SPRINGFIELD - The former chief of the state prison system should not be allowed to collect his state pension in light of his felony conviction for mail fraud, Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in an opinion released Thursday.

The decision stems from Donald Snyder's federal conviction in July. Snyder, director of the Illinois Department of Corrections from 1999 until 2003, pleaded guilty to helping friends get business with the state in exchange for about $50,000 in cash kickbacks.

He is now serving two years in federal prison.

Madigan's ruling is similar to a decision involving former Gov. George Ryan, in which he was stripped of his pension after being found guilty of federal corruption charges.

Because Snyder was convicted of crimes during his tenure on the state payroll, he also should not be entitled to his state pension benefits, Madigan wrote.

"Snyder's conviction clearly related to, arose out of, and was in connection with his service as director of IDOC," Madigan wrote.

Madigan was replying to a request for an opinion from the state's top pension official, Tim Blair.

Blair didn't return a call for comment Thursday afternoon. The state's pension board would have to make a final decision on Snyder's benefits.

Snyder was on the state payroll for 16 years and served as director of the agency during Ryan's single term as governor. Snyder also worked as Pike County Sheriff.

When he left his job as director, his salary was $127,572 a year. The State Employees Retirement System pension calculator shows that, beginning at age 65, Snyder could receive about $34,000 annually based on his salary as director and his 16 years of service.

But, it was not clear Thursday whether he rolled his service as sheriff into his state retirement plan, which could alter the amount.