just a taste...of what it's like.
Sorry, no compassion here. None.
I've said it before and 'still' believe it... Winston and Strawn law firm did not defend and continue to appeal on behalf of Ryan to the tune of 'tens of millions of dollars' out of the goodness of their lawyer hearts.
(lawyer/heart= oxymoron)
As vice governor under big Jim Thompson and confidant of over 30 years, Ryan knows all about Thompson, Webb et al and the skeletons in their respective closet(s).
The pro bono defense is to assure the continued tight lips of Ryan.
Then again, while he seems to be a bulldog when it comes to political prosecutions, I doubt if US Atty. Fitz would actively seek out criminal information on a fellow former US Attorney like Thompson.
Thompson and Fitzgerald both are cut from the same cloth when it comes to questionable prosecutions of the po-lice.
AS far as Laura Lin (sp?) is concerned, I wouldn't wish cancer on anyone, but the fact that he/they 'only' withdrew a few hundred dollars from their checking account throughout his entire tenure as governor leads a blind man to see that she was knowledgeable and likewise culpable.
I rest my case your honor.
Judge Pallmeyer made the right
decision because to let Ryan out
early would have set a dangerous
precedent for those other bozos who
are looking for a get out of jail
free card. And that old adage " don't do the crime if you can't do
the time " still holds true.
Fuck Him. He's a big jagoff. LMFAO
As much as I do not care for any politician. Ryan,is not a violent offender yet he rots in prison while violent offenders are on parole with ankle bands and kill Police Officers. Go figure.
Mrs Ryan benefitted directly from George's corruption, that was proven in court.
George has yet to apologize or even cop to his crimes. Either he is deluded in still thinking he is innocent, he is nuts or he is psychotic.
Admitting to what you did is a big part in whether or not get out of the joint early.
Watch President Sotoero commute his sentence soon.
Learn your lessons.
Sell Drivers Licenses, not Senate seats.
Don't go outside the machine that protects you.
If you want to steal successfully in Illinois, make sure you are a democrat.
I hope this leaves a few politicians with some sleepless nights.
"When will they catch me? When will the knock on the door come?"
I'm suprised, no one mentioned all the people he screwed, many honest people were fired, denied promotions or not hired when he was Sec of State.
He ruined many lives for decent, honest folks. Not to mention, all the damage done by unqualified people ( many illeagal aliens ) who were driving around with hige trucks, just smashing into things without a care in the world.
fkn ryan never apologized for the death of the 6 kids , thompson put coppers in jail for shaking down taverns
peanuts compared to what ryan stole
I agree he needed to do jail time. But the guy has served 3 yrs and is 76yrs old. There are violent felons with extensive criminal records that dont get this kind of time. At this point i think he has paid his debt to society and should be allowed to see his dying wife at home.
Bill Cozzi can't even get tranferred closer to home. What has Ryan got on Thompson?
Ryan could have originally pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal and serve a year. He chose to go to trial and drag it on for four years instead. Guess he made the wrong decision. Too bad!!!
Screw these privileged politicians. He's a convicted felon serving his sentence, yes George jr.justice would have him serving many more years, along with quite a few more Illinois politicians. We have got to stop settling for less integrity form our politicians than our auto mechanics and plumbers.
Jim Thompson, as governor, sent teams around the state to survey state property.
At some state prisons, there was found many pieces of fine oak furniture in the administration offices.
He had this furniture declared obsolete and replaced them with mental fixtures.
The fine oak items were sold at auction, at short notice, and resale brought the "insiders" an huge profit.
Thompson, the crook, should be in a cell next to Ryan.
He should spend every second of every day apologizing and repenting for the Willis family. He can enjoy spending time with his buddies that he took off death row.
Yes Virginia..There is a Santa Clause!
Correct about Lura Lynn. If she didn't know most of what Georgie-Porgie was doing, there ain't no pudding in that pie! Who do you think helped him count all that loot as they left their "fundraisers"
Lovely to see a judge with some stones. You want an early out, George? Here, hop in this van and we'll set it on fire. Sound familiar?
