There were 114 pages in the January 4, 2004, U.S. Attorney’s “Proffer,” that is, what was expected to be proven in the trial now going on. Former Crystal Lake resident Don Udstuen is not mentioned on every page, but he certainly shows up a lot.

The legal brief could be entitled, “The History of Illinois Corruption Since 1990, Focusing on Secretary of State George Ryan.”

It should be remembered that this was made public before Scott Fawell agreed to testify in the trial.

Here begins a series of posts outlining nearly all of what the government thought its case was almost two years ago.

Warner’s and ”Associates’” are alleged to have provided benefits to Ryan, his family, third parties affiliated with Ryan and his campaign fund because of his official position. Ryan is charged with having taken official actions to benefit them without making known his relationship to them. Further charged is that Ryan allowed Warner and others to participate in the operation of state government and provided them with non-public information with which they benefited themselves, Ryan and others.

Ryan is also charged with making “materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations in a matter within the jurisdiction of the FBI.”

Warner is charged with extortion in relationship with a deal with American Decal Manufacturing, plus causing checks to be written to Alan Drazek’s American Management Resources related to Secretary of State’s license plate stickers and computer-related contracts knowing that unlawful activity was involved and other offenses. Drazek has pled guilty to his role in the scheme.

Ryan is also charged with income tax violations relating to using Citizen for Ryan funds to pay for “his and certain family members’ personal expenses and to provide gifts.” Specifically mentioned is the 1996 presidential campaign of former Texas Senator Phil Gramm in which Ryan is alleged to have concealed benefits he received.

Under the heading “Joint Criminal Activity and Defendants Membership In It,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office notes that in most criminal conspiracies are clandestine operations with no formal agreement or structure. In this case, the government claims “an abundance of evidence, both direct and circumstantial, revealing the existence of a conspiracy…through a pattern of racketeering activity” over a ten-year period.

The alleged racketeering begins in 1990 with Ryan’s transition team for Secretary of State (SOS). Donald Udstuen, who has turned state’s evidence, and Warner, along with Scott Fawell, Ryan’s former top assistant, who has flipped to the government’s side trying to keep his girlfriend out of jail, were on the team.

For the rest of Part 1, including the amount of the bribes Udstuen is supposed to have accepted, chick here.