Rezko wanted in Vegas for $450,000 in debts
ARREST WARRANT | Allegedly wrote nine bad checks
As a Chicago jury continued weighing a verdict Thursday in the federal corruption case against Tony Rezko, Las Vegas authorities announced new criminal charges against the onetime political fund-raiser for failing to pay $450,000 in gambling debts.
A Las Vegas area judge issued a warrant to arrest Rezko on two counts of drawing or passing a check with insufficient funds.
The charges are yet another twist in the saga of Rezko, whose reputation as a high roller in Las Vegas wasn't widely known in Illinois.
"We have notified the marshals we have a warrant for his arrest," said David Roger, district attorney in Clark County, Nev. "They will execute the warrant at the appropriate time."
That won't be until after the Chicago jury has rendered its decision, which is expected next week. If Rezko were acquitted, he could face extradition to Nevada. If Rezko were convicted, he still might have to answer to the charges at a later date.
Rezko gambled in Las Vegas with business associates and people he met in political circles, including Christopher G. Kelly, a fellow top fund-raiser for Gov. Blagojevich, sources said. A lawyer for Kelly, who is facing federal tax charges tied to gambling, declined to comment.
Rezko allegedly accumulated $450,000 in debts to Caesars Palace and Bally's Hotel Casino between March and July 2006. He passed nine bad checks and got hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash or gaming chips in return, Roger said. The bad checks, written on Rezko's Broadway Bank account, were for amounts ranging from $15,000 to $120,000. Bellagio LLC won a civil judgment against Rezko for failing to repay $331,000 in gambling markers.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago and Rezko's lawyers wouldn't comment on the Nevada charges.
The Chicago jury weighing the 24 charges resumes deliberations next week. Rezko, 52, of Wilmette, a former fund-raiser to Blagojevich and presidential hopeful Barack Obama, is accused in a kickback scheme involving companies seeking state business. Since his 2006 indictment, Rezko has said he's $50 million in debt. He has sold off most of his assets.