CHICAGO —Rod Blagojevich wakes up to a stark reality a day after appearing nearly speechless when a Chicago jury read guilty verdicts against him.
The impeached ex-Illinois governor will likely be on his way to federal prison within months, leaving his wife, two young daughters and comfortable home in a leafy Chicago neighborhood behind.
Legal experts say a federal judge is likely to sentence him to around a decade on the 17 corruption counts the jury convicted him of Monday.
Judge James Zagel hasn't set a sentencing date. Chicago defense attorney Gal Pissetzky says it's likely Blagojevich will be sentenced only late this year.
When he is, there's a chance he could end up in the same Indiana prison as his predecessor, Republican George Ryan, who's serving 6 ½ years.
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