Rod Blagojevich is headed to a prison in the middle of the month of March and he has said that he hopes he can do it without much fanfare from the media. Blagojevich will more than likely report to a prison somewhere in the state of Colorado. He is the former governor of the state of Illinois. He asked to begin serving his sentence, which is for 14 years, near the city of Denver. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption. Exactly where he begins serving his sentence has yet to be decided according to the United States prison officials working on the case.
The former governor is scheduled to report to prison on March 15 and according to his attorney, he could start his sentence at a prison other than the one he requested. The attorney for the former governor is Carolyn Gurland. Gurland also said that she would prefer it if the governor’s prison did not become public knowledge until after he has been placed in his cell.
“It’s his desire to have dignity surrounding the process,” she said. “He wants to surrender without cameras in his face.”
If the United States Bureau of Prisons has its way that is exactly how it will happen.
Chris Burke, a spokesman for the Bureau of Prisons, said that there will not be any public news on which prison the former governor will begin his sentence at until he as arrived safely and has been processed.
“After he arrives, we will verify it,” he said. Burke also said that this is a policy used for all prisoners, not just ones that have celebrity status.
Blagojevich was a camera hog during his time as governor of Illinois and went on a media blitz following his arrest back in 2008. Seeing him duck cameras and other reporters when being admitted to a prison, no matter where it is, would definitely be a sight to see. The request made by Blagojevich has been recommended by a judge, which means he more than likely will wind up in a Denver prison. For the most part, convicted felons typically windup at the prison they request.
The prison requested by the former governor is that of Federal Correctional Institution Englewood, which is 75-years-old. The facility holds 700 inmates on 40 acres. It is protected by a double-security fence.
The lawyer for the former governor, Gurland, was not sure if his wife and children would move closer to the facility where he begins his sentence.