Doctor pleads guilty to hiding $3M from IRS

[March 11, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- The business partner of a key witness in the federal investigation of corruption under former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has pleaded guilty to hiding $3 million in income from tax collectors.

Dr. Robert Weinstein of Northbrook, Ill., admitted Tuesday in a signed plea agreement that he and political fundraiser Stuart Levine siphoned $6 million out of a charity and that he didn't report the money to the Internal Revenue Service.

Levine was the government's star witness at the trial of political fixer Tony Rezko, and he's already admitted his part in the scheme.

Rezko was convicted of shaking down businesses seeking state contracts for campaign contributions.

Weinstein faces a sentence of two years or more. U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo set sentencing for July 1.

[Associated Press]

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