Tony Rezko

[legion]

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/03/02/news/doc47c8f6f5a4036839171812.txt

Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a Chicago businessman described by Hillary Rodham Clinton in a nationally televised debate as a “slum landlord” represented by Obama, is charged with using political clout to run a multimillion-dollar extortion scheme.

It’s a scheme prosecutors say was rife with sneaky deals and strong-arm tactics, all aimed at landing millions of dollars in bogus fees from firms hoping to handle investments from a teachers’ pension fund and obscure state boards.

Rezko, one of the top fundraisers for Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is charged with money laundering, attempted extortion, fraud and aiding bribery.
...
There’s a dizzying array of unidentified “co-schemers” and “individuals” in the scam, including Christopher Kelly, the governor’s chief fundraiser who has been indicted on charges of filing false tax returns.

The prosecution’s star witness is expected to be attorney Stuart Levine, who allegedly put the shakedown scheme together with Rezko. Prosecutors say Levine once sat on a private plane with Blagojevich and was told by the governor: “You stick with us and you will do very well for yourself.”

Levine was a member of both Illinois boards, each of which is empowered to make decisions involving hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board’s permission is needed for any construction involving hospitals. The Teachers Retirement System is the $30 billion nest egg that pays the pensions of thousands of retired teachers.

Prosecutors say the scheme got under way five years ago when Rezko, with the help of Levine, pocketed $250,000 — the bulk of a finder’s fee paid by a firm that received $50 million to invest for the pension fund.

Before it was over, they say, Rezko and Levine were plotting to shake down seven such firms, including one allegedly told it had to pay a mysterious consultant $50,000 and fax the signed contract to a sun-splashed Caribbean tax haven by the end of the day — or lose the deal.

Hollywood producer Thomas Rosenberg was allegedly told that he had to make a $2 million payoff or a $1.5 million contribution to “Public Official A’s” campaign fund or his Capri Capital firm would be frozen out. Rosenberg balked, prosecutors say, and the schemers backed off.

Prosecutors say Rezko got power in state government because he “raised hundreds of thousands of dollars” for Blagojevich.

I've got to wonder how long it's going to be before Blago is indicted. There are rumblings that he directed the shakedowns.

[varmint]

it's an interresting scandal. but most people are asleep by the second paragraph. no one can follow crimes committed by accountants and real estate agents.