DeKALB | New developments continue in the federal case against former Illinois Governor George Ryan.

Ryan, 72, and co-defendant Larry Warner, 67, were convicted April 17 of racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud and other offenses. Prosecutors accused the former governor of steering contracts and leases to Warner and other political insiders, using tax dollars for his campaign and covering up fundraising corruption.

Rebecca Pallmeyer, the judge who presided over the case, sentenced Ryan Wednesday to 6 ½ years in federal prison and Warner to 3 ½ years.

Local reaction is supportive of the verdict. State Rep. Bob Pritchard (R-Hinckley) said he feels Ryan’s conviction is just.

“I’m glad to see that the laws we have passed are being used and followed up on,” Pritchard said. “I’m not happy for the Ryan family, but I’m glad justice is being carried out.”

Some NIU professors said they also feel Ryan deserved to be punished.

“George Ryan’s conviction is sad, further evidence that corruption in Illinois politics can extend to the highest elected officials,” said Brendon Swedlow, assistant political science professor. “His conviction and sentencing is a victory for federalism and the people of Illinois.”

Recently, Pallmeyer has been under fire for her decision to replace two jurors and said Thursday jury problems were not bad enough to scuttle the verdict.

“The court concludes that both defendants significantly overstate the amount of juror misconduct,” Pallmeyer said in a 102-page ruling, turning down motions by Ryan and Warner to have the verdict thrown out.

Federal prosecutors also plan to fight a request by Ryan that could delay the start of his 6 ½-year prison sentence by months or even years. Ryan is asking to remain free on bond while he appeals his conviction after jury deliberations, his chief defense counsel, Dan K. Webb, called “faulty and defective to an extreme.”

Ryan is scheduled to report to prison Jan. 4.

“We would certainly oppose it,” said lead prosecutor Patrick M. Collins, who spent the last eight years unraveling the scandals that plagued state government when Ryan was secretary of state and governor.

Local residents also had strong opinions regarding Ryan’s conviction.

“It’s good that he didn’t get community service, and that he’s going to prison,” said DeKalb resident Craig Kozeliski. “There should be no favoritism toward politicians.”