Las Vegas judge issues arrest warrant for Tony Rezko over alleged gambling debts
With the jury still deliberating corruption charges against him in Chicago, Tony Rezko now faces fresh criminal charges in Las Vegas that accuse him of failing to pay $450,000 in gambling debts.
"We have notified the marshals we have a warrant for his arrest," Roger said. "They will execute the warrant at the appropriate time."
(AP)
In all liklihood, if Rezko is convicted and detained, authorities in Las Vegas would put a detainer on him so he later could be transferred to Nevada. If he is acquitted in the Chicago case, he would face extradition for the Nevada charges.
According to his warrant, Rezko owes $450,000 in gambling debts to Caesars Palace and Bally's Hotel Casino that he allegedly racked up between March and July 2006.
Rezko allegedly tried to back up his gambling with markers on his account, but it had insufficient funds, Roger said.
Insufficient funds in varying amounts — from $15,000 to $120,000 — were drawn against his account at Broadway Bank, according to Rezko's warrant.
Rezko owed a total of more than $800,000, but Bellagio LLC obtained a judgment of default against Rezko in 2007 for not repaying $331,000 in gambling markers, court records show.
U.S. Attorney spokesman Randall Samborn would not comment. Nor would Rezko's attroneys. It appeared that lawyers in Rezko's Chicago case met this morning in the judge's chambers.
Rezko lawyer Joseph Duffy left without comment.
Rezko, 52, of Wilmette, who was a fund-raiser to both Gov. Blagojevich and presidential hopeful Barack Obama, is accused of scheming with codefendant Stuart Levine to take kickbacks from companies seeking state business.