Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn said Wednesday justice was served in the sentencing of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

On Wednesday, Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison and fined $20,000 for being convicted on multiple corruption charges.

At a news conference hours after the sentencing, Quinn called Judge James Zagel’s decision, “stiff but necessary.” He said the sentence magnifies the importance of preventing corruption in Illinois.

“Sometimes the only way you send a message to the public as well as those in public office is to have a very stiff sentence when someone commits a crime, and that’s what happened here - serious crimes,” Quinn said.

Quinn served as Blagojevich’s lieutenant governor and took over for Blagojevich after state lawmakers barred him from public office.

Blagojevich is scheduled to begin serving his sentence on Feb. 16.