Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has been sentenced to federal prison following a high-profile corruption conviction.
The sentencing took place Friday in a federal courtroom in Chicago.
Madigan, who is 83 years old, received a sentence of seven and a half years in prison. He was also ordered to pay a $2.5 million fine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey.
The charges stem from a case involving Madigan’s use of his legislative position to benefit close associates and political allies. He was found guilty of leveraging his power to push favorable legislation in exchange for personal and political gains.
Madigan was convicted in February after a lengthy four-month trial. The jury found him guilty on 10 of the 23 federal counts filed against him. Evidence in the trial included testimony from 60 witnesses and numerous pieces of documentary, photographic, and recorded evidence.
Known by the nickname the “Velvet Hammer,” Madigan built a reputation for quiet but decisive political maneuvering. He began his career in the Illinois House of Representatives in 1971 and served as speaker for nearly 40 years.
His tenure made him the longest-serving legislative leader in the history of the U.S.,