He wanted some "protection" (immediate execution)....
from the Windy City Mob(s)"
Additional content added to article
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Rezko, a former top fund-raiser to Blagojevich and a onetime friend to President Barack Obama, volunteered to go to jail in 2008 immediately after his conviction on 16 of 24 counts of corruption, including fraud, money laundering and plotting to squeeze $7 million in kickbacks from firms that wanted to do business with the state during Blagojevich’s tenure.
Rezko’s lawyers asked that he be released with just time served.
The government, though, wanted St. Eve to send him away for 11 to 15 years.
Since 2008, Rezko was housed in harsher conditions than most white collar criminals, including about nine months in isolation in a downtown lockup.
Rezko cooperated and delayed sentencing until after both of Blagojevich’s trials.
But prosecutors never used Rezko as a witness in Blagojevich’s trials, saying Rezko’s cooperation wasn’t that helpful, that he initially lied and that their proposed penalty would cover a second criminal case before a different judge involving loan fraud. Defense lawyers say Rezko’s information opened new doors for the government.
Current article comments
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seany
9:59 AM on November 22, 2011
Wow Sun-Times I think that is the 1st time you mentioned ‘thee anointed one’ Barack Obama in a article with Rezko. Good work.
Score: 2
earnest.in.evanston
10:23 AM on November 22, 2011
Looks like Obama needs to make another pardon for his good friend and real estate fairy, Tony Rezco.
Is it 2012 yet?
Score: 1
floyd gondolli
10:35 AM on November 22, 2011
Like seany said, I am surprised this liberal, biased paper mentioned Obama. They normally only mention Blago.
Score: 0
lithoman
10:42 AM on November 22, 2011
Why has it taken so long to sentence him????????
Score: -1
ankhamazighsalahadinwashitawtherelentless
10:43 AM on November 22, 2011
It’s about timing, and Obama thought he’d ride off into the sunset on this guy............He’ll roll...No pardon here..................
Score: 1
ru-connected
10:58 AM on November 22, 2011
Prediction: 10 years with time served.
Score: 1
ru-connected
11:10 AM on November 22, 2011
Ru-Connected is right on target.