From the Tribune:

Blagojevich fundraiser pleads not guilty

Tribune staff reports
Published October 19, 2006, 4:45 PM CDT

An indicted fundraiser and political confidant for Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty today to federal charges that he swindled the General Electric Capital Corp. out of $10.5 million in loans to a pizza restaurant company.

Antoin ``Tony'' Rezko, 51, also is charged in a separate indictment with working with campaign contributor Stuart Levine to squeeze investment firms seeking state business for kickbacks. A hearing on those charges was set for 5 p.m.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles P. Kocoras set Rezko's bond at $1.5 million on the first charge. Rezko's family and friends agreed to put up their property to help Rezko raise the money, and lawyers were working to determine if the value of the property was great enough to meet the bond requirements.

Earlier today, FBI agents picked up Rezko at O'Hare International Airport after he returned from a business trip overseas.

Rezko, 51, had failed to show up for arraignments last week, and his attorney, Joseph J. Duffy, was granted a six-day delay for getting his client to court.

In arguing for a reasonable bond for his client today, Duffy said Rezko's return trip started in his native Syria. "He flew back from Syria, a country we have no extradition treaty with," Duffy said. "He came back voluntarily."

Kocoras said he considered it "a plus" that Rezko had returned, calling it a "point in his favor."

Assistant U.S. Atty. Carolyn McNiven told Kocoras that a high bond was necessary to ensure Rezko's future court appearances. "This is a gentleman who travels abroad," she said.

At least $2 million was necessary as bond, she said, "although we are very happy, obviously, that Mr. Rezko has returned to the United States to face these charges here today."

Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, said Rezko's itinerary had been provided to authorities, and the FBI and U.S. Customs agents were waiting for his plane when it arrived at O'Hare. He was escorted off his flight at about noon and into a vehicle waiting on the tarmac.

"He knew we would be there, we knew he would be there," Samborn said.

FBI agents transported him to the bureau's headquarters on the city's West Side and he was later brought to federal court.

Tribune staff reporters Jeff Coen and Matt O'Connor, and the Associated Press contributed.
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