Former Gov. George Ryan slips into Wisconsin prison

OXFORD, Wis. -- George Ryan arrived at prison here Wednesday in the same manner that led to him being convicted in the first place: getting special treatment.The former governor was allowed in a side entrance normally locked by yellow metal gates and opened only for delivery trucks.The exception for Ryan allowed the former governor to avoid an embarrassing photo of him getting out of his car by the prison's front doors.Prison spokeswoman Christine Montonna emerged shortly past noon Wednesday, after Ryan was safely ensconced. She claimed the measure was needed for security reasons."Any time we deem that necessary in terms of safety and security and the orderly running of an institution, we will take those necessary steps #8230; to meet those needs," Montonna said.She would not immediately say if the special procedures were requested by Ryan or his lawyers but said later in a phone interview, "They would not dictate that."The decision was made by the prison's chief of staff of correctional services, she said. The decision was made at the prison and not in Washington, D.C., she said. More Coverage In Oxford, George is just another visitor Where are they now? Key players in the Ryan scandal Blagojevich faces similar misconduct allegations A reporter at Montonna's news conference noted the U.S. Bureau of Prisons often boasts it treats all prisoners at Oxford the same, but asked whether this occurrence showed that in fact it didn't."I think you'll agree that this was a high-profile case. This is someone that we would definitely want to ensure that his arrival was secure and safe and an orderly one, and we did achieve that end," Montonna said.She said the practice has been employed in the past for certain inmates. Asked specifically who, Montonna replied, "I'm really not at liberty to give you those names."Calls to James R. Thompson, Ryan's lawyer and a former Illinois governor, were not returned. Thompson was part of a three-vehicle caravan that arrived at the prison to see Ryan off.According to ABC 7 Chicago, when Ryan arrived at the side gate, he looked as if he might be about to get out of his car, but prison officials waved his car and another one of his vehicles in. A woman from a third car then tried to block a video camera held by an ABC7 producer.Ryan was convicted last year of racketeering and fraud. Part of the charges against him alleged he traded government contracts with friends and cronies, who in turn rewarded him with free Caribbean vacations and benefits for his family.One of his misdeeds was telling a lobbyist friend where Illinois was going to build a prison. The lobbyist then used the information to secure a job with that town's businesspeople. The lobbyist, Ron Swanson, then collected a hefty fee for appearing to lobby Ryan to locate the prison in the town -- knowing all the while the town already had won the site.Ryan said Tuesday he was going to prison with a clean conscience, and he maintains his innocence.ABC 7 interviewed U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald about the comment."It shows that some people just don't get it," Fitzgerald said. 405512George Ryan