Chicago, IL – Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich will be about 67 years old before he qualifies for early release.
Judge James Zagel sentenced the 54-year-old former governor to 14 years in prison and fined him $20,000.
Under strict federal rules, Blagojevich will have to serve 85% of the sentence. That means he'll have to serve at least 12 years.
Zagel gave Blagojevich until February 16 to report to prison.
It will take weeks for authorities to pick a suitable prison. It will most likely be outside Illinois possibly in Indiana or Wisconsin.
Blagojevich will likely go to a prison with minimal security. But his life would be highly regimented. That will include a menial job at a wage of just 12-cents an hour.
Democratic Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon said the sentencing will not kill the state's pay-to-play culture unless it prompts serious ethics reform.
Republican Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said:
"The former Governor will now have plenty of time to consider his performance over these years, and quietly assess the consequences of his actions. It may seem like an eternity to him, but in truth, the damage he has caused to our state will far outlast any prison sentence he will serve."
Highlights from impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's political career and corruption case (list provided by the Illinois Associated Press):
1993: Blagojevich begins a three-year stint as an Illinois House representative.
1997: Blagojevich starts six-year tenure in the U.S. Congress.
2002: Blagojevich, billing himself an anti-corruption candidate, wins the Illinois gubernatorial election.
2004: First public indications the Blagojevich administration is under federal investigation.
2006: U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says "very serious allegations of endemic hiring fraud" in the Blagojevich administration.
Nov. 7, 2006: Blagojevich re-elected, handily beating Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka.
Dec. 9, 2006: Federal agents arrest Blagojevich on corruption charges at his Chicago home.
Jan. 29, 2009: Illinois Senate votes unanimously to remove Blagojevich from office. Blagojevich becomes the first Illinois governor to be impeached.
April 2, 2009: Blagojevich is indicted along with five co-defendants.
March 2010: Blagojevich appears on TV show "Celebrity Apprentice."
June 3, 2010: Jury selection in Blagojevich's first corruption trial begins.
July 21, 2010: Blagojevich's attorneys rest without calling any witnesses.
Aug. 16, 2010: After deliberating 14 days, a deadlocked jury reaches a verdict on just one count.
April, 20, 2011: Blagojevich retrial begins.
May 26, 2011: Blagojevich fulfills a pledge to speak directly to jurors. His first words on the witness stand, "I used to be your governor. I'm here today ... to tell you the truth." In total, he is on the stand for seven days.
June 27, 2011: After nine days of deliberating, jurors find Blagojevich guilty on 17 of 20 counts, including that he tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama's former Senate seat.
Dec. 7, 2011: Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years in prison.