Rezko wins move out of jail's 'hole'
Relocation a sign he's cooperating with investigators
Tony Rezko is out of "the hole."
The convicted businessman -- poised to become a crucial witness in the massive corruption case against ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- was quietly moved out of a downtown jail and into another facility in mid-December.
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)
Authorities seeking Rezko's cooperation pushed for the move after Rezko complained about being held in the tough confines of solitary imprisonment, known as "the hole," even as he was providing information to prosecutors.
Records show Rezko was released Dec. 16 from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago.
Kim Widup, the U.S. marshal in Chicago, confirmed that Rezko was relocated.
"We have moved him into another institution," Widup said.
Widup wouldn't specify where. The Marshals Service uses space in more than half a dozen county jails in addition to the MCC.
Rezko's relocation is a sign that, even with thousands of taped conversations of the governor, investigators still highly value Rezko's potential as a witness.
The U.S. attorney’s office wouldn’t comment. Rezko’s lawyer also declined comment.
Upon his conviction last June on wide-ranging federal corruption charges involving state deals, Rezko went to jail voluntarily, saying he wanted to start serving his time.
Then, in August, the Sun-Times reported, the 53-year-old Wilmette resident began meeting with prosecutors.
Rezko, who served as an adviser and fund-raiser to Blagojevich and also was a longtime campaign supporter of other politicians including President Obama, provided authorities with substantial information involving the governor and bolstered so-called "pay-to-play" testimony by former Illinois Finance Authority director Ali Ata, as well as talking about other alleged deals.
But the talks hit a stumbling block when Rezko grew frustrated at being held in solitary at the MCC. In late November, Rezko’s lawyers asked a federal judge to sentence their client -- a threat to stop talking.
Cooperating defendants usually aren’t sentenced until after they testify. But after that move, the two sides appeared to find a resolution.
On Dec. 16, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve indefinitely postponed Rezko’s sentencing -- that was the same day he was moved to another jail.