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'Pope' of Illinois politics accused of corruption in last trial from Blagojevich investigation

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[October 01, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) --The former high school teacher-turned-mega millionaire cozied up to successive Illinois governors from both parties, while staying in the shadows and rarely speaking publicly. But so powerful was he behind the scenes that he was referred to in awe as The King of Clout and the pope of Illinois politics.

The enigmatic William Cellini, 76, will step into the limelight Monday when his corruption trial starts. He's accused of trying to shake down the Oscar-winning producer of "Million Dollar Baby" for a campaign contribution to Rod Blagojevich, and his trial is the last in a series stemming from a decade-long investigation of the former Democratic governor.

Blagojevich was convicted at retrial earlier this year of trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama's old Senate seat. Two trials revealed the ex-governor as charismatic and full of braggadocio but lacking discipline. He seemed to bumble his way through his job and now, at 54, is broke and about to be sentenced to prison. 

Cellini is in many ways the opposite. State contacts helped the Springfield Republican earn tens of millions from real estate, casino and even asphalt businesses, and he's held on to much of his wealth. The son of a policeman, he has a reputation as savvy and meticulous and a man not to be crossed. 

"He was so well-connected, if he was upset with you, there was a perception he could make a few calls -- and you may not get that state job or state contract you wanted," said David Morrison, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. 

The trial will offer another peek at the underbelly of Illinois' scandal-plagued politics. To lay the groundwork for their claim that Cellini conspired to shake down movie producer Thomas Rosenberg, prosecutors plan to show he forged ties with top-tier politicians as far back as the 1960s. Their success, however, could depend on whether jurors believe a single witness tainted by his own association with Blagojevich. 

The defense objected in pretrial hearings that prosecutors were trying to cast Cellini's knack for befriending the powerful in a sinister light. 

"Those things are not illegal. But the government wants to offer those things to muddy and dirty up Cellini," said defense attorney Dan Webb, a former U.S. attorney who also defended Blagojevich's predecessor, Republican Gov. George Ryan, who is serving a 6 1/2-year term on multiple corruption counts at an Indiana prison. 

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While Blagojevich was charged with multiple crimes, Cellini is accused of a primary one: that he and three others tried to squeeze Rosenberg for a $1.5 million donation in 2004. Cellini has pleaded not guilty to extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion, solicitation of a bribe and conspiracy to commit fraud and is free on $1 million bond. If convicted on all counts, he could spend more than 50 years in prison. 

Prosecutors claim Cellini and his cohorts, including Blagojevich insiders Tony Rezko and Chris Kelly, planned to threaten Rosenberg's investment company with the loss of $220 million in state pension money from the $30 billion Illinois Teachers' Retirement System they controlled unless he made the donation.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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