by Jeff Coen
Antoin "Tony" Rezko is set to go on trial today, but the defense is expected at every opportunity to try to put his chief accuser on trial as well.
Prosecutors allege that Rezko misused the power he gained from his prowess as a fundraiser for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, scheming to extort kickbacks from firms seeking state business or regulatory approval. But Rezko's lawyers will attack the credibility of Stuart Levine, the government's key witness, questioning his memory of events because of his alleged heavy use of cocaine, crystal meth and other illegal drugs.
"That clearly is the battle line they want to draw," said Zachary Fardon, a former assistant U.S. attorney who was part of the prosecution team that convicted former Gov. George Ryan in 2006. "The defense wants it to be all about Stuart Levine."
Levine, who sat on two influential state boards, pleaded guilty to scheming with Rezko to extort almost $6 million from firms seeking to invest state pension funds and a hospital seeking approval of expansion plans.
With all the pretrial posturing at an end, the lawyers on both sides will soon put on display their competing strategies. Even in such a complex case, Rezko's fate could come down to what the jury thinks of Levine, the defense hopes.
The defense is expected to make much of the fact that Rezko appears on the fringe of the alleged fixes, dealing mostly with only Levine. And while federal investigators secretly tape-recorded hundreds of Levine's telephone conversations, only a few involved Rezko, and those were innocuous, the defense will argue.
See the rest of the story in today's Tribune:
The challenge facing the government can be illustrated by a key meeting between the two at the Standard Club in Chicago in April 2004. Levine has told prosecutors that at the meeting, he displayed a chart to Rezko to show how many millions of dollars the two would split in the scheme. But no one else is believed to have attended the meeting, and it came well before Levine began to cooperate. However, Levine later spoke of the meeting to other co-schemers who could testify.
In addition to maintaining an alleged $25,000-a-month drug habit, Levine, a longtime Republican fundraiser, schemed to steal money on other boards on which he served, including at least one charity, and only agreed to cooperate when he faced what amounted to a life sentence if he was convicted, the defense says.
Ronald Safer, a former federal prosecutor who represents a client in another criminal case in which Levine is cooperating, called the government's star witness "a walking crime wave."
"The government has to make its case independent of Levine, and they have to have Levine be the narrator," Safer said of the paradox facing the prosecution. "He can narrate the play, but if he is the play, they lose."
"The government needs to be able to say, `You can disbelieve everything that Levine says, or at least everything that only Levine says, and still convict Rezko,' " Safer said. "If they can't say that, they won't win."
Prosecutors are expected to emphasize that their evidence goes far beyond Levine, pointing to other players who took part in the kickback scheme. At least two others who have pleaded guilty--including Joseph Cari, a former finance director for the national Democratic Party--are expected to testify.
And the undercover recordings of Levine will be used to back up his account of events.
Fardon, now in private practice in Chicago, said he expects that prosecutors will bring in as many different pieces of the puzzle as they can to buttress Levine.
The trial is likely to take three months, lawyers in the case estimate.
"You corroborate, corroborate, corroborate," Fardon said. "You include all the documents and all the history and all the transcripts that specifically corroborate what [Levine] says happened."
"At the end of the day, they want to be able to say, `You don't just have to believe Stuart Levine,' " said Patrick Deady, a criminal-defense lawyer who took part in the 2006 trial of Mayor Richard Daley's former patronage chief and others.
The indictment charges Rezko with 15 counts of wire and mail fraud, six counts of aiding and abetting in the solicitation of bribery, two counts of money laundering and one count of attempted extortion.
Most of the alleged extortion plots fizzled after FBI agents confronted Levine in May 2004, alerting him to the undercover investigation.
Levine, then on the board of the $30 billion Teachers' Retirement System, wielded influence over TRS staffers, pressuring them to recommend investment firms he backed, prosecutors allege. As chair of the personnel committee, Levine also held sway over the pay of Jon Baumann, the TRS executive director, who--according to a government filing--called Levine the "Rabbi" and longtime Republican power broker William Cellini the "Pope."
