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Cellini Arrives, Ryan Prepares to Leave Prison

William Cellini, the longtime, behind-the-scenes power broker in Illinois government, arrives at Dirksen Federal Building, Tuesday, November 1, 2011, for the jury's verdict. Courtesy Chicago Sun-Times
William Cellini, the longtime, behind-the-scenes power broker in Illinois government, arrives at Dirksen Federal Building, Tuesday, November 1, 2011, for the jury's verdict. Courtesy Chicago Sun-Times

One's on his way in and the other's on his way out.

Former IL Gov. George Ryan
Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan

Newly imprisoned Springfield businessman William Cellini and long imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan are likely to meet in coming days at a Terre Haute, Ind., penitentiary.

Cellini reported there Tuesday to start a year-long sentence for corruption. Ryan has nearly finished a 6 1/2-year corruption sentence.

Bureau of Prison's spokesman Chris Burke says no rules would bar them meeting and that they're likely to.

For decades, Cellini was a clout-heavy businessman known as the ``King of Clout.'' Onetime Ryan aide Scott Fawell says Ryan and Cellini are friends and that Cellini raised campaign money for Ryan.

They have more in common than being in the same prison. Both are Republicans and both are 78-years-old.
 

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