Former gov’s corruption case changed a lot of other lives
BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter nkorecki@suntimes.com December 10, 2011 1:38AM
*FILE--In a June 4, 2008 file photo, Antoin "Tony" Rezko returns to the Federal Courthouse where a jury found him guilty on 16 counts of a 24-count indictment in his corruption trail in Chicago. Rezko, 56, a former top fundraiser to disgraced ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court Tuesday Nov. 22, 2011, (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast/file)
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Updated: January 12, 2012 8:28AM
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is headed to prison after a federal judge sentenced him Wednesday to 14 years. He’s not the only one impacted by the federal probe that led to his conviction. Here’s a look at some of the others caught up in the investigation:
Tony Rezko: A onetime political fund-raiser to the ex-governor, as well as politicians like Barack Obama. Serving a 10½-year sentence for plotting to take kickbacks while acting as a top Blagojevich adviser. Rezko was convicted at his 2008 trial and later cooperated with prosecutors but was never called to testify.
Christopher Kelly: The building roofer handled appointments and fund-raising for Blagojevich. He was indicted three times by the feds, who pressured him to cooperate. Kelly pleaded guilty to tax charges and days later killed himself.
Patti Blagojevich: Wife of Blagojevich who came under federal scrutiny for her work with a Rezko realty company. The feds never charged Patti Blagojevich but in the ex-governor’s first trial accused her of having a no-show job with Rezko as a way to get tens of thousands of dollars in payments.
Robert Blagojevich: Chaired his brother’s campaign fund for about four months in 2008. Indicted in 2009. The Nashville businessman went to trial in 2010 with the ex-governor on charges that he helped his brother attempt to sell the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Barack Obama to Jesse Jackson Jr. After a jury was hung on counts against him, prosecutors dismissed charges. Rob Blagojevich now wants to testify before the House ethics panel about Jackson’s emissaries, who he says approached him with a pay-to-play offer.
Jesse Jackson Jr.: U.S. Congressman whose supporters approached Robert Blagojevich with a money offer for the U.S. Senate seat. Jackson said he never authorized anyone to offer money for the Senate seat appointment he sought from the then-governor. Jackson remains under scrutiny by a House ethics committee.
Lon Monk: Longtime friend, college roommate and chief of staff to Blagojevich pleaded guilty to mail fraud, admitting he schemed with Blagojevich to get rich off state deals and split the money with Rezko and Kelly. Top witness at Blagojevich’s trial. Awaits sentencing.
Raghu Nayak: Longtime friend of the Jackson family who told federal officials it was the congressman who asked him to approach the Blagojevich camp with a money offer for the Senate seat. Nayak told Robert Blagojevich that $6 million would go to his brother’s campaign fund if Jackson were appointed. Jackson denies the allegation and Robert Blagojevich testified at trial that the offer was turned down. Nayak is under federal scrutiny in an unrelated probe involving surgical centers he owns.
Rajinder Bedi: An ex-state official who testified with immunity at both Blagojevich trials. Bedi said he met with Jackson Jr. on Oct. 28, 2008, where fund-raising for Blagojevich and the Senate seat were both discussed. Hours later, Bedi, according to testimony, told Robert Blagojevich about $1 million in campaign fund-raising if Jackson were appointed.
John Wyma: Lobbyist and longtime friend of Blagojevich who was subpoenaed in 2008 by the feds. He gave information that the then-governor was shaking people down for campaign contributions. Wyma’s information became the foundation for explosive wiretaps against the former governor. Wyma was never charged and received immunity at trial.
Stuart Levine: A serial conman and top Republican fund-raiser who plotted for kickbacks on two state boards, became perhaps the most significant cooperator ever in a corruption investigation out of the Dirksen federal building, prosecutors say. Levine used his appointment to two Illinois state boards to mastermind multimillion-dollar extortion schemes designed to enrich himself, Rezko and others. His cooperation led to convictions against Ed Vrdolyak, power broker William Cellini and Rezko. He awaits sentencing.
John Harris: Blagojevich’s chief of staff arrested same day as the ex-governor. Pleaded guilty to trying to help Blagojevich sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Obama. Major trial witness. Awaits sentencing.
William F. Cellini: A Springfield businessman and longtime political power broker who’s made a fortune off state deals. He was convicted in November of scheming with Levine, Rezko and Kelly to extort a Hollywood movie producer by demanding $1.5 million in campaign cash for Blagojevich in exchange for the producer’s investment firm getting state pension business. Awaits sentencing.
Ali Ata: Blagojevich’s pick to head the Illinois Finance Authority. Ata testified at Rezko’s 2008 trial he got the job after handing over a $25,000 campaign contribution check. Ata pleaded guilty to failing to report $1.2 million in income from a development deal involving Rezko. Awaits sentencing.
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