Former Illinois Gov. Blagojevich May Face 20 Years in Prison

Rod Blagojevich will face a federal judge for sentencing and can face up to 20 years in jail on Tuesday.

The sentencing is expected to last until Wednesday.

Blagojevich is the former Governor of Illinois who is facing charges for trying to sell President Barack Obama’s vacated United States Senate seat.

The former Illinois Governor was caught by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was subsequently arrested on charges of corruption. Federal prosecutors are recommending U.S. District Court, Judge James Zagel, that Blagojevich should receive 15 to 20 years in jail.

The Christian Science Monitor reports that under federal sentencing guidelines Blagojevich merits 30 years in jail. A sentence of 15 to 20 years is expected, because the former Governor has a wife and two daughters.

Federal prosecutors noted that Blagojevich’s sentencing needs to be more than 6.5-years, because another former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who also faced with corruption charge, fraud, and racketeering.

Blagojevich’s defense said that according to federal sentencing guidelines, the governor should only receive a little over four years. Analysts think that a long jail sentencing will be a signal for deterrence of crimes of the genre.

The defense further claims that, “Mr. Blagojevich did not occupy a leadership role vis-à-vis the other participants in the case, and did not direct them in criminal activities …Rod Blagojevich did not have control over his advisors. They poorly and improperly encouraged him, directed him, used him, lied to him, embarrassed him.”

Prosecutors claim that Blagojevich blames everyone but himself. According to NBC, prosecutors wrote in court papers: “Blagojevich accepts no responsibility whatsoever for his criminal actions. Blagojevich continues to blame everyone but himself for his actions.”

The Judge will decide whether Blagojevich is taken into custody immediately or later on Wednesday.