Statement of Dan K. Webb, Attorney for William Cellini

CHICAGO, Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A federal jury Tuesday, November 1, exonerated William Cellini, a Springfield businessman and highly-regarded political figure, on one count of attempted extortion and one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, but guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit extortion and one count of aiding and abetting solicitation of a bribe.

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Cellini, 76, was accused of participating in a scheme to demand investment firm owner Thomas Rosenberg, the producer of the Oscar-winning movie "Million Dollar Baby," make a campaign contribution to then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, in exchange for continued state pension business.

The jury of 10 women and two men reached its verdict after about two days of deliberating evidence following a 3 1/2 week trial.

The following is a statement issued by defense attorney Dan K. Webb:

We are very gratified that the jury found Mr. Cellini not guilty of the most serious charges in the indictment.  Mr. Cellini was found not guilty of the major conspiracy Count, Count 1, in which the Government alleged a conspiracy to commit honest services crimes for 15 months.  Further, the jury found Mr. Cellini not guilty of even attempting to extort money from Mr. Rosenberg, Count 3.  Whatever the jury determined Mr. Cellini did to be guilty of a conspiracy to commit extortion, Count 2, that conduct did not even rise to the level of being an attempted extortion.

As far as the Counts on which Mr. Cellini was found guilty, we are confident we will be able to obtain a reversal on appeal.

SOURCE Winston & Strawn LLP

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