Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been indicted on 19 counts. Photo Nam Y. Huh, File/AP.
A federal grand jury handed down the 19-count indictment against Blagojevich, his brother, two former aides and two businessmen on Thursday.
It accuses Blagojevich of corruption involving billions of dollars in state pension bonds.
FBI agents arrested the Chicago Democrat in December on allegations that also include trying to auction off President Barack Obama's vacant US Senate seat.
Illinois lawmakers impeached him and threw him out of office in January.
Blagojevich has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
The former governor is not in Chicago. He is with his family at Walt Disney World in Florida.
