From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Fawell guilty of corruption
March 20, 2003

BY STEVE WARMBIR, TIM NOVAK AND JANET RAUSA FULLER STAFF REPORTERS

Scott Fawell, the political mastermind behind George Ryan, remained a cool customer Wednesday as a federal jury convicted him of racketeering and other crimes of political corruption.

"Oh well," Fawell said to a member of his legal team.

Fawell's face had dropped for a moment into a frown, but soon he was joking and flashing his bad-boy grin with his lawyers after the jury left.

"I know what happened," Fawell, 45, said outside the courtroom. "I can live with myself very easily."

The jury of seven men and five women, deliberating since Tuesday of last week, also convicted Ryan's campaign fund of racketeering, the first time that's happened.

"They clearly sent a message: This conduct will not be tolerated," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said.

Ryan's fund will forfeit $750,000. Its attorney, Thomas Breen, saw history in the conviction.

"I think for a long, long time, we've mixed politics and government," Breen said. "And those days seem to be over with, or at least if you're going to do it, beware."

Fawell's prominent defense attorney, Edward Genson, called the verdict "a shame."

Fawell could face six years or more behind bars when he is sentenced in June.

"He was pleased he went through with the fight," Genson said. "It's very difficult to undo eight weeks of testimony."

Federal prosecutors Patrick Collins, Joel Levin and Zachary Fardon argued that Fawell was the main driver behind the vast steamroller that was Ryan's political apparatus, starting when Ryan was secretary of state.

Whatever got in the way got crushed in Fawell's ruthless bid for political power, according to evidence from the FBI, the U.S. Customs Service and the IRS.

Fawell should have put a for-sale sign outside the secretary of state's office when Ryan was there, the feds said. Parceling out prestigious low-digit license plates was one way to raise cash for Ryan and others.

Favors were the currency of the secretary of state's office, with Fawell keeping a 555-page list noting favors for everyone from politicians to mobsters to the guy overseeing the VIP lot where Fawell parked his car for Blackhawks games.

And secretary of state workers were diverted to campaign work, whether for Ryan or other politicians who in turn would owe Ryan.

Those workers also were expected to sell fund-raising tickets for Ryan, a pressure so great on some that they resorted to taking bribes for driver's licenses, authorities say.

One secretary of state worker, making $26,500 a year, was expected to sell $20,000 in tickets, the man testified at trial.

Another worker told how she dreaded being forced to work on political campaigns.

Fawell oversaw gutting the secretary of state's inspector general's office when it started probing the selling of fund-raising tickets by employees.

One fired investigator, Russell Sonneveld praised the verdict.

"Motivated by greed and power, the so-called 'culture of corruption' was exposed for what it really was: a 'culture of coverup,' " he said.

Fawell was convicted of having documents shredded and lying before the grand jury on what went on in the office.

Attorneys for Fawell and Ryan's fund argued what their clients did was politics as usual in Illinois and the jury should criticize the system, not convict anyone.

"That's a lame excuse," Fitzgerald said.

Fawell's political boss, Ryan, has not been charged.

"I respect the jury system," Ryan said. "However, today's verdict saddens me.

"I do wish Scott well during the trying days ahead. He is a bright and talented young man, and this will be a tremendous strain on him and his family."

Contributing: Dave McKinney, Dan Rozek