A former fundraiser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty Thursday to new charges of loan fraud, as did a new defendant in the case.No word yet from Barack Obama on this one.
Antoin "Tony" Rezko of Wilmette and Abdelhamid "Al" Chaib of LaGrange park appeared before U.S. District Judge James Zagel Thursday morning and pleaded not guilty to rigging the prices of pizza franchises to obtain higher bank loans.
Another defendant, Ali Ata, was snowed in in Michigan, Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn McNiven told Zagel. Ata will be arraigned Jan. 11.
Rezko was initially indicted in the case in 2006. A grand jury later added Ata, accusing him of aiding and abetting the scheme. Chaib was added in December.
Rezko is a defendant in another case alleging government corruption and accusing him of trading government influence for campaign donations Blagojevich.
Blagojevich has not been charged with any crimes and denies any wrongdoing.
Rezko will go to trial on the government corruption case next month. His trial date in the loan case has not yet been set.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Tony Rezko Pleads Innocent on New Loan Fraud Charges
The Daily Herald reports:
