Rezko accused of stiffing two casinos

LAS VEGAS, May 29 (UPI) -- A Las Vegas judge issued arrest warrants against an indicted Chicago fundraiser linked to Sen. Barack Obama for alleged failure to pay debts to two casinos.

Antoin "Tony" Rezko, standing trial in Chicago on federal corruption charges, is wanted in Las Vegas for allegedly failing to pay $472,275 in debts to Caesars Palace and Bally's and fees to the Clark County district attorney's office, the Las Vegas Sun reported Thursday.

Rezko, once considered a member of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's inner circle, has been a fundraiser for Obama, D-Ill., and linked with the Democratic presidential nomaintion front-runner in a land transaction. Obama has said his dealings with Rezko were a mistake in judgment.

In addition to the $250,000 and $200,000 allegedly owed Caesars Palace and Bally's respectively, the Bellagio got a default judgment against Rezko a year ago for allegedly not repaying $331,000 in gambling markers.

In Chicago, Rezko was indicted in October 2006 in connection with an influence-peddling and extortion scheme aimed at raising campaign funds for Blagojevich.