Tony Rezko under the gun in Las Vegas for gambling debts

Charles Barkley is not alone, infamous political fundraiser Tony Rezko is now facing a fresh set of lawsuits, this time for failing to pay his gambling debts in Las Vegas. Tony Rezko, who is free on bond and awaiting a verdict at his federal corruption trial in Chicago, is sought on a felony arrest warrant since May 20th for failing to pay $472,275 gambling debts to 10 Las Vegas casinos, mostly from Caesars Palace and Bally's. He allegedly tried to back up his gambling with markers on his account, but it had insufficient funds. A separate lawsuit is asking for $331,000 plus interest, anther gambling debts Rezko had raked up with the Bellagio two years ago. A real estate developer and fast-food entrepreneur, Tony Rezko raised thousands of dollars for Democratic presidential candidate and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Rezko has pleaded not guilty to charges that he schemed with a member of two state boards to split a $1.5 million bribe from a contractor, who wanted state permission to build a hospital and to pressure kickbacks from money management firms wanting to do business with a $40 billion state pension fund.

Published on 05/30/2008