Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : GOPwinger Lies/Distortions/Omissions/Perversions of Truth -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Skywatcher who wrote (161875)	9/13/2009 10:05:59 PM
From: Hope Praytochange	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 173976

CHICAGO -- A week before one of indicted ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's closest advisers was to go to prison for fraud, the commercial roofing contractor died at a Chicago hospital, and the mayor of a town where he was found said the death was being investigated as a suicide. An autopsy was planned Sunday for Christopher G. Kelly, 51 years old, who was discovered Friday night in a lumberyard parking lot just southwest of Chicago in Country Club Hills. Mr. Kelly died Saturday morning, authorities said.Country Club Hills Mayor Dwight Welch said police were investigating Mr. Kelly's death as a suicide. Mr. Welch said Sunday that Mr. Kelly told a police officer before he died that "he did take an overdose.'' Mr. Welch said authorities found a variety of drugs in a vehicle belonging to Mr. Kelly. Mr. Kelly, who raised millions of dollars for Mr. Blagojevich's campaign, had pleaded not guilty to charges included in a federal indictment alleging Mr. Blagojevich sought to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat. He was to report Friday to begin serving a three-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to tax fraud charges that included writing off thousands of dollars in gambling debts as business expenses. Mr. Kelly, who admittedly loved to gamble and ran up big debts at Las Vegas casinos and elsewhere, was part of Blagojevich's tight inner circle. He also pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking part in an $8.5 million fraud against United Airlines and American Airlines for work on their hangars at O'Hare International Airport. A plea agreement with federal prosecutors called for him to serve a five-year prison sentence on top of the three years for tax offenses. He also faced charges in the sweeping Blagojevich indictment that alleged he plotted with Mr. Blagojevich to use the muscle of the governor's office to squeeze payments out of those seeking state business. Prosecutors hoped Mr. Kelly would try to reduce his mounting federal prison time by agreeing to cooperate and tell them what he knew about corruption in state government under Mr. Blagojevich. But he remained grimly silent as his situation got worse. Mr. Kelly's chief defense attorney wasn't available for comment, according to a woman who answered the telephone at his home. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, Randall Samborn, declined to comment. Mr. Blagojevich was in New York when he learned of Kelly's death. "I am deeply saddened to hear that Chris has died. My heart goes out to his wife Carmen, his three daughters Grace, Jacqueline and Claire and his entire family. They are in our prayers," Mr. Blagojevich said in a statement.