surrender on february 16th, his fall from grace has been hard one to demand that once held the highest office in the state now holds the dubious distinction of being held in the long sentence ever imposed on the governor of illinois, 14 years. healmost three years ago today it began with the early morning rest of the governor, this day he leaves the dirksen federal building broke humiliated his lawyers say in facing prison time. the public has had enough and judges have had enough, this needs to stop. the sentence handed to him was more than twice that of george ryan his predecessor sentence just five years ago for months the chatted defendant with to try and a conviction hanging over his head was holding out for something less and instead he got something more. in court the defendant ask for mercy and admitted his flaws and accepted a responsibility for his wrongdoings saying this: i stand here convicted of crime i am accepting of it, i acknowledge it and i m unbelievably