Top Blagojevich adviser Tony Rezko gets 10½ years

[alp227]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Hailed by prosecutors as a "wake-up call," Antoin Rezko was sentenced to 10½ years in prison today for extorting millions of dollars from firms seeking state business or regulatory approval while he was a top fundraiser and adviser to then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Rezko's daughter broke down sobbing as U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve handed down the sentence, telling Rezko his "selfish and corrupt actions" had damaged the trust people have in their government.

"You defrauded the people of Illinois, you engaged in extensive corruption throughout the state of Illinois," the judge said, adding that she hoped other politicians would take note of the penalty for corruption.

"This sentence must send a message that enough is enough," she said.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-rezko-sentencing-1122-20111122,0,7545749.story

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Rezko#Ties_to_Barack_Obama

[DCBob]

1. Thanks for that link to the wikipedia tying Resko to Obama..

Any more good links on Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Larry Sinclair, or maybe the Whitey Tapes?

Thanks for posting! :puke:

[Wait Wut]

3. No kidding.

:eyes:

[MADem]

2. I wonder if that sentence will be amended, particularly given his willingness to dime out Blago's

crew.

Will he get time off for good behavior and all those fun little credits as well as probation? If that's the case, he'll do a short three to five years, maybe less, even.

Rezko has already served almost 3 ½ years in prison and will be credited for that time with the 10½-year sentence.

Rezko opted to enter jail after his June 2008 conviction, but his sentencing was delayed because of the possibility that federal prosecutors would call him as a witness at other key trials connected to the probe of the Blagojevich administration, including the former governor's retrial over the summer.

Rezko was never called to testify, but the years he stood ready to do so have become a key point of debate between his attorneys and prosecutors in recent court filings.

Rezko's attorneys asked that he be sentenced to time served, while prosecutors sought a prison term of 11 to 15 years.

[aquart]

4. The sentence Zuccotti never got and should have.