[JURIST] A federal jury has found former Illinois Governor George Ryan [Wikipedia profile; defense website] guilty on multiple counts of corruption and fraud [indictment, PDF]. Ryan was charged along with lobbyist Lawrence Warner in connection with a bribes-for-licenses scandal originating in the Illinois Secretary of State's office which Ryan occupied for eight years before running for Governor in 1998. Ryan's former campaign manager and chief of staff is already serving a six-and-a-half year prison term in connection with the scandal, uncovered during a federal investigation called Operation Safe Road [US DOJ materials].

Neither Ryan nor Warner took the stand during the trial, which began last September [JURIST report], though both repeatedly asserted their innocence. AP has more. The Chicago Tribune has local coverage.