Category Archives: Judges

Chicago and Illinois delays in sentencing, Rezko Blagojevich Ryan, Will Tony Rezko testify?

Chicago and Illinois delays in sentencing, Rezko Blagojevich Ryan, Will Tony Rezko testify?
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”…William Shakespeare, “Hamlet”

From the Chicago Tribune September 27, 2011.

“Delays in determining prison terms for some high-profile Illinois criminals”

“With former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s sentencing postponed indefinitely, here’s a look at how long it took to sentence other high-profile public corruption figures after their convictions by federal juries. It’s been 92 days since Blagojevich was found guilty June 27.”

“George Ryan: 142 days. The former governor was found guilty in 2006 of more than a dozen felony charges, including racketeering, tax and mail fraud and lying to the FBI. He is in prison.

Antoin “Tony” Rezko: 3+ years: A top fundraiser for Blagojevich, Rezko was convicted in 2008 of extorting millions of dollars from firms seeking state business. His sentencing was indefinitely postponed earlier this year.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-talk-sentencings-20110927,0,3329613.story

Why has the sentencing of Tony Rezko been delayed over 3 years without his being called as a witness?

Obama

Blagojevich sentencing delayed, Judge James Zagel, William Cellini trial, Postponed until a further order of the court

Blagojevich sentencing delayed, Judge James Zagel, William Cellini trial, Postponed until a further order of the court

From the Chicago Tribune September 26, 2011.

“Federal judge delays Blagojevich sentencing”
“Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s sentencing next month on his sweeping corruption charges has been postponed, according to a court order Monday.

No new date has been set.

The Oct. 6 date has always been tentative, and the postponement is not surprising largely because  Blagojevich’s co-defendant, William Cellini, is scheduled to go on trial next Monday in the same courtroom.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel, who will preside over both Blagojevich’s sentencing and Cellini’s trial, said in a written order on Monday that the former governor’s sentencing has been postponed “until a further order of the court.””

 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-federal-judge-delays-blagojevich-sentencing-20110926,0,1317100.story

October 3, 2011, William Cellini trial, Tony Rezko status hearing, Blagojevich sentencing, Will Rezko testify?

October 3, 2011, William Cellini trial, Tony Rezko status hearing, Blagojevich sentencing, Will Rezko testify?

The William Cellini trial begins October 3, 2011. There is also a Tony Rezko status hearing scheduled for October 3, 2011. Apparently the Blagojevich sentencing hearing will begin soon as well. Will Tony Rezko be a witness in the Cellini trial? Historical trends say no.

“Honorable Amy J. St. Eve                    Courtroom 1241 (ASE)         

             
1:05-cr-00691   USA v. Rezko                           08:45   Status Hearing             

Honorable James B. Zagel                    Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)         

1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Cellini                         10:30   Jury Trial”  

http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/home/DailyCal/7.htm

William Cellini trial pre trial hearing September 23, 2011, Judge James B. Zagel, Courtroom 2503, Notice of motion

William Cellini trial pre trial hearing September 23, 2011, Judge James B. Zagel, Courtroom 2503, Notice of motion

From the State Journal Register September 23, 2011.

“A federal judge is scheduled to rule on several pre-trial motions in the case of a one-time fundraiser for ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Friday’s status hearing in Chicago comes two weeks before William Cellini’s trial is set to start on Oct. 3.

His is the last major trial linked to Blagojevich’s disgraced administration.

A jury convicted Blagojevich of multiple corruption charges earlier this year. The same judge overseeing Cellini’s case, James Zagel, is scheduled to sentence Blagojevich on Oct. 6.

To avoid scheduling conflicts, Zagel could delay either Cellini’s trial or Blagojevich’s sentencing.”

Read more:

http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x438808496/Pre-trial-hearing-scheduled-today-for-Cellini

Daily Calendar  

Friday, September 23, 2011  (As of 09/23/11 at 09:46:46 AM 

Honorable James B. Zagel                    Courtroom 2503 (JBZ)         

1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Cellini                         11:00   Notice of Motion           
1:08-cr-00888   USA v. Cellini                         11:00   Status Hearing

http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/home/DailyCal/0.htm#Zagel

Bill Cellini trial, Prosecutors request block of Stuart Levine drug and party questions, Rezko not expected to testify

Bill Cellini trial, Prosecutors request block of Stuart Levine drug and party questions, Rezko not expected to testify

“Why was Tony Rezko’s sentencing delayed?”…Citizen Wells

From the Chicago SunTimes September 20, 2011.

