Blagojevich Colorado-Bound: Will Serve Prison Term In Littleton Facility

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will report to prison in exactly one month -- and has apparently decided to head west.

Sources told the Chicago Tribune that Blagojevich will serve his 14-year sentence at a federal prison in Littleton, Colorado. The convicted ex-gov requested the low-security facility, which is in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies.

In December, Blagojevich's former attorney Sam Adam Jr. said that the Colorado prison is located near an airport, making it accessible to family. It is also reportedly safer than other federal prisons.

"My understanding is that it has fewer fighting outbreaks and gang problems," Adam told the Tribune. "And since this is not going to be a camp, you have to consider who goes there."

Blagojevich's family reportedly will not move to Colorado.

Carolyn Gurland, who is reportedly helping the Blagojevich family with his transition to prison, told the Chicago Sun-Times she was "very disappointed" that the Colorado news was made public.

“He and his family want some privacy during this time,” Gurland told the paper. “The governor’s focus is going to be that there is a smooth transition and hopes there’s some respect for his privacy.”

Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in December for 18 corruption-related counts, including charges that he tried to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. He was also convicted of trying to shake down hospital and racetrack executives for campaign donations, and of lying to the FBI.

His attorneys claim their client has a substance abuse problem, and hope his enrollment in a prison drug program can shave a year or so off his sentence.

In December, a "top Blago source" told Michael Sneed of the Sun-Times that Blagojevich "can’t sleep without drinking" and indicated that his legal woes in recent years led him to rely on booze.

Scott Fawell, a co-defendant in the case against former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, told the Tribune that Blagojevich may have chosen Colorado to avoid Chicago media scrutiny.

“But you never get away from Chicago media entirely,” Fawell told the paper. “The problem is... there’s always someone in with you from Chicago, and no one really cares what’s on TV at noon, so someone always puts on the WGN news at noon.”

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[T Trump]

06:00 PM on 02/25/2012

Can someone tell me why he gets to pick the prison he likes best?

[brutusmojo]

11:44 AM on 02/19/2012

White collar crook is still a crook.Special treatment is ridiculous.

[Razpooten]

05:24 PM on 02/16/2012

I wonder if he gets to keep the hair?

[Razpooten]

05:15 PM on 02/16/2012

How nice, he gets to pick where he should serve his time and won't be exposed to gang violence.

[gtx281]

05:01 PM on 02/16/2012

Hit the showers... gonna take about 14 years to dry off where you're going...

[drchcago]

03:32 PM on 02/16/2012

Blago got a bad sentence. He was guilty of flapping his mouth. For that he should have gotten 3 years. A sentence of 14 years is ridiculous.

[Razpooten]

05:16 PM on 02/16/2012

18 corruption counts; I think he got off easy and he will still get milk an cookies where he is going.

[suzee q]

05:28 PM on 02/16/2012

You get kickbacks from him or something? Why does no one get that he would have if Fitzgerald hadn't stopped him? His talk wasn't cheap, he meant every word he said.

[gregbo520]

03:11 PM on 02/16/2012

I shed no tears for Blago, not a conspiracy theorist, and not accusing Obama of any crime. However. The timing of the arrest and subsequent evidence deemed admissable at trial might raise an eyebrow or two. It is undisputed that discussions took place regarding Obama's senate seat between representatives of Blago and members of the Obama team notably hizzoner Rham. It is undisputed that representatives of J. Jackson Jr. were interested in a possible deal with Blago after Jarret and the D.C. team wisely backed off. Fitzgerald, who had been investigating Blago under G.W. has him arrested before a deal is consumated leaving him with a weak conspiracy case instead of bribery. Some have suggested that the prosecution's case was sanitized to contain any damage beyond Blago and his subordinants. The judge ruled against any evidence outside of Fitzgerald's narrow case. Blago plays the clown and is easily marginilized because, well he's an idiot. A few years later, the details are forgotten and we argue about whether or not he should get to pick a penitentiary.
The bottom line is: Blago was dealing with powers outside of his class. He had the potential to embarass some pretty powerful people and was neutralized in a very convenient fashion. His methods were unsound. Was a delivery boy sent by grocery clerks to collect the bill (my apologies to Coppola)? Just sayin'...
http://illinoispaytoplay.com/2011/09/26/patrick-fitzgerald-intrepid-crime-fighter-or-politically-driven-leaker-saving-jesse-jr-part-4/

[Razpooten]

05:17 PM on 02/16/2012

18 corruption counts won't look go in his resume.

[Notmybrotherskeeper]

11:51 AM on 02/16/2012

......he wants privacy, HA! I'm sure he'll be getting plenty of "privacy" in the joint.

[jayuucee]

10:57 AM on 02/16/2012

I never heard of a criminal getting to choose which prison to go to. They should have given this bum the same treatment as everyone else. If he gets beat up......so be it. He should have thought of the consequences before he committed his crimes. Hopefully he will serve all of his time and even get beat up a few times.

[YOKEL13]

01:40 PM on 02/16/2012

Getting beat up is not part of the sentence. Why so vindictive?

[jayuucee]

02:09 PM on 02/16/2012

Because he is a despicable liar.

[Razpooten]

05:18 PM on 02/16/2012

Hey it's prison not a country club.

[Razpooten]

05:17 PM on 02/16/2012

He should not get special priviledge.

[jayuucee]

02:13 AM on 02/17/2012

Your are right.... but the sad thing is that he WILL get special priviledges. Our judicial system is as broken as our political system.

[Ed Hammer]

10:32 AM on 02/16/2012

I am tired a seeing quotes in the medai from convicted felon Scott Fawell. http://www.amazon.com/One-Hundred-Percent-Guilty-Convicted/dp/1439260672/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294071989&sr=8-1

[pete2polly]

10:04 AM on 02/16/2012

Why does this clown get to choose his own prison-or country club? Do all convicts get this perk?

[Razpooten]

05:18 PM on 02/16/2012

Xactly.

[Aldyth]

09:24 AM on 02/16/2012

The lengths we had to go to to finally get this man out of Illinois.

Now, we have the rest of the legislature to go through.

[Razpooten]

05:19 PM on 02/16/2012

Its a good start.

[bwana17]

05:08 AM on 02/16/2012

My comment is that if you are considering moving to Chicago or anywhere in Cook County just don't do it. If the politicians don't get you the street gangs will. Believe me when I say if I had the money to live anywhare else I'd surley do it.

[Razpooten]

05:19 PM on 02/16/2012

Hey, I hear the street gangs fear the politicians.,

[Truth Only]

03:14 AM on 02/16/2012

Crooked liberal gets off easy.

[jayuucee]

10:58 AM on 02/16/2012

Unlike the crooked conservatives?

[Truth Only]

04:26 PM on 02/16/2012

All those conservatives that each contribute in a week more than you will contribute in your lifetime?

[Bruce Erickson]

12:58 AM on 02/16/2012

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO A SENTANCE OF HARD LABOR??? Getting to pick the "Best prison"???? Is this where the American public have to pay to keep the crooks happy??? WHAT THE HECK HAS THIS COUNTRY COME TO???