In one scheme, Levine directed the TRS staff to make a favorable review of a $50 million investment proposal by Glencoe Capital, charges allege.
As part of the scheme, a bogus finder's fee of $375,000 went to a Chicago businessman in on the operation, prosecutors said. The charges allege Rezko directed that $250,000 of the fee go to Joseph Aramanda, Rezko's close business associate, even though he didn't do any work to justify the money.
In another scheme, prosecutors allege, Levine in 2004 directed Cari, acting as a go-between, to pressure a Virginia investment firm to pay $750,000 to a consultant of their choosing despite no work having been done.
The firm, JER Partners, wanted to invest $85 million in state pension funds, but Cari allegedly threatened to pull its bid off the TRS board's agenda if it didn't pay the $750,000. "This is how things are done in Illinois," Cari allegedly warned.
Prosecutors allege that Rezko agreed with Levine to share in the $750,000 kickback. JER refused to pay but still got its investment deal when Levine backed off the threat after FBI agents confronted him, authorities said.
About the same time, Rezko and Levine agreed to use their influence to block Chicago financier Thomas Rosenberg from winning a $220 million investment deal with TRS unless he met their conditions, the indictment charges.
Their plan was to make Rosenberg's firm, Capri Capital, pay $2 million to a consultant of their choice or make a $1.5 million donation to the Blagojevich campaign fund, authorities said.
This time, Cellini was tapped to approach Rosenberg and soften him up, prosecutors said. But Rosenberg, also a Hollywood producer, refused to pay and threatened to inform law enforcement, authorities said.
Rosenberg is expected to tell his story to the jury. Cellini hasn't been charged with wrongdoing
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Comments
WOW ! This is a lot worse and wide spread than i previously thought. Let's see a couple of Arabs, a natl. Dem. fundraiser, degenerate gamblers, hard core drug users, and they say Barack Hussein Obamas' name will surely pop up. I wonder if it's all a set up by the govt.? There is a silver lining though, he does have the endorsement of the the great Imam , Min.Farrahkan. Maybe John Everdumb can crawl out from under his rock and shed some light about this very serious development. Oh Jonnny, time for you to come out and sing for your party .
Posted by: Don B. | March 3, 2008 9:19 AM
Ruh Roh... Its time for Blago & Obama's buddy to face the music!
Posted by: Cliff Banks | March 3, 2008 10:05 AM
Rezko + Obama = Corruption.
Corruption + Obama = No White House.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | March 3, 2008 10:12 AM
Don't get your hopes too high...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rezko-court-story,1,81976.story
"Note to the Obama-centric: Yes, the name of the Democratic presidential front-runner is likely to come up at this trial. Like Blagojevich, Barack Obama was tight with Rezko too. But stay alert. Obama's role in this case should be little more than a cameo. The prosecution spotlight will remain focused on the governor's men."
Posted by: Jon | March 3, 2008 11:26 AM
Obama is cooked if the media wakes up. Nixon was a crook and Obama is crooked. Obama should go back to Chicago and pray for forgiveness. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. America wake up before it is too late.
Posted by: Leon | March 3, 2008 11:43 AM
ATTENTION: OBAMA FINANCIAL BACKER REZKO TRIAL STARTS TODAY!
