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Convicted Powerbroker William Cellini Suffers Heart Attack

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.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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