Judge: Ex-Illinois rep must report to prison Friday

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request by a former Illinois legislator that he be allowed to remain free while he appeals his conviction for bribery and attempted extortion.

The judge denied the request in a Tuesday ruling and ordered that former state Rep. Derrick Smith report to prison this Friday to begin serving his five-month sentence.

Prosecutors played secret recordings to jurors of the Chicago Democrat allegedly accepting $7,000 in exchange for a letter supporting a state grant. It was all an FBI sting.

Someone sentenced to prison can remain free during the appeals process if a judge concludes a higher court is likely to overturn the convictions. But U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman indicated in her Tuesday ruling that Smith wasn’t likely to prevail.

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