Fundraiser Rezko has Jan. 6 corruption sentencing

[December 03, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- A federal judge on Tuesday set a Jan. 6 sentencing for political fundraiser Tony Rezko, who helped bankroll campaigns for Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Rezko was convicted in June on charges of using clout with Blagojevich's administration to help launch a $7 million kickback scheme. His sentencing had been postponed indefinitely, giving rise to widespread speculation he was talking to federal prosecutors investigating alleged corruption in state government.

Rezko had requested an early sentencing in a motion filed last week, saying he had remained for a long time in solitary confinement at the government's Metropolitan Correctional Center. The motion suggested he might prefer to be in a regular federal prison.

"He wants to get on with his life -- no one likes living in the MCC," chief defense counsel Joseph J. Duffy said.

Rezko was a prolific fundraiser who helped bankroll the governor's election races. He also raised money for President-elect Obama's campaigns for the state legislature and Congress, but not for Obama's presidential campaign.

Prosecutors had no objection to Rezko's efforts to set a sentencing date. Prosecutors often want to delay sentencing for a defendant who is cooperating until that cooperation is complete, often until after he has testified against others charged in the case.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, Randall Samborn, said the government would have no comment.

A lack of cooperation from Rezko could severely hurt the government's efforts to investigate alleged influence peddling, and possibly other corruption, on state boards and commissions that make decisions involving millions of dollars.

Rezko was one of the key insiders in Blagojevich's campaigns for governor and remained close to the administration after he was elected. The governor has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Rebuffing the government could be a problem for Rezko, who remains in deep legal trouble. It is unclear how much time he will receive for his conviction but the sentence St. Eve imposes is likely to be harsh.

Rezko is set to go to trial early next year on unrelated charges that he swindled the General Electric Capital Corp. out of $10 million in the sale of a group of pizza restaurants. He also allegedly owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in gambling debts.

[Associated Press; By MIKE ROBINSON]

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