CHICAGO (WBBM/CBS 2) -- Former Governor George Ryan will have to start serving his 6 1/2 year prison sentence while he appeals his conviction on fraud and racketeering charges.
WBBM's Regine Schlesinger reports.
The 7th Circuit Court of appeals denied the former governor's latest bid to stay out of prison Wednesday while he appeals his case to the US Supreme Court.
The U.S. Attorney's office on Tuesday had filed a motion asking that Ryan and his co-defendant Larry Warner start serving their prison sentences.
Last week, the full appeals court rejected his bid to overturn the verdict. Prosecutors argued that his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was a long shot at best and that it's unlikely the high court will hear his case.
Ryan has already been assigned a number in the federal prison syste. He and co-defendant Larry Warner were told they must surrender by Nov. 7 if their appeals failed.
Even if the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear the case, Ryan may not be done with his appeals. CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller says his lawyers could file another series of appeals – not on legal grounds, but on constitutional grounds.
Ryan's wife, Lura Lynn, said her husband was not available when reached by phone at the couple's Kankakee home. ``We had not heard this,'' she said. ``I have no comment.''
Contents of this site are Copyright 2007 by WBBM. CBS 2 contributed to this report.
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