SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — William Cellini's lawyers argued Monday that the once-powerful Illinois political player should get probation for his role in a scheme to try to get a campaign donation from a Hollywood producer.

Federal prosecutors want a judge to sentence the Springfield Republican to 6 ½ to eight years for conspiring to commit extortion and aiding and abetting solicitation of a bribe from Thomas Rosenberg, the Oscar-winning producer of the film "Million-Dollar Baby."

Cellini's involvement in the scheme to get a $1.5 million campaign contribution from Rosenberg in exchange for state business was part of the wide-ranging web of fraud that sent impeached Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and several former aides and supporters to prison.