William Cellini leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after he was convicted of two charges in a conspiracy to shake down a Hollywood producer for a campaign contribution to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. (Credit: CBS)
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CHICAGO (AP) – William Cellini, the long-time Illinois powerbroker convicted of conspiring to shake down a Hollywood producer, has suffered a heart attack.
A family spokesman says Cellini was released Wednesday from Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, where he suffered the heart attack Monday during a medical procedure. A blockage in an artery leading from the heart was corrected. However, it dislodged a clot that caused the heart attack.
According to the family spokesman, the 77-year-old Cellini had been experiencing fatigue and difficulty breathing in recent months. Cellini has been ordered to rest and will begin a rehabilitation program, and undergo more testing.
Last week, a federal judge refused to overturn Cellini’s conviction of conspiring to shake down the Oscar-winning producer of “Million Dollar Baby” for a contribution to imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign.
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