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
Every six months Ryan's attorneys ask for early release because his wife is sick. She has been sick since his trial started. Only now they say she is REALLY sick and will die. Nothing has changed since the start and for once, it's good to see a judge not cave.
As for Jim Thompson, he was on the Sun Times board of directors when Conrad Black stole everything and old Big Jim didn't notice a thing. He's an idiot also.
We would like to thank everyone who turned out yesterday to help Jon Burge during his trials and tribulations.
We hope that his health improves and he is allowed a new trial that will not be tainted by the People's Law Office.
Fuck Ryan and fuck Thompson!!!!! He already did three yaers and should be let out. Fuck that,Cozzi rots in a Federal prison serving 5 years for a slap, a offense he had already served at the state level. Thompson said some murders dont even get that sentence Ryan recieved. Exactly an unjust miscarriage of justice upon Bill Cozzi! Commute his sentence then we can talk, until then BOO FUCKIN HOOO! Rot in jail !!!!
It is about time all criminals serve their full sentences no matter the situation!
That is what jail is supposed to be! PUNISHMENT!
Oh well asshole, can't do the time, then don't do the crime!
Da Pelon
Remember the days of former Secretary of State Paul Powell and the shoe boxes full of money found after his death in his house. Where has this former Secretary of State hide the money ? Play to pay in Illinois Politics
Best part about it is if he had plead guilty he would have been out already.
I have appeared before Judge Pallmeyer for decades . . . when she was with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, when she was a U.S. District Court Magistrate Juedge, and since she became a U.S. District Court Federal Judge. She is a smart-and compassionate-jurist, and her opinion is right on the money. If anything, the sentence imposed was too light.
American Justice he asks!!! Yes, I think it is. Had his father plead guilty he would have been home by now.
Can't imagine the pain the Willis family has edured and continue to endure.
I Work 99 said...
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
12/22/2010 12:44:00 PM
And keep your eye on the sparrow
Anonymous said...
Bill Cozzi can't even get tranferred closer to home. What has Ryan got on Thompson?
12/22/2010 10:31:00 AM
Ryan has age and Terra Haute has a geriatric care facility inside. He also has the goods on Big Jim. George Ryan was Secretary of State under Jim Thompson. Do you think those fundraisers were only for George Ryan? Does anyone not realize that Big Jim Thompson also benefited via the same fund raising schemes? Just call Big Jim Thompson "un-indicted co-conspirator T."
I agree he needed to do jail time. But the guy has served 3 yrs and is 76yrs old. There are violent felons with extensive criminal records that dont get this kind of time. At this point i think he has paid his debt to society and should be allowed to see his dying wife at home.
I understand your compassion, but lets keep it real. What about all the people who had to suffer because George commuted all of those murder convictions? The only reason he did that was because he hoped it would help keep him out of jail. George knew that every one of those murderers were guilty, but he still did it as a political ploy. So I say he should do every single day of his sentence.
His bs political ploy not only brought back bad memories for the victims families, but it also cost us the tax payers millions of dollars in frivolous bs lawsuits.
Not to mention many people are in prison who do not get to go to a family memebers wake or funeral, so what makes George so special? Nothing, he is a scum bag, greedy politician.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I agree he needed to do jail time. But the guy has served 3 yrs and is 76yrs old. There are violent felons with extensive criminal records that dont get this kind of time. At this point i think he has paid his debt to society and should be allowed to see his dying wife at home.
--------
He should rot in prison. Remember he's the one who commuted the death penalty for some of the most brutal, heinous killers who were ever put behind bars.
Judge Pallmeyer,
Thank you for your thoughtful handling of this matter. Most taxpayers believe you made the right call. Some even have an idea about the difficulty of doing the right thing.
Coincidental that Thompson presents the plea right before the holidays.....you know they thought doing this would be a shoe-in...how can you refuse something like this at Christmas time? Well, I feel bad his wife is not well, but plenty of other felons have family members that are dying, too...and I'm betting they don't get an early release because mom or dad or wife is severly ill.