WHERES THE MEDIA??? We are sick of the media pushing obama down our throats! Another indictment former Dallas Mayor Hill, Obama camp financial contributor and supporter charged with federal bribery, extortion and conspiracy. Again has their hand full with other publically indicted bankrollers like Rezko. A company related to Another Obama “financial friend” Rep. Rick Renzi indicted Friday on multiple federal charges, law enforcement sources tell CNN. In a 35-count indictment handed up by a grand jury in Arizona, Renzi is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering extortion and insurance fraud. The indictment stem from Renzi's efforts to use his position in Congress to promote “land deals” Again more corrupt camp donations for Obama
EACH WEEK WE HEAR ANOTHER CORRUPT BACKER WITH HUSSEN OBAMA!!! OBAMA IS CONSTANLY SURROUNDED BY CORRUPTION, ESPECIALLY WHERE CAMPAGINE FUNDS ARE CONCERNED WHERES CNN? MSNBC? FOX/ ROLAND MARTIN? IDIOT TUCKER CARLSON? BILL KRISTOL? TIM RUSSETT? AND ANYOTHER SO-CALLED TABLOID ENQUIRER TYPE ANTI FEMALE JOURALIST
Obama and his team have ducked "legitimate questions" about Rezko, who faces federal corruption charges most centrally involved with Gov. Blagojevich's administration. "Now the trial is beginning, it will be more difficult for him to avoid these various serious questions. I can guarantee you that. Obama's Relationship with Rezko Goes Back 17 Years. Obama Kept Contributions from Accused Fixer's (REZKO) Wife and Others ABCNews.com Analysis Shows. Obama opportuned Rezko to obtain jobs in the Blagojevich administration for Obama allies. For the third time in more than a year, Obama's presidential campaign announced it SO-CALLED shedding more donations
According to court documents, Mr Rezko's lawyer said his client had "longstanding indebtedness" to Mr Auchi's GMH. By June 2007 he owed it $27.9 million.
NEXT!
ATTENTION: OBAMA FINANCIAL BACKER REZKO TRIAL STARTS TODAY
MUST READ BEFORE YOU CAST THAT IMPORTANT VOTE!!!
SEE OBAMAS CONNECTION WITH SADDAM HUSSEN AND REZKO!
Land deal 'mistake' piles the pressure on Obama Mr Auchi, leading supplier of arms to Saddam's regime and convicted for corruption in France, the British-Iraqi billionaire lent millions and millions of dollars to Barack Obama's fund just weeks before an imprudent land deal investigation. In addition money transfer from Nadhmi Auchi, Obama used to buy his Georgian mansion in Chicago. Mr. Auchi says the loan, through the Panamanian company Fintrade Services SA, was for $3.5 million!!!. Mr. Auchi's money was made doing business with the regime of Saddam Hussein, Mr. Auchi was a leading supplier of arms to Saddam's regime. A former Belgian ambassador to Luxembourg charged that a bank in Luxembourg owned principally by Mr. Auchi laundered funds -- including oil for food money -- for Saddam and other Islamic dictators. Auchi helped French and Italian firms win a huge oil pipeline contract in Iraq, chiefly by paying off Iraqi officials, according to testimony given by an Italian banker to prosecutors in Milan. In 2003, he was convicted for his role in what was then the largest scandal in French history, involving payoffs from executives of the oil company now known as Total to political figures in Spain, Germany and Africa.. The connection between Mr. Auchi and Sen. Obama is cause for great concern in the U.S. The national news media have been remarkably incurious about Sen. Obama's relationship with Mr. Rezko, and his with Mr. Auchi. The Obamas bought the house for $1.65 million -- $300,000 below the asking price -- perhaps because Mr. Rezko's wife purchased from the owner an adjacent garden plot for $625,000. (The sellers deny they offered the Obamas a discount.) The Times of London wondered where Mrs. Rezko got the money to buy the garden plot. At the time, she had a salary of $37,000 and assets of only $35,000, the Times learned. Her husband told a court that at the time he had "no income, negative cash flow, no liquid assets," the Times said. Auchi participated in more than just Rezko's pizza and property ventures, however; he also contributed to Barack Obama's campaign by donating to a 2005 fundraiser through a company of which is wife is a Director. I quote the relevant paragraph from a London Times exclusive: Times has, however, discovered state documents in Illinois recording that the Panamanian company Fintrade Services SA lent money to Mr Obama's fundraiser. Fintrade's directors include Ibtisam Auchi, the name of Mr Auchi's wife. Mr Auchi's spokesman declined to respond to a question about whether he was linked to this business. The donation is significant, obama is the Ill politican mentioned in the following ABC News report on the FBI affidavit filed in US Attorney Fitzgerald's case against Rezko before Obama's political godfather was arrested on Monday: According to an FBI affidavit filed in the case, Rezko sought to get a visa for Auchi to visit the United States by contacting "the same Illinois government official ( Obama)
!
