PEORIA, Ill. -- A former high-ranking Illinois Secretary of State official was sentenced Thursday to 30 months in prison for helping three janitors pocket nearly $200,000 in state pay for work they didn't do.

Cecil Turner, 60, is the former director of the secretary of state's physical services division. He was convicted in September of four federal counts of wire fraud for allegedly helping the janitors hide the six-year scheme, and two counts of lying to investigators.

Turner also was ordered to pay more than $49,000 in restitution to the state for money the janitors pocketed.

Most of the money will come from pension contributions Turner was ordered to turn over to the court. Turner lost his state pension after the conviction, but will be refunded nearly $46,000 that he contributed to his account.

Turner, of Springfield, showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Joe B. McDade. But in a tearful statement before sentencing, he denied any part in the scheme.

Turner said he worked hard to turn his life around and help his family and community after serving a year in prison 30 years ago in a scheme in which veterans' benefit checks were stolen from the postal service.

"I would never jeopardize all of that, especially under these circumstances ... Your honor, I did not do this. I swear to you I did not do this," Turner said, his voice shaking with emotion.

Turner's sentence was seven months less than the range of 37 to 46 months recommended in a pre-sentence report.

McDade said he trimmed the federal term based on an inch-thick stack of letters he received citing Turner's long history of work for youth, his neighborhood and community.

But McDade said he also needed to send a message to others in state government that corruption won't be tolerated.

"They must be aware that it's wrong, and when they're caught, they're not going to be able to rely on their good works and their white-collar station," McDade said.

Turner, free on bond, was ordered to report to prison by Feb. 7.

U.S. Assistant District Attorney Patrick Chesley said outside court he was disappointed with the lighter sentence, but called it substantial enough to help chip away at corruption in state government.

"This is a message to the public and to our employees that this administration takes unacceptable conduct very seriously, and if you're caught you pay a price," said Dave Druker, spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White.

Defense attorney Michael Metnick had sought a 24-month prison sentence for Turner, saying he'd led an "exemplary, outstanding life" since he was jailed three decades ago.

"You hope for the best and expect the worst, although this wasn't the worst, obviously," Metnick said outside court.

Federal prosecutors claimed Turner helped the janitors pocket unearned state pay in exchange for special treatment by city trash collectors in his Springfield neighborhood.

Turner received no financial kickbacks, but aided in the scheme because one of the janitors -- Dana Dinora -- also worked for Springfield's public works department. He allegedly arranged quick pickups of junk ranging from water heaters to a dog house for Turner and his neighbors, prosecutors said.

Defense attorneys maintained Turner was unaware of the payroll scam they allege was orchestrated by Dinora, one of three former janitors who pleaded guilty in the scheme and agreed to cooperate in the case against Turner.

Metnick called Dinora a con man with a long record of abusing time off. Metnick said Dinora manipulated Turner and took advantage of his lack of experience after White appointed Turner to the $98,000-a-year job in 1999.

McDade called Turner "a good man," but said he traded taxpayer dollars and the public trust for "the power and the appearance of power that came from being able to call someone and get something done."

"This is corruption ... I don't care what kind of perfume you put on it," the judge said.

Turner and the janitors were fired after an investigation uncovered the scheme in 2005. Turner was among 20 department heads in the secretary of state's office overseeing maintenance and janitorial services in state offices, including the Capitol.

Dinora, 53, of Springfield, and two other former janitors -- David Medvesek, 57, of Springfield, and Steven Boyce, 58, of Chatham -- are scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 25 in federal court in Peoria.