More Trouble Ahead For Obama's Patron? Real estate exec plays mole in Fed probe

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

A former New Yorker has been conducting an undercover sting investigation for federal prosecutors while working in the Chicago commercial real estate industry, according to sources familiar with the investigation and documents in the man’s own federal criminal fraud case.

Bernard T. Barton Jr., who now goes by the name John Thomas, has been working undercover for federal prosecutors since at least 2003, when he pleaded guilty in federal court in Long Island, N.Y., to a nearly $314,000 scam involving a client of his former billboard leasing company.

His undercover work continued up until this week. With his cooperation, Mr. Thomas is looking to cut a prison sentence of 15 to 21 months he agreed to as a part of a deal with the U.S. attorney’s office in Long Island.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office declines comment, and it’s not clear when, or if, the government might bring charges based on evidence developed by Mr. Thomas.

The scope of Mr. Thomas’s undercover work has been wide, but has included developer Daniel Mahru, the former partner of prominent Democratic fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko, those sources say.

Mr. Mahru hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing. But Mr. Rezko was charged last year with fraud in two separate federal cases unrelated to Mr. Thomas, one involving state pension money and the other involving a loan for Mr. Rezko’s restaurant business. He has denied the charges.

No word yet from the Obama campaign.