Sources say Ill. scandal figure may talk

CHICAGO, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- A convicted Illinois political figure at the heart of a state government influence peddling scandal is considering talking to prosecutors, sources say.

Antoin "Tony" Rezko, one-time close confidante of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was convicted on fraud, money laundering and other charges in June. He is to be sentenced in October, and now, after steadfastly maintaining his innocence and vowing never to cooperate with U.S. prosecutors, he apparently is changing his mind, the Chicago Tribune reported Sunday.

Unnamed defense attorneys representing other figures in the Rezko case say prosecutors are now approaching them with information that only Rezko or his attorneys could know, the newspaper said.

Rezko has met with federal prosecutors and is considering cooperating in the ongoing corruption probe of Blagojevich's administration, sources told the Tribune.

Prosecutors say that as a witness, Rezko could give valuable information on every aspect of the federal investigation of the Illinois governor, including allegations of favoritism in state hiring and real estate deals involving the governor's wife.

Rezko had also been a fundraiser for Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama and purchased property next door to his Chicago home.