By AP/KWMU
Chicago – A fundraiser for Govovernor Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges he swindled General Electric Capital out of $10.5 million in loans to a pizza restaurant company.
Tony Rezko has also been charged in a separate indictment with working with millionaire campaign contributor Stuart Levine to squeeze investment firms seeking state business for kickbacks.
The judge set Rezko's bond at $1.5 million on the first charge. Rezko's family and friends agreed to put up their property to help Rezko raise the money.
FBI agents picked up Rezko at O'Hare International Airport just hours before he appeared in court. His lawyer says he returned voluntarily from Syria to face the charges.