Illinois Tollway said to be subject of corruption probe over service plaza contracts

The Chicago press has run occasional reports over the past three years of federal prosecutors investigating corruption at the Illinois Tollway in connection with vendor contracts at their service plazas or 'oases' as they call them. This morning the thing went national with the Wall Street Journal in an editorial piece headed "The Chicago Boys":

"The Blagojevich administration has been under investigation for years. (Antonin or Tony) Rezko, who raised money for the Governor, solicited $7 million in kickbacks from private firms in exchange for steering state contracts their way. Prosecutors are now interested in toll highway vendor contracts granted by the administration with Rezko's involvement. They also are looking into who paid for the renovations of the Blagojevich home in Chicago; Rezko's defunct construction company was the contractor on the project. Meantime, the Governor's approval ratings have sunk to 13%, and Democrats in the state House may move to impeach him..."

As far back as Feb 13 2005 the Chicago Tribune reported Subway and Panda Express Asian restaurants at the Tollway were owned by Abdelhamid Chaib, a manager for Rezko. A major investor was Christopher Kelly, who is reported to have raised $37m in campaign funds for Governor Blagojevich.

The Tribune has also reported deals between a master concessionaire for the service plazas Jay Wilton and the Governor.

Little has surfaced from these reported investigations, so far.

(Blagojevich looks to our eye too young to be tried as an adult - we guessed from his pictures he was either 15 or 16. The earnest bookish high schooler. But reportedly he is in fact quite a bit older. Early 20s even.)

TOLLROADSnews 2008-10-31