Posted by: Jackie King | March 3, 2008 12:33 PM
Hmmmmm.
This guy Levine is a Republican fund raiser. Maybe we will find out how many members of the GOP got some of this cash.
Paulo, Don B.:
Read Jon's comment - your boy McCain is not so clean himself. You two are the ones who have to crawl out from under rocks to comment.
Posted by: BobinATL | March 3, 2008 12:35 PM
"COLE, BARBOUR, PERDUE, AND RICK RENZI SPEAKS"
Pass the barbecue sauce, Rick, this is going to be a good one.
Pass the hot sauce John, Gov. Barbour says it was made in Lousiana and he didn't even have to pay for it.
Rick, criminal or not, we need you, we are running out of GOP criminals that look good on television. Tom can't keep coming on, Gov. Barbour has 100 million dollars that he needs not be accountable for.
Perdue, are you with us!
John McCain aka "THE CHAIRMAN" needs us like AT&T needs IMMUNITY!
Boy this chicken sure is good, John. Yea, but can someone Pass the Tom Delay redistricting guidelines in Texas, Tomorrow is the big day!
Posted by: Roger Morris | March 3, 2008 1:19 PM
Paulo:
McCain + Bush + Hagee = GOP Loss in November.
Posted by: BobinATL | March 3, 2008 1:38 PM
Bobin ... You must be referring to the NY Times article where only 22 % of readers thought it was a fair and honest article about Mr. McCain. Mr. Cari is a Democratic fundraiser , who also was Mr. Gores' chief fundraiser , he already
pled guilty. Undoubtedly he will be corroborating other peoples' testimony , this will prove to be a very rocky 8 months ahead for Barack Hussein Obama
Posted by: Don B. | March 3, 2008 1:56 PM
Don B:
Ever heard of the Keating 5?? And how the Presidential candidate of the Family Values party was fooling around with his present wife WHILE he was still married to his first wife???
Plus, McCain has had to go back and amend his statements about that NYT article, like he never met with Mr. Paxson (oops, he did).
Posted by: BobinATL | March 3, 2008 2:12 PM
The Senate Ethics Committee concluded that Glenn and McCain's involvement in the scheme was minimal and dropped the charges against them. In August 1991, the committee ruled that the other three senators had acted improperly in interfering with the Federal Home Loan Banking Board's investigation.
Is this the same Keating five you refer to Bobin ?
Posted by: Don B. | March 3, 2008 2:24 PM
Did the mistress drop the charges also?
Posted by: bill "hussein" r. | March 3, 2008 3:10 PM
Posted by: Jackie King | March 3, 2008 12:33 PM
Be prepared for a lot of traveling. I have noticed that most fruitcakes get passed around.
Posted by: bill "hussein" r. | March 3, 2008 3:31 PM
Did the mistress drop the charges also?
Posted by: bill "hussein" r. | March 3, 2008 3:10 PM
Please cite those charges for everybody here, you can do that, can't you bill ?
Posted by: Don B. | March 3, 2008 3:42 PM
How come the so-called "liberal media" doesn't report that Rezko threw a huge fund raiser for President Bush? Surely the "liberal media" would report that if they truly were the "liberal media".
Posted by: jethro | March 3, 2008 4:20 PM
Don B,
The Senators had other Senators investigate the Keating Five Senators and the Senators concluded the Senators did not do anything wrong? WOW! I'm shocked at such an outcome. How about you let Blago's office investigate Blago's connection to Rezko? Do you think they would find no wrongdoing? Man you'll buy into anything, like a true moron would.
Posted by: john | March 3, 2008 4:25 PM
Before John McCain's tour of duty in Vietnam, he married Carol Shepp, a model from Philadelphia. On his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam in 1967, McCain was shot down and captured.
