FACTBOX: Illinois' long history of government corruption

(Reuters) - Illinois, where Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on Tuesday on federal corruption charges, has had a long history of government corruption in political office that led to convictions and jail.

The charges against Blagojevich include his effort to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by fellow Democrat President-elect Barack Obama shortly after his election on November 4.

Blagojevich's arrest followed the conviction in 2006 of his predecessor, Republican Gov. George Ryan, on multiple counts of conspiracy and fraud.

Following is a list of some other high-profile investigations and convictions in the state:

* Operation Greylord, a federal probe into the Chicago court system, was completed in 1988 with convictions and guilty pleas from 87 court personnel and attorneys, including 13 judges.

* Operation Silver Shovel, a federal probe into Chicago city government, ended in 1996 with 18 convictions and guilty pleas from public employees and six aldermen.

* Illinois Auditor Orville Hodge was convicted in 1956 for embezzling $2 million in state funds.

* Gov. Otto Kerner, a Democrat, was convicted in 1972 on income tax charges involving stock in race tracks acquired while in office.

* Illinois Attorney General William Scott was convicted in 1991 on income tax charges involving misuse of campaign funds.

* U.S. Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski, a Democrat, was convicted in 1996 on mail fraud charges related to public corruption.

Source: Illinois Campaign for Political Reform

(Reporting by Karen Pierog, Editing by Peter Bohan and Jackie Frank)