Rezko trial: Jail time in question for those who cooperated
While meeting with lawyers in a jury instruction conference this afternoon, Judge Amy St. Eve
said it wasn't a certainty that witnesses who pleaded guilty will receive shorter prison time.
"There's no guarantee any of them will get reduced sentences," St. Eve said.
The comment came as lawyers in the Tony Rezko trial talked about instructions jurors will receive on the law before they're asked to start deliberations next week.
Her comment is particularly interesting when it comes to main witness Stuart Levine. Levine faced up to life in prison but negotiated a 67-month sentence with prosecutors.
While prosecutors will recommend Levine receive less time, St. Eve will have the final say.
Comments
Wow. Makes people really want to run right up to Fitz et al and confess. If St. Eve is going to take a hard line on those who confessed wonder how she's going to feel about sentencing Rezko if found guilty --since he made life more difficult for everyone?
Posted by: Hanna | May 7, 2008 03:19 PM
Good Point Hanna. With terms like these who would want to? Obviously this is what Hurtgen and Rezko believe. I can't really figure the Hurtgen thing out. Both the guys he was indicted with pled guilty and started workign with the government. Considering the wire taps, the wire Davis, the hospital CEO, was wearing how does he see himself getting off?
But in the case of Rezko he's looking down at more indcitments to come, the ones that have been served already plus etc. I think I would try and make a deal- maybe he is?
Posted by: BigWindy | May 7, 2008 05:33 PM
Hanna & Big Windy; remeber all the contacts Rezko has made over the past 30 years and he has contributed to everyone from here to Washington, Republican and Democratic. Rezko worked with Davis and hired Daleys brothers law firm to get city loans, he had a 17.5 year long relationship with Obama that has had many suspicious activities from real estate transactions to the Comapanion deal and lets not forget what he has on Blagojevich. If Rezko flips he could be talking for years, I think he has plenty of cards to trade with.
I still think it's amazing Duffy put on no defence for his client, he must have corrupted everyone in his life leaving not one honest man left to testify on his behalf.
Posted by: Bessie | May 8, 2008 07:46 AM
Big Windy :Do you know when the other Rezko trials may begin and what the charges are?
I wonder if Rezko realizes what the stakes really are here. After having spent so much time manipulating people in charge he may be so deluded that he has lost the capacity to see reality -or maybe he has some additional influence within the Justice Dept that he believes will bail him out in the end (and that's another big Chicago style secret we don't know about). It seems he was under the impression Fitz was being eliminated, wonder what else he thinks... If things go south for poor, crooked Tony and Obama wins maybe he can give him a Presidential pardon at the end of his White House days.
Posted by: Hanna | May 8, 2008 09:58 AM
Bessie -I think you're right - The defense might have gotten worried after Ata sang his song about putting anyone up on Rezko's behalf. They were probably afraid of what would have come out on cross examination. Do you know what other cases are coming Rezko's way and when those might start. You had mentioned in an earlier posting about Mahru. Might any of the cases to come deal with him?
Posted by: Hanna | May 8, 2008 12:57 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoin_Rezko
Hanna, go to the attached link. Tony is being charged with defrauding General Electric Capital out of 10.5 million dollars and bilking investors. You can also get a lot of information at "Rezko Watch" they attach most all relevant articles.
Mahru was the lawyer on the Companion deal but I don't think there are any indictments on that one. You can read about that at "Human Events by John Batchelor" he has written about 4 articles, "the Obama Files". Accusations have been made of him being a slum landlord and defrauding city and state government out of money but I havn't heard of any indictments on that either.
"Eye on Rezko" could last a very long time.
Posted by: Bessie | May 8, 2008 01:39 PM
I LIVE IN WESTERN ILLINOIS BUT I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE REZKO TRIAL AND I CANNOT BELEIVE THAT DELEGATES AND SUPERDELEGATES, THE VOTERS OUT THERE WHO SEEM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT OBAMA HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 20YRS, I BELIEVE THE DEMOCRATS IF THEY NOMINATE THE TEFLON MAN ARE GOING TO BE DIGGING THEMSELVES A HOLE.
Posted by: r.d.cahill | May 8, 2008 02:58 PM
r.d.cahill; I agree, it is a very scary situation. I wish someone would tell P.F to get a move on, he dosn't seem to be in any kind of hurry. I'm afraid by the time they indict Blagojevich, Obama could be into his Presidency and pardon the bunch, what a shame.
Posted by: Bessie | May 8, 2008 03:43 PM
I wonder about the Judge in this case. St Eve seems to have gone out of the way to keep Obama hush, hush - a little odd - Shame to say but since the Chicago Combine is a combine - makes one wonder what affiliations the Judge has. Wonder if Fitz would pursue Obama into the White House - that would be a career enhancer...
Posted by: Hanna | May 8, 2008 05:03 PM
Wow. You all really seem to believe you know what you are talking about. You need to come back down to reality and leave the legal work to the lawyers!
Posted by: Amazed | May 9, 2008 08:57 AM
Evelyn Pringle is about to publish her bombshell article on Obama at opednews.com. This will be the definitive treatment: names, dates, places, amounts, schemes. You won't, I think, need to look anywhere else after read this.
Obama is so through--and always knew he was through. So why run? Hey, he raised $200 million. Just follow the money.
Posted by: John Ryskamp | May 9, 2008 03:19 PM