From the Daily Herald:

Team that brought down Ryan honored

By Rob Olmstead
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Thursday, October 19, 2006
The law-enforcement team that brought down former Gov. George Ryan was honored by the Chicago Crime Commission Wednesday night, receiving the Stars of Distinction award.

Watching the presentation of awards to the many prosecutors and investigators were the Rev. Duane “Scott” Willis and his wife, Janet, whose six children were killed in a crash involving a trucker whose license was obtained through a bribe in then-Secretary of State George Ryan’s office.

“We’ve always said public corruption has tangible consequences and certainly there’s no more tangible consequences than what the Willis family experienced,” said Patrick Collins, one of the assistant U.S. attorneys honored.

Ryan was convicted this spring on charges of racketeering, fraud, lying to investigators and tax counts. A jury found that Ryan traded contracts with the state for personal perks for himself, his campaign and his family.

Investigators spent years on the case, culminating efforts in a six-month trial. The judge in the case, Rebecca Pallmeyer, recently ruled that Ryan must begin serving his sentence in January while he appeals. Ryan had hoped to remain free while he appealed.

Receiving the award Wednesday at the Chicago Palmer House Hilton were: Assistant U.S. Attorneys Collins, Zachary Fardon, Laurie Barsella, and Joel Levin; paralegal Sharon Getty; FBI agents Ray Ruebenson and Vic Lombardo; IRS agents Shari Schindler and Sue Broderick; and postal inspectors Basil Demczak and Jack Donnelly.