- previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- | single page
"If the official is making important decisions based on his kickbacks rather than the best interest of his constituents, that's fraud," he said.
- - -
The road to indictment
The federal indictment against former Illinois Gov. George Ryan charges him with conspiracy and fraud. Scandal during his tenure as secretary of state led to the Operation Safe Road probe.
1994
Nov. 8: Ryan is re-elected secretary of state. A highway crash caused by a truck driver with a fraudulent license kills six children.
1997
Sept. 2: Ryan formally launches his campaign for governor.
1998
Sept. 3: Authorities raid the Melrose Park driver's licensing facility, the first public indication that a probe into licenses for bribes is under way.
Nov. 3: Ryan is elected governor.
1999
December: Fourteen current or former secretary of state employee is convicted for taking bribes to fix driving tests.
2001
Aug. 8: Ryan announces he won't seek a second term.
Jan. 17: Dean Bauer, former inspector general, pleads guilty to covering up corruption to protect Ryan.
2002
April 2: The federal government indicts Scott Fawell, Ryan's chief of staff, and Ryan's campaign committee, Citizens for Ryan, on public corruption charges.
April 18: Richard Juliano, deputy chief of staff, admits he was part of a plan to marshal state employees to work on state time in Ryan's campaign for governor.
May-June: Several Ryan associates, including Lawrence Warner, Donald Udstuen, Alan Drazek and Roger Stanley, are indicted on federal charges that they used clout to make money off the state.
2003
Jan. 13: Ryan leaves office.
Dec. 3: Alexandra Coutretsis, Fawell's assistant and longtime girlfriend, pleads guilty to perjury and agrees to become a federal witness. She later persuades Fawell to cooperate.
March 19: Federal jury finds Fawell and Citizens for Ryan guilty. is the first time in U.S. history that a political organization has been convicted of racketeering.
Dec. 17: Ryan is indicted and weeks later pleads "absolutely not guilty" to corruption.
Source: Tribune reporting
----------
rrbush@tribune.com
- - -
The road to indictment
The federal indictment against former Illinois Gov. George Ryan charges him with conspiracy and fraud. Scandal during his tenure as secretary of state led to the Operation Safe Road probe.
1994
Nov. 8: Ryan is re-elected secretary of state. A highway crash caused by a truck driver with a fraudulent license kills six children.
1997
Sept. 2: Ryan formally launches his campaign for governor.
1998
Sept. 3: Authorities raid the Melrose Park driver's licensing facility, the first public indication that a probe into licenses for bribes is under way.
Nov. 3: Ryan is elected governor.
1999
December: Fourteen current or former secretary of state employee is convicted for taking bribes to fix driving tests.
2001
Aug. 8: Ryan announces he won't seek a second term.
Jan. 17: Dean Bauer, former inspector general, pleads guilty to covering up corruption to protect Ryan.
2002
April 2: The federal government indicts Scott Fawell, Ryan's chief of staff, and Ryan's campaign committee, Citizens for Ryan, on public corruption charges.
April 18: Richard Juliano, deputy chief of staff, admits he was part of a plan to marshal state employees to work on state time in Ryan's campaign for governor.
May-June: Several Ryan associates, including Lawrence Warner, Donald Udstuen, Alan Drazek and Roger Stanley, are indicted on federal charges that they used clout to make money off the state.
2003
Jan. 13: Ryan leaves office.
Dec. 3: Alexandra Coutretsis, Fawell's assistant and longtime girlfriend, pleads guilty to perjury and agrees to become a federal witness. She later persuades Fawell to cooperate.
March 19: Federal jury finds Fawell and Citizens for Ryan guilty. is the first time in U.S. history that a political organization has been convicted of racketeering.
Dec. 17: Ryan is indicted and weeks later pleads "absolutely not guilty" to corruption.
Source: Tribune reporting
----------
rrbush@tribune.com
