Graft Probe Snares Ill. Governor's Adviser

CHICAGO, Oct. 11 -- A top adviser and fundraiser for Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich was charged in a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday with scheming to collect millions of dollars in kickbacks from companies seeking to do business with the state.

Businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko was charged with operating a fraud scheme in which he, millionaire political contributor Stuart Levine and other insiders used Levine's position as a member of two state boards to pressure companies to pay kickbacks in exchange for state business. Levine is among those previously charged in the case.

Rezko, 51, is also accused of trying to squeeze a company seeking to do business with the state for a $1.5 million contribution "to a certain public official." Prosecutors declined to name the official or to say whether Blagojevich or anyone in his administration might be a target in the investigation.

"This basically involved a pay-to-play scheme on steroids," U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said. He said Rezko and Levine engaged in "a frenzied effort to collect kickbacks."

The charges were unsealed four weeks before the election in which Blagojevich is seeking a second term. His opponent, Judy Baar Topinka (R), has accused Blagojevich of repeating the scandals of of his predecessor, Republican George H. Ryan, who was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison last month for racketeering conspiracy and other offenses.