I agree he needed to do jail time. But the guy has served 3 yrs and is 76yrs old. There are violent felons with extensive criminal records that dont get this kind of time. At this point i think he has paid his debt to society and should be allowed to see his dying wife at home.
12/22/2010 10:28:00 AM
Look, they make examples from the police...look at Cozzi,he bitched slapped a piece of shit that was sitting in a wheelchair, not because he was crippled, it's because that's what was available at the time, the media didn't tell you that. Cozzi gets 4 years for bitch-slapping a drunken, beligerent guy with a rap sheet a mile long even though he took his punishment by way of suspension w/out until JFed came along.Then they put Cozzie in a prison 1500 miles away from home. You couldn't get felony review to grant charges on that on joe schmoe let alone a misd charge in misd court....it would be thrown out.
Now here you have political corruption at it's finest.
They got to stick to their guns when it comes to corruption, otherwise it will never stop. How many politicians haven't been investigated and should be investigated and indicted??? Why should George get out early, he didn't even admit to his crimes and he got pro bono defense, you or I would have gone bankrupt and would have lost our homes....Lura Lynn is still in her home, still has her checking account. Let her kids take her to see George the next few months, at least they don't have to drive 1500 miles to see him.
Big Jim Thompson was dissapointed with the decision. I'm glad.
********************************************
Jim Thompson Fuck you and that little "Howdy Doody" prick former prosecuter. What Goes around comes around.
He did the crime, now he'll do the time !!!!!!!!!
From a troll: Let me get this straight. The bar proclaims how wonderful Pallmeyer is with fair and even handed judicial temperment. And the media darlings just love reporting what the bar has to say naturally. They do not question any of these shitty attorneys about compassion which is good bucause lets face it folks, compassion is not an attribute attributable to lawyers is it? Wondering how much Joe Powers made on the Willis case? I call bullshit. There would have been nothing wrong with letting Ryan out on a furlough for a week or two or a month. Then he can go back. It is to benefit her, not him. If Quinn can let 1800 shitbags out early to reoffend against us, I think Pallmeyer could have done the honorable and decent thing to let Ryan out on furlough. But that is just me thinking. By the way, what has been Quinns punishment for poor judgement and misconduct? Oh, he was re-elected. That is just freaking great.
"If Quinn can let 1800 shitbags out early to reoffend against us, I think Pallmeyer could have done the honorable and decent thing to let Ryan out on furlough. But that is just me thinking. By the way, what has been Quinns punishment for poor judgement and misconduct? Oh, he was re-elected. That is just freaking great.
12/23/2010 10:30:00 PM"
do you also get confused when eating apples and oranges?
There would have been nothing wrong with letting Ryan out on a furlough for a week or two or a month. Then he can go back. It is to benefit her, not him. If Quinn can let 1800 shitbags out early to reoffend against us, I think Pallmeyer could have done the honorable and decent thing to let Ryan out on furlough. But that is just me thinking. By the way, what has been Quinns punishment for poor judgement and misconduct? Oh, he was re-elected. That is just freaking great.
12/23/2010 10:30:00 PM
Ryan is a convicted felon, so 'honorable and decent' no longer apply to him. Pallmeyer made the right call. It is not 6 and a half years, but you can get out for any important stuff you need to get done. It's prison.
I personally wouldn't be opposed to letting him have furlough, but I would be *totally* opposed to early release.
Seriously, one of the gravest punishments exacted by the justice system is when someone you love dies while you're in. Yes, it's awful, yes, it's unfair, but it's the outcome for the risk you took when you took those gains from crooked actions.
I totally disagree with statements like "Ryan is a convicted felon, so 'honorable and decent' no longer apply to him".
People can and do rehabilitate and see the error of their ways, but Ryan still has a tab due to society that he must pay. We can't make that judgment call about him until that debt is paid.
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