“Cellini prosecutors: Don’t ask our star witness about drug-fueled parties, personal life”

“Federal prosecutors in Chicago are asking a federal judge to block “irrelevant” questions about the personal life of the expected star witness in the William Cellini trial: serial swindler Stuart Levine.

Prosecutors say defense lawyers for Cellini should not be allowed to delve into Levine’s lurid background, including his previous testimony that he’d engage in all-night, drug-fueled parties at the Purple Hotel in Skokie and then attend a meeting for a state board the following day.

The government is trying to avoid the same 15-day saga that played out in Tony Rezko’s 2008 corruption trial, where Levine, once a GOP supporter and the member of two influential state boards, spelled out many details of his personal life, arguably creating a distraction in the trial.

“The government anticipates that the defendant will attempt to introduce evidence or cross-examine Stuart Levine, a potential government witness, on certain matters that are irrelevant and/or unduly prejudicial, such as on matters pertaining to Levine’s drug use and personal life,” prosecutors wrote in today’s filing. “…Those topic areas are as irrelevant and/or unfairly prejudicial.”

Prosecutors are again before Judge James Zagel, who previously ruled that those issues could not come up if Levine were to testify in the Blagojevich trial.

He never did.

Cellini is a wealthy Springfield power broker accused of conspiring with others to extort a campaign contribution for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich from Capri Capital’s Tom Rosenberg, who is also a Hollywood film producer.

Levine is key to Cellini’s trial because he and Cellini are on recordings.”

“Rezko, who had been cooperating with authorities following his conviction, is not expected to testify.

Cellini is supposed to go on trial Oct. 3 though Blagojevich –once a codefendant — is scheduled to be sentenced three days later.

Scheduling could come up in a hearing set for this Friday.”

Read more:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/blago/2011/09/cellini_prosecutors_dont_ask_s.html

Why was Tony Rezko’s sentencing delayed?

Tony Rezko status hearing scheduled September 7, 2011, Judge Amy J. St. Eve

Tony Rezko status hearing scheduled September 7, 2011, Judge Amy J. St. Eve   

A status hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday,   September 7, 2011, for Tony Rezko with  Judge Amy J. St. Eve .

     

Daily Calendar
 
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 (As of 08/31/11 at 06:47:51 AM

Honorable Amy J. St. Eve                    Courtroom 1241 (ASE)

1:05-cr-00691   USA v. Rezko                           09:00   Status Hearing             
http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/home/DailyCal/7.htm

Blagojevich prosecutors oppose retrial, Deny allegations of bias, Blagojevich 158 page motion, Prosecution 133 page motion

Blagojevich prosecutors oppose retrial, Deny allegations of bias, Blagojevich 158 page motion, Prosecution 133 page motion

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

“Will Obama be thrown under the bus”

From the Chicago Tribune August 23, 2011.

“Blagojevich prosecutors deny allegations of bias”

“Responding to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s motion to dismiss his June conviction on public corruption charges, federal prosecutors in a filing late Monday rejected  allegations of bias, saying trial decisions were focused on facts and evidence relevant to the charges.

Blagojevich filed a 158-page motion in late July, saying his case should be dismissed because of alleged widespread judicial and prosecutorial bias against him.

“In reality, there was no bias, manipulation, or unfairness on the part of the prosecution, judge or jury. Defendant was fairly convicted by a jury of his peers based on overwhelming evidence, and his post-trial motions therefore should be denied,” prosecutors said in their filing.

U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel, the judge at trial, will eventually rule on whether to dismiss the case. While that outcome would appear highly unlikely, the defense filing offered a glimpse of the likely issues that Blagojevich’s lawyers will target in an eventual appeal with a federal appellate court.

A federal jury convicted Blagojevich in June on 17 of 20 wire fraud, bribery, attempted extortion and conspiracy counts, including allegations he tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat left open by Barack Obama’s election to president in 2008.

The former governor was also convicted at his first trial last summer on a single count of lying to the FBI. The jury, however, deadlocked on all the other counts, setting the stage for the retrial. Blagojevich is set to be sentenced Oct. 6.