While he was imprisoned, Carol was in an auto wreck (1969), thrown through her car's windshield and left seriously injured. Despite her injures, she refused to allow her POW husband to be notified about her condition, fearing that such news would not be good for him while he was being held prisoner.
When McCain returned to the United States in 1973 after more than five years as a prisoner of war, he found his wife was a different person. The accident "left her 4 inches shorter and on crutches, and she had gained a good deal of weight."
Yearning to make the grade of admiral, McCain enrolled in the National War College at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. and underwent physical therapy in order to fly again. The Navy excused his permanent disabilities and reinstated him to flight status, effectively positioning him for promotion.
In his book, The Nightingale's Song, Robert Timberg chronicled McCain's post-Vietnam military assignments and some of his "adulterous" behavior leading to his divorce from Carol and marriage to Cindy Hensley.
Timberg wrote, "in the fall of 1974, McCain was transferred to Jacksonville as the executive officer of Replacement Air Group 174, the long-sought flying billet at last a reality. A few months later, he assumed command of the RAG, which trained pilots and crews for carrier deployments. The assignment was controversial, some calling it favoritism, a sop to the famous son of a famous father and grandfather [both were Navy admirals], since he had not first commanded a squadron, the usual career path."
While Executive Officer and later as Squadron Commander McCain used his authority to arrange frequent flights that allowed him to carouse with subordinates and "engage in extra-marital affairs." Such behavior was a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice rules against adultery and fraternization with subordinates..
Timberg wrote, "Off duty, usually on routine cross-country flights to Yuma and El Centro, John started carousing and running around with women. To make matters worse, some of the women with whom he was linked by rumor were subordinates . . . At the time the rumors were so widespread that, true or not, they became part of McCain's persona, impossible not to take note of."
In early 1977, Admiral Jim Holloway, Chief of Naval Operations promoted McCain to captain and transferred him from his command position "to Washington as the number-two man in the Navy's Senate liaison office. It wasn't long before the "fun loving and irreverent" McCain had turned the liaison office into a "late-afternoon gathering spot where senators and staffers, usually from the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, would drop in for a drink and the chance to unwind."
In 1979 at a military reception in Honolulu, McCain met Cindy Hensley, an attractive 25-year-old woman from a very wealthy politically-connected Arizona family. Cindy's father, Jim, founded the Hensley and Company, the nation's third-largest Anheuser-Busch distributor.
McCain described their first meeting, "She was lovely, intelligent and charming, 17 years my junior but poised and confident. I monopolized her attention the entire time, taking care to prevent anyone else from intruding on our conversation. When it came time to leave the party, I persuaded her to join me for drinks at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. By the evening's end, I was in love."
While still married to Carol, McCain began an adulterous relationship with Cindy. He married Cindy in May 1980 -- just a month after dumping Carol and securing a divorce. The newlyweds honeymooned in Hawaii.
McCain followed his young, millionairess wife back to Arizona where her father helped catapult McCain into politics,
Today, Cindy Hensley McCain is chairwoman of Hensley's board of directors. Hensley and Company financial reports show assets worth a minimum of $28 million for the McCains
McCain Divorce Settlement Outlined
By BILL KACZOR
From the US veteran dispatch
Not sure if this is what you wanted Don B...
Posted by: bill "hussein" r. | March 3, 2008 5:02 PM
McCain Divorce Settlement Outlined
By BILL KACZOR
From the US veteran dispatch
Not sure if this is what you wanted Don B...
Posted by: bill "hussein" r. | March 3, 2008 5:02 PM
Doesn't look like charges to me ...come back with the charges you had earlier stated.
Posted by: Don B. | March 3, 2008 6:10 PM
the Senators concluded the Senators did not do anything wrong?
Posted by: john | March 3, 2008 4:25 PM
John maybe you ought go back to grammar school and learn how to read...3 of the 5
were found guilty.....morom !
Posted by: Don B. | March 3, 2008 6:14 PM
Let's see, we got Daley, Blago, and Obama. Can we throw in the Todd the tax raiser Stroger and hit for the cycle?
Posted by: Terry | March 3, 2008 11:02 PM