Posted on 06/07/2008 1:11:20 PM PDT by Shermy
Antoin "Tony" Rezko traveled in the entourage of boxing great Muhammad Ali, gave confidential advice to Gov. Rod Blagojevich and criss-crossed the globe to craft multimillion-dollar business deals.
But the business magnate's rise from Syrian immigrant to clout-rich Chicago millionaire was fueled in large part by a humble product: the pizza pie.
Two indictments unsealed Wednesday suggest Rezko's life was on two tracks--even as he ascended in influence in state government, his pizza businesses were spiraling into financial trouble, the government alleges.
Rezko, who is traveling abroad, has not formally responded to the charges and could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Joseph J. Duffy, called the charges unsealed against his client Wednesday "sensational" and "pure fiction."
But the charges mark a troubling new chapter in a career that has arced from a Middle East town to America's halls of power.
"The Tony Rezko I went into business with in 1989 was a humble, hardworking immigrant success story," said Daniel Mahru, who partnered with Rezko in real estate ventures until they parted ways last year. "At 19 years old, he came off an airplane and couldn't speak English, but over the years he must have brought a hundred Rezkos over from Syria. He worked so hard to take care of nephews, nieces and children."
Then he added: "But the Tony Rezko I knew after the governor got elected was not the same person. He changed."
In one of his rare extensive interviews, Rezko told the Tribune last year that he was most comfortable playing a behind-the-scenes role with politicians, as he had while developing endorsement and business deals with former heavyweight champion Ali in the 1960s and '70s.
"Of all the years I was with Ali," Rezko remarked, "you wouldn't see my name in any places."
...snip...
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
“But the Tony Rezko I knew”
Part of the reason I posted this story is that phrase. Obama said the same thing.
Is this a standard Chicago way of distancing oneself from crooks one used to be pals with??
Worst damn pizza I ever ate.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.