The government, in the 133-page motion, dealt with some of the more headline-grabbing allegations made by the defense, including the idea that there were missing phone calls amid the numerous wiretaps the government presented as evidence during the trial.

One of those calls involving former Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris, the government said, was simply not recorded and therefore not available.

“The likely reasons why the call was not intercepted are that Harris took the call on a non-wiretapped phone line, or that the call took place during a time his phone line was not being monitored,” the motion reads. “As the records provided to the defense make clear, there was no break in the wiretaps and no deletion of recordings that would account for this call not being recorded,” the government said of one of the calls.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-blagojevich-prosecutors-deny-allegations-of-bias-20110823,0,2667746.story

Daniel Frawley sentencing scheduled for August 24, 2011, Judge Ronald A. Guzman, Frawley deposition links Rezko Obama money

Daniel Frawley sentencing scheduled for August 24, 2011, Judge Ronald A. Guzman, Frawley deposition links Rezko Obama money

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

“Why did Mutual Bank fire whistleblower Kenneth J Connor after he challenged the appraisal on the land purchased by Rita Rezko, just prior to the land sale to Obama?”…Citizen Wells

“Why do 3 supporters own Obama’s home?”…World Net Daily

Daily Calendar   

Wednesday, August 24, 2011  (As of 08/17/11 at 07:47:49 AM 

Honorable Ronald A. Guzman                  Courtroom 1219 (RAG)

1:11-cr-00056   USA v. Frawley                         10:30   Sentencing     

From Citizen Wells August 3, 2011.

“Has Daniel Frawley been talking to the Feds? Apparently Frawley will be sentenced on August 24, 2011. This comes after his sentencing hearing was suddenly delayed recently. A Chicago SunTimes article dated July 11, 2011 indicated that Frawley has been cooperating with the Feds.

“UPDATE: After this story was published Monday morning, U.S. District Judge Ronald A. Guzman canceled Daniel T. Frawley’s sentencing hearing, which had been scheduled for Tuesday. Court records did not indicate why Guzman did this. Frawley’s sentencing had not been re-scheduled.
Daniel T. Frawley once teamed with Tony Rezko — the political fixer who’s now in jail — in what turned out to be a doomed effort to open a training school for Iraqi security forces in western Illinois. Now, Frawley faces a federal prison stretch of his own.

On Tuesday, the 60-year-old onetime Chicago cop is set to appear before a federal judge for sentencing after pleading guilty in February in a $4.4 million bank fraud.

The scheme appears to have no connection to Rezko, the Wilmette businessman who was once a prolific campaign fund-raiser for politicians including the current president, Barack Obama, and the recently convicted former governor, Rod Blagojevich.

Still, federal prosecutors are seeking a reduced sentence for Frawley — of a year and a half in prison, rather than the 35 years he could face — apparently because Frawley has been secretly cooperating since at least 2006 in their investigation of Rezko, who was found guilty in June 2008 of having used his clout with the Blagojevich administration to enrich himself and his business associates.

Details about Frawley’s cooperation with the U.S. attorney’s office, the FBI and the Illinois attorney general’s office can be gleaned from a 65-page court deposition he gave seven months ago in a legal-malpractice lawsuit that he filed against his former longtime lawyer, George Weaver. In the lawsuit, Frawley accuses Weaver of having overbilled him and telling him to “withhold certain information from the government” when he was cooperating with authorities.

That sworn statement, given Dec. 1, 2010, is posted at suntimes.com/news/watchdogs. In it, Frawley talks about three meetings he’s had with law enforcement authorities since 2006. The deposition outlines how he secretly recorded Rezko, and it raises a new and unsubstantiated question about Rezko’s once-close relationship with Obama — an issue that dogged the then-U.S. senator during his presidential campaign four years ago.”

“More compelling passages from the Daniel Frawley deposition were presented at Citizen Wells on July 15, 2011.

“Attorneys Franklin & Schutte represent Frawley, plaintiff.

Attorney Konicek represents George Weaver, defendant.

Frawley: “George told me that he had a meeting at his office on LaSalle Street with Dan Mahru, with some people from First Bank–I didn’t know how many at the time–and himself. And George instructed me not to attend.”

