Report: Businessman ID'd in Blago case

CHICAGO, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- The Chicago Sun-Times said Monday sources identified a businessman allegedly hit up by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in return for help with a business deal.

The name of the individual has not been formally revealed; however, the newspaper said its sources confirmed it was contractor Michael Vondra who was allegedly asked by the governor to raise $100,000 for his campaign in exchange for his intervention with Illinois environmental regulators.

Vondra, who is known in the criminal complaint against Blagojevich only as "Individual B," is in the construction and asphalt business and was working on a deal for an asphalt distribution terminal with refiner BP at the time.

Federal prosecutors contend the alleged payoff was discussed at a meeting last October with Blagojevich, Vondra and a former aide to the governor was working as a lobbyist for Vondra's companies.

There was no immediate comment from Vondra; however, a spokesman for BP, which produces asphalt at its refinery, said the company never asked Vondra to reach out to Blagojevich and did not even know he was associated with the construction firm they were dealing with until November.