By AP/KWMU

CHICAGO, ill. – A federal appeals court has upheld the racketeering conviction of former Illinois Governor George Ryan and rejected his request for a new trial.

Ryan's attorneys had argued that the jury deliberations were flawed, as two jurors were dismissed and replaced with alternates after deliberations had already started. The defense also said unauthorized documents brought into the jury room poisoned the deliberations.

But the three-judge appellate panel disagreed in a 2-1 decision.

Ryan was convicted in April, 2006 of racketeering conspiracy, fraud and other offenses for taking payoffs from political insiders in exchange for state business. The activities took place while he was Illinois Secretary of State from 1991-1999 and Governor for four years after that.

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