Judge denies retrial for power broker Cellini

A federal judge has refused to overturn the convictions of a longtime Illinois power broker in the last trial directly related to investigations of imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Springfield millionaire William Cellini appeared in court Thursday in Chicago to hear Judge James Zagel deny his motion to throw out last year’s verdicts and order a retrial.

Zagel rejected defense claims that prosecutors improperly tried to exclude blacks as jurors. The judge says there’s no evidence prosecutors tried to do that.

Jurors convicted Cellini last November of conspiring to shake down the Oscar-winning producer of “Million Dollar Baby” for a contribution to Blagojevich’s campaign.

Cellini faces a maximum 30-years prison term. His sentencing is expected to be later this year — though Zagel hasn’t yet fixed a date.