Tony Rezko arrested, sources say

Antoin "Tony" Rezko leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in 2006. (Chicago Tribune photo by Bonnie Trafelet / November 9, 2006)

By Jeff Coen and John Chase |Tribune reporters

8:49 AM CST, January 28, 2008

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 the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse to hear his case beginning Feb. 25

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."

Rezko also has become an issue in the presidential campaign because of his long association with Democratic candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. More than $80,000 in campaign contributions linked to Rezko and given to Obama have now been donated to charity.

Last week an undated photo appeared of Rezko standing between Obama's leading opponent for the Democratic nomination, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, and former President Bill Clinton. Hillary Clinton denied knowing Rezko and said she did not recall the photo being taken.