Rod Blagojevich

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison yesterday for what prosecutors called a criminal corruption crime spree three years ago.

Blagojevich was convicted of corruption charges including trying to trade President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat in exchange for money or favors.

Don't expect any Lindsay Lohan loopholes either. He'll have to serve a minimum of nearly 12 years under federal rules that require 85% of sentences be served.

Rod Blagojevich Sentencing

As he left the Chicago courthouse, Blagojevich told reporters that "we're going to keep fighting on through this adversity ... This is a time to be strong."

The judge announced the sentence after a somber Blagojevich, his voice cracking with emotion, pleaded for leniency with a round of apologies to ... everyone.

"I'm here convicted of crimes. The jury decided I was guilty. I am accepting of it. I acknowledge it, and I of course am unbelievably sorry for it," Blagojevich said.

"I want to apologize to the people of Illinois, to the court, for the mistakes I have made.... I never set out to break the law. I never set out to cross lines."

The judge was unmoved. He must report to prison by February 16.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who resigned after attempting to sell or barter President Obama's seat in the U.S. Senate, has been convicted of a VAST range of corruption, bribery and extortion charges.

A jury deemed him guilty on 17 of 20 counts.

His attorneys insisted that FBI wiretap recordings in which he discussed many illegal activities were just the ramblings of a politician who liked to think aloud.

But Blagojevich, who spent 2 1/2 years becoming a punchline, yet professing his innocence on reality shows and on the witness stand, went down hard.

The guilty verdict caps an incredible story in which Rod Blagojevich infamously said, on a tapped phone, that the chance to appoint the Senate successor to Obama after he was elected president was "f---ing golden."

Not something to give away "for f---ing nothing," in other words.

He faces up to 300 years in prison, though sentencing guidelines are sure to reduce his time. Still, prosecutors will likely push to have him incarcerated.

Rod may not have a leg to stand on. The Feds had been investigating him for years before the senate seat incident (hence the number of charges).

A status hearing for sentencing was set for August 1.

[Photo: WENN.com]

There's only one person on the planet with worse hair, and a larger ego, than Donald Trump.

In March, that terrible human being will come face-to-face with the real estate mogul, as Rod Blagojevich has received legal permission to participate on the third edition of Celebrity Apprentice.

Attorneys for the disgraced, former Illinois Governor must first meet with prosecutors and discuss how Blagojevich's participation in the reality show will affect his upcoming trial, but nothing will stand in the way of Blagojevich joining a pathetic cast that includes:

• Darryl Strawberry
• Sinbad
• Cyndi Lauper
• Holly Robinson Peete
• Carol Leifer
• Goldberg
• Maria Kanellis
• Curtis Stone
• Summer Sanders
• Bret Michaels

Earlier this summer, Blagojevich was disallowed from starring in I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. His awful wife took his spot and viewers were forced to watch a show centered around the only person more annoying than this dishonest politician:

Spencer Pratt.