Feb 26, 2008 4:54 pm US/Central
Source: Star Rezko Witness Led Seedy Secret Life
Stuart Levine Alleged To Use Amnesia-Inducing Drugs, Attend All-Night Sex Parties
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Political fundraiser and businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko's trial is shaping up as a headliner for the ages. Names like Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Sen. Barack Obama are surfacing.
The feds will try to prove that Rezko, a top fundraiser for Blagojevich, was conducting illegal shakedowns and kickback schemes in return for state jobs and other favors.
A source close to the case against Rezko says star government witness Stuart Levine led a secret life of illicit drugs and all-night sex parties, and may have a faulty memory.
Rezko pleaded not guilty to charges that he joined Levine to shake down money management companies wanting to invest in state pension funds.
Levine, a millionaire businessman and attorney, has pleaded guilty to the charges, and prosecutors plan to call him to the stand.
The source told CBS 2 the defense will attempt to discredit Levine by showing his memory to be faulty due to frequent drug use, specifically a drug known as "Special K," or ketamine, a prescription anesthetic for humans and large animals. The drug has side effects that include amnesia.
The source said Levine is alleged to have led a "secret life" in which he allegedly engaged in all-night drug-fueled sex parties, some in hotels in Lincolnwood and Springfield. He also is alleged to have been seen using drugs in his office during business hours.
This allegedly happened while Levine was working for the federal government as its star witness against Rezko and other defendants, the source said.
The defense plans to allege that Levine used "an excessive amount of illegal drugs worth more than $1.2 million in total, among them cocaine, special K and meth," the source said.
CBS 2 legal analyst Irv Miller says Rezko's lawyers have a right to look into that.
"Maybe these drugs got to him in such a way, he doesn't really know what reality was then, and doesn't know what reality is now," Miller said.
Both Levine and Rezko were contributors to Blagojevich's campaign. Levine was also a major Republican campaign contributor, and was a member of both the Illinois Teachers Retirement System board and the scandal-plagued Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.
Although the governor denies doing anything illegal and has not been charged, Miller said, "this case is going to be a politician's nightmare in every aspect."
Miller also says he would not be surprised if Rezko cuts a deal with the feds in the few days remaining before his trial. Such a deal would have him plead guilty to lesser charges in return for telling prosecutors everything he knows.
CBS 2's Mike Parker contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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