Tony Rezko The Tax Deadbeat

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Tony Rezko has stopped paying property taxes on his Wilmette mansion.


Rezko -- the indicted businessman and political fund-raiser accused of demanding kickbacks from state contractors -- owes $76,864.60 in property taxes on his home, which is in foreclosure.

And don't expect Rezko to pay those taxes anytime soon. He hasn't paid a property tax bill since March 2006.

He skipped the $24,363.15 payment that was due Sept. 1, 2006, and the $23,988.62 bill that was due March 1.

His current bill -- $25,274.36 -- was due Dec. 3.

Ordinarily, Rezko's delinquent property taxes would have been sold to the highest bidder by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. But in Rezko's case, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has asked Pappas not to sell those property taxes because the government might seize Rezko's home if he's convicted.

Rezko goes on trial in February.

No word yet from Barack Obama or Rod Blagojevich on this.