|
Key Obama supporter arrested by Feds
Antoin "Tony" Rezko was arrested early Monday at his Wilmette home by federal agents on an alleged bond violation, the Tribune has learned.Investigators had in recent weeks become concerned about the movement of some of his finances, a source said. Rezko, who is scheduled to stand trial on corruption charges in less than a month, was in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve, his trial judge, at 8:35 a.m. He could be seen at a defense table going over papers with his lawyer, Joseph Duffy. A jury is to be selected at Dirksen U.S. Courthouse to hear his case beginning Feb. 25. Duffy said any activity involving Rezko's finances has been under the supervision of attorneys helping him with his debts. "I'm confused by this," he said. "We're waiting to hear more." Tom Simon, an FBI spokesman, said a bond revocation hearing was continued until 12:30 p.m. "We can confirm that Tony Rezko was arrested without incident this morning at his home in Wilmette," Simon said. Rezko, a former adviser and top fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was taken into custody at O'Hare International Airport after he was indicted in 2006. He had flown back to Chicago from Syria to face charges he used his relationships with top state officials to extort companies wanting to do business with two state boards. Rezko had been released on bail after pleading not guilty in the case, and after a group of his friends had put up nine properties worth $1.5 million to secure his release. Rezko allegedly used the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board and the state's Teachers Retirement System Board to extort kickbacks. Stuart Levine, a member of both, has pleaded guilty to taking part in the kickback scheme and is expected to be the key government witness against Rezko. The government in December filed a document in the case, moving the misconduct closer to Blagojevich, described in the document as Public Official A. The document states that Blagojevich had told Levine to stick with him and his contacts and "you will do very well for yourself." Posted by: lotp 2008-01-28 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=222034 |