From The Chicago Sun-Times:

New charges in store for governor's pal

September 20, 2002

BY STEVE WARMBIR FEDERAL COURTS REPORTER

A close friend of Gov. Ryan will face even more criminal charges in about a month, federal prosecutors said in court Thursday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon did not specify what businessman Lawrence E. Warner would be charged with. Also possibly facing additional charges are two other men indicted in May with Warner, former Metra board member Donald Udstuen and associate Alan Drazek.

Warner was charged with using his influence in the secretary of state's office--when George Ryan ran it--to get money from firms that wanted business with the state or hoped to keep that business.

Warner's alleged misdeeds happened with the consent of a high-ranking secretary of state official, according to the feds, who have not identified the official. In return, that official got some of the bribes Warner received, authorities said.

The governor has denied that he is the official prosecutors are talking about.

The announcement of possible new charges came Thursday at a status hearing in the Warner case.

Udstuen has pleaded guilty in the scheme and is cooperating in the federal probe of corruption under Ryan.

Warner's attorney, Edward Genson, could not be reached Thursday for comment.