Legal Commentary

Rezko's Bid for New Trial Denied

By Jeralyn

Tony Rezko lost his motion for a new trial Wednesday. His sentencing has been continued because he is singing for his supper and giving up information others (No, not Obama, don't even bother trying to go there in comments, Obama is not the subject or relevant to this post.)

Rezko's motion for new trial is here (pdf). The Judge's 34 page ruling is here (pdf).

Chicago Ald. Edward Vrdolyak, aka "Fast Eddie", pleaded guilty last week and Springfield Republican political fundraiser William Cellini was indicted. [More...]

No wonder Fitz agreed to let uber-snitch Stuart Levine get a sentence cut recommendation from guidelines of life to 67 months. He brought home the bacon.

Levine's guideline range before his snitch bonus is a level 43, category I, or mandatory life in prison, no parole -- there is no parole in the federal system. On a life sentence, the only way you come out is in a pine box.

The plea agreement (pdf) provides for a Rule 11[c](1)[C} agreed-upon sentence of 67 months. (See paragraph 22 on page 53.) Should the judge not agree and want to give him more, he gets to take his plea back.

Next up in Patrick Fitzgerald's sight is probably Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But, Fitz doesn't always get his man. He didn't get Karl Rove.

I wouldn't trust Rezko's testimony any more than I trust Levine's. As I wrote in the post linked above,

Levine sounds like a disgusting, pathetic, broken man. The Government, in propping him up to bring down Rezko, is stooping to his morally bankrupt level.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on November 13, 2008 (boomark / email).