In this Intelligence Report: Who they are and what they did.
These are many times controversial moves by governors, wiping the slate for convicted felons, perhaps explaining why this clemency announcement came after 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. So the I-Team began a quick look through who was being pardoned and what they had done.
Unlike the infamous clearing of death row by Governor George Ryan, there were no murderers being given clemency Friday afternoon by Governor Quinn.
However, according to state records, people who committed serious crimes are being pardoned.
Among the offenses:
- Battery
- Burglary
- Drug violations
- Domestic violence
- Gun charges
- Forgery
- Fraud
- Resisting police
In all, the governor is taking action in favor of 43 convicted felons, granting full clemency and expungement to nearly all, 26 men and 17 women whose criminal cases span five decades.
Among them is George Alpogianis, a popular northwest suburban restaurateur who was convicted of aggravated battery and criminal damage to property in 1984. Alpogianis was elected as a town trustee in Niles in 2009, but because he was a felon, by law he couldn't serve his term. Alpogianis has said he would run again in 2013 if pardoned.
During the administration of Governor Rod Blagojevich, there was a backlog of more than 2,500 clemency petitions that Quinn says he is sorting through.
Since taking office, Governor Quinn has granted 761 pardons and denied 1,307, all based on recommendations from the Illinois Prisoner Review Board that examines each of the cases.
One woman pardoned Friday had been convicted of heroin delivery and domestic battery. She now works as a nurse.
Records indicate that another person pardoned for retail theft may currently work for the State of Illinois as a developmental center supervisor.
