FBI probes if Rezko paid for renovations

CHICAGO, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Federal investigators are probing whether convicted developer Tony Rezko paid for all or part of a $90,000 fix-up of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's bungalow.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday it has learned the FBI has been looking into how Rezko billed the Democratic governor for his work and whether Rezko ever arranged for cash to be passed in envelopes to the Blagojeviches.

Rezko was convicted in June of mail fraud, wire fraud, aiding and abetting bribery, and attempted extortion.

Work on the Blagojevich home was completed in 2003, after Rezko had succeeded in placing his friends and associates on state-government boards.

The newspaper reported the governor and his wife say they paid for the entire project. They have refused to provide bills, canceled checks, a list of subcontractors or other documentation.

The work on the governor's family room and deck was overseen by Chicago Construction Services, a now-defunct firm once owned by Rezko.

The Blagojeviches have said they hired the firm because it was equipped to employ union labor for the relatively small job.

"As we have said several times before, the renovations done to the 14-by-20 family room were paid for by the Blagojeviches through their personal checking account," said Lucio Guerrero, the governor's spokesman.