more background:
Kelly admitted that bids on the projects were rigged to make certain that his BCI Commercial Roofing Inc. would land the contracts.
In all, the contracts paid Kelly $8.5 million. His profit was $2.5 million, according to the signed plea agreement.
Kelly said that the payments to the consultant were made through third parties. He also admitted that he used thousands of dollars in proceeds from the contracts to pay huge gambling debts.
According to the plea agreement, $47,000 of the sum kicked back to the consultant was billed to now defunct Irving Park Development LLC, managed by Rezmar Inc., a firm run by convicted influence peddler and key Blagojevic fundraiser Tony Rezko.
Kelly then arranged for Rezko Enterprises to pay the consultant, the document said.
Rezko was convicted in June of federal fraud, money laundering and bribery charges following a trial that exposed the corrupt political culture plaguing Illinois. He is now believed to be cooperating with prosecutors as they prepare for the Blagojevich trial, which is set to start June 3.
The plea agreement also said that Kelly paid $700,000, $665,088 of which was derived from the fraud scheme, to Rezko to repay a loan used to buy a house.
http://www.bnd.com/326/story/914397.html
Fmr. Governor Rod Blagojevich Releases Statement on the Death of Christopher Kelly
September 12, 2009
“I am deeply saddened to hear that Chris has died. My heart goes out to his wife Carmen, his three daughters Grace, Jacqueline and Claire and his entire family. They are in our prayers.”
The former governor is in New York and is not available for further comment.
http://www.prnewschannel.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=1644&z=4