Here's what could be ahead for Rezko, others
What's next
June 5, 2008
TONY REZKO
The pressure on Rezko to cooperate now that he's been found guilty is immense. He still faces another federal trial in Chicago that accuses him in a $10 million business-loan fraud, as well as a criminal prosecution in Nevada over what authorities there say was $450,000 in unpaid casino-gambling debts racked up in Las Vegas. If Rezko were to cooperate with authorities in exchange for a lighter prison sentence, he could be a linchpin for prosecutors in several other criminal cases.
GOV. BLAGOJEVICH
Federal authorities plan to keep moving up the food chain. And they've already been scrutinizing Gov. Blagojevich's campaign fund, his office's hiring practices and real-estate deals involving his wife, Patti. The Rezko verdict gives them a green light to further pursue the Blagojevich administration, according to a source who said Wednesday of that probe: "We're moving at full speed."
CHRIS KELLY, WILLIAM F. CELLINI
The two men were unindicted "co-schemers" in the Rezko case, according to prosecutors. Kelly is a close friend of the governor and former top fund-raiser for him who has already been charged in an unrelated federal case that accuses him of failing to pay income taxes on gambling winnings. Cellini is a longtime Republican power broker from Springfield. There were times during the Rezko trial when prosecutors had more to say about Kelly and Cellini than they did about Rezko. Both are likely to face further investigation, which could intensify pressure on them to cooperate with authorities. The same is also true of several other people close to the governor, from fund-raisers to top administration employees.
ED VRDOLYAK, STUART LEVINE
Levine, who pleaded guilty in the Rezko case in return for his testimony and a reduced sentence, was portrayed by Rezko's lawyers as an admitted liar, drug user and white-collar crook. Still, the Rezko verdict showed that Levine didn't turn off jurors to the point that they dismissed his testimony. Which could bode ill for Vrdolyak, the lawyer and former powerhouse Chicago alderman. Levine is expected to be a key witness against Vrdolyak, who is under federal indictment in what authorities described as a kickback deal tied to a Gold Coast property.