Konicek: “So who said it to you, and where was it said to you?”

Frawley: “Dan Mahru told me that First Bank was agreeable to a settlement.”

Konicek: “In March 13, 2006, you had a conversation with Mr. Weaver where you say he instructed me not to cooperate.”

Frawley: “Yes, I had a conversation with Mr. Weaver where he instructed me not to cooperate.”
Frawley: “I was on the phone, making a phone call to Tony Rezko. I had a luncheon engagement with him.”

“George was outside of the room where I was making the telephone call, and the purpose of the call was for me to keep my luncheon engagement with Tony Rezko and to go over and to record Tony Rezko.”

“George saw and heard me on the phone, came running in and went like this [demonstrating]: Cut it,”

Franklin: “For the record, the deponent is crossing his hands across his throat.”

Konicek: “And Tony Rezko was where when you were speaking to him?”

Frawley: “He was on the other end of the phone. I don’t recall where he was.”
Konicek: “I’m assuming the information is about the payments made by Rezko to Obama, so we know we’re talking about the right conversation, right?”

Konicek: “Am I correct it was about Obama being paid by Rezko?”

Frawley: “I’m not answering that question, based upon my attorney’s instructions.”

Konicek: “But on March 13, 2006, you’ve already indentified for me being at 219 South Dearborn. You’re talking to Tony rezko on the phone, and Mr. Weaver makes this gesture to you, right?”

Frawley: “Mr. Weaver made the gesture and told me to get off the phone, to end the phone call.”
Konicek: “Okay. And then where were you instructed not to cooperate?”

Frawley: “In the same building, at 219 South Dearborn….in a different room.”
Konicek: “Did you bring to Mr. Weaver in Hinsdale a statement showing payment to Tony Rezko in the amount of $ 1.5 million?”
Konicek: “Are you going to answer?”

Frawley: “No.”

Konicek: “Are you asserting your Fifth Amendment privilege?”

Frawley: “Yes.””

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/daniel-frawley-sentencing-august-24-2011-frawley-talking-for-lighter-sentence-daniel-frawley-throwing-rezko-and-obama-under-bus/

Tony Rezko sentencing remains October 21, 2011, Rezko not called at Blagojevich trial, William Cellini trial?

Tony Rezko sentencing remains October 21, 2011, Rezko not called at Blagojevich trial, William Cellini trial?

“Why was Obama in constant contact with Tony Rezko in 2004 when Rezko was conspiring with William Cellini to use TRS, Teacher Retirement Fund, assets for political gain and personal enrichment?”…Citizen Wells

“Illinois is Six Degrees of Bill Cellini.”…John Kass, Chicago Tribune

From the Chicago Tribune August 16, 2011.

 “Convicted influence peddler Rezko still on for sentencing just weeks after ex-Gov. Blagojevich”

“A convicted influence peddler remains on track to be sentenced weeks after his one-time benefactor, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Prosecutors said at a status hearing Tuesday that they want to stick with an Oct. 21 sentencing date for Tony Rezko.

The government has portrayed Rezko as the ultimate insider who pulled strings in Blagojevich’s administration.

A jury convicted Rezko in 2008 of squeezing kickbacks from businessmen eager to land state contracts.

The 56-year-old appeared at Tuesday’s hearing in jail clothes and chains binding his ankles. He smiled weakly and waived at relatives on courtroom benches.”

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/sns-ap-il–blagojevichtrial-rezko,0,1617012.story

Why does the Chicago Tribune not mention the William Cellini trial scheduled for October 3, 2011?

William Cellini was mentioned numerous times during the Tony Rezko trial in early 2008. Cellini was indicted in October 2008.

Press release

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1030_01.pdf

Indictment

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1030_01a.pdf

 
Cellini 101

Tony Rezko status hearing, August 11, 2011, Judge Amy J. St. Eve, US District Court

Tony Rezko status hearing, August 11, 2011, Judge Amy J. St. Eve, US District Court

Tony Rezko, convicted of corruption in June of 2008, has a status hearing with  Judge Amy J. St. Eve in US District Court on August 11, 2011.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Honorable Amy J. St. Eve                    Courtroom 1241 (ASE)         

1:05-cr-00691   USA v. Rezko                           09:00   Status Hearing             

http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/home/DailyCal/1.htm#St.Eve