Rod Blagojevich begins sentence in Colorado prison (VIDEO)
Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich walks through a hoard of media toward his house before giving a news conference outside his home March 14, 2012 in Chicago.
Rod Blagojevich, the former Illinois Governor, walked into a federal prison in Colorado to begin a 14-year sentence for corruption Thursday.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that he began his sentence at Englewood Federal Correctional Institution after a midday soda at a Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers in Littleton, near Denver.
The man who once was Illinois’ highest-ranking politician will now be referred to as "Inmate No. 40892-424."
Helicopters and TV news crews broadcast his every move Thursday, according to the Associated Press. It reported that once inside the prison, he would undergo a full-body strip search and hand over all personal belongings in exchange for khaki prison garb and boots.
According to the Christian Science Monitor, Blagojevich will share a cell the size of a large, walk-in closet with up to three inmates.
Other high-profile inmates at the jail include Jeff Skilling, the former CEO and president of Enron, serving a 24-year sentence for fraud and other crimes, the CSM wrote.
However, it quoted US Bureau of Prisons spokesman Chris Burke as saying that among the facility's nearly 1,000 inmates are drug offenders and murderers.
In two trials, Blagojevich, 55, was convicted of 18 criminal counts, including charges that he tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s old US Senate seat.
Blagojevich was caught on FBI wiretaps as describing the opportunity to exchange an appointment to the seat for campaign cash or a top job as "f—— golden."
He was sentenced in December but given three months to say goodbye to his wife, Patti, and their two daughters, 15-year-old Amy and 8-year-old Anne.
Before leaving Chicago on Wednesday, he spoke to a crowd of about 300 people for about 15 minutes in front of his home on Chicago’s north side, saying jail was the "hardest thing I've ever had to do," the Sun-Times reported.
(GlobalPost reports: Rod Blagojevich, former Illinois Gov., gives last speech before heading to prison)
"I'm leaving with a heavy heart, a clear conscience and I have high, high hopes for the future," the publicity-loving former governor said, adding that his lawyers were appealing the case. "I'll see you again."
The video below shows Blagojevich leaving home for prison:
