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• In October, 2006, Chicago-area businessman and political donor Tony Rezko was indicted on charges of fraud, extortion and money laundering by the office of Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald.

• Fast Facts

  1. Verdict date: June 4, 2008
  2. Found guilty on 16 counts
  3. Acquitted of 8 counts
  4. Plans appeal
  5. Sentencing: September 3, 2008
  6. Wished to begin serving sentence "immediately"
  7. An observer for Barack Obama's campaign attended trial

• The Charges

  The charges came from a three-year FBI investigation claiming Rezko demanded money from companies who sought to do business in Illinois.

  He was accused of scheming with Governor Rod Blagojevech to get a $1.5 million kickback. Blagojevech was not charged with any wrongdoing.

  In addition he was accused of laundering money in an associates restaurant business.

• The Conviction

  Rezko was convicted on 16 of the 24 charges he was facing. He was acquitted eight charges including those of attempted extortion.

• Political Ties

  Rezko's notoriety is due to his close ties to politicians of both parties, most famously including Barack Obama but also comprising of a $3.6 million fundraiser for George W. Bush in 2003. Observers watched the trial closely for evidence of an improper relationship between Rezko and Obama.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Antoin Tony Rezko | Patti Blagojevich | Obama Questionable Funds | Barack Obama | Democratic Party | Sheldon Sorosky

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