From the Sun-Times: 
 
Lobbyist's aide gets probation for lying 
 
September 9, 2005 
 
BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter 
 
 After providing the feds with substantial cooperation, Julie Starsiak -- the onetime top deputy to a powerful state lobbyist -- dodged prison time Thursday for lying about her role in McCormick Place bid-rigging. 
 
 Starsiak was sentenced to five years probation. 
 
 At the same time, Starsiak's attorney revealed in court Thursday that his client and Scott Fawell, onetime aide to former Gov. George Ryan, both fed investigators information implicating top lobbyist Al Ronan. 
 
 Dabbing her eyes between sobs, Starsiak, 57, begged U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning for mercy, saying her crime has left her jobless and financially ruined. 
 
 "I am sorry that I ever became involved in the world of politics and political favors," Starsiak said, sniffing back tears. "I used to be proud that . . . I could be acquainted with the most wealthy and powerful people in the state. I thought: 'Look at me, I know powerful people in government and in business.' " 
 
 Manning said she didn't see prison doing any good for Starsiak. 
 
 Starsiak's lawyer, Chris Gair, said his client deserved a break because her cooperation set off a ripple effect with huge implications. 
 
 Her information in the McPier case led the feds to Fawell's aide and fiancee Andrea Coutretsis, which ultimately helped flip Fawell into a government witness against Ryan. 
 
 Prosecutors say Fawell, who was running McCormick Place and Navy Pier at the time, had inside information on contract bids and had the numbers fed to a company represented by Ronan's lobbying firm. Starsiak passed on the information to the company, Jacobs Facilities. 
 
Lied about McPier bid-rigging 
 
 During the investigation, prosecutors gave Starsiak immunity for her testimony. But she still lied, shifting blame onto her boss for passing the information to Jacobs. She later pleaded guilty to lying. 
 
 But Gair said Thursday that Ronan told her to pass on the information. "What Ms. Starsiak said about her boss, Mr. Ronan, was not to put him in a crime that he wasn't involved in -- he was involved in the crime," Gair said. "He set up the crime and then what we know now is Mr. Scott Fawell has . . . specifically admitted that he and Mr. Ronan set up these corrupt schemes together." 
 
 Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Levine, who prosecuted the case, told Manning that Starsiak's cooperation had also been fruitful in another unnamed investigation. 
 
 Ronan's attorney could not be reached for comment. Ronan has not been charged in any wrongdoing, but his firm, Ronan Potts L.L.C., pleaded guilty last year to taking part in the same bid-rigging scheme.