Rezko trial witness talks steak 'n bribes

While dining on New York strip steak in a private room of a posh Chicago business club, two state insiders reviewed plans to reap more than $12 million in bribes, the prosecution's star witness testified Monday in the corruption trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

Stuart Levine testified Tuesday that he set up the meeting with Rezko in April of 2004 to get the trusted friend and fundraiser of Gov. Rod Blagojevich to focus on a string of payoff deals he had planned for the coming months. Rezko's influence with the governor in landing key board appointments was crucial to the elaborate scheme, he said.

"I wanted Mr. Rezko's undivided attention," Levine said in his fifth day of detailed testimony for federal prosecutors following a weeklong trial hiatus. "Mr. Rezko is a very busy man."

The next morning, Levine called a friend and business partner to announce "full steam ahead," according to a tape of the bugged conversation played in court.

Levine said he intended the dinner meeting in April to be the starting point for a partnership he hoped would allow him to steer state contracts -- and get bribes --across several state boards and even in New York.

Some of the deals involving hospital construction and teacher pensions had already been completed, and jurors heard numerous taped phone conversations Monday detailing ins-and-outs of the alleged conspiracy.

Still, the true depths of Levine's plan was never reached. Just a month after Levine's pinnacle meeting with Rezko, FBI agents were knocking on his door.

Rezko's defense attorneys will attempt to undermine Levine's testimony with accounts of his severe drug abuse. Federal prosecutors attempted to blunt that move Monday by peppering Levine on the issue.

Levine described to jurors a lifetime of drug use that started with LSD and marijuana and led to daylong hotel parties with male friends involving hundreds of dollars worth of crystal meth and Special K, an animal tranquilizer.

Levine said he hid his drug abuse and male friends from his family, often having the hotel parties a few times a month during weekdays.

At the same time, Levine was wielding power on state boards -- including one that oversaw state casinos -- and making millions as an attorney.

Levine said he would go on the daylong drug binges when his "schedule would permit" at a suburban hotel just north of Chicago. He would also occasionally charter a private plane to Springfield and do drugs all day and night with male friends there as well.

Prosecutors made a point to ask if the friends were always male, and Levine said they were.

Levine also said he would occasionally do drugs at work, more so in the few years before FBI agents came to his home in May of 2004.

Prosecutors were careful to outline that Levine said he was not high on the same days he served on state boards or when he was doing business deals.

"If I didn't have business going on, those are the days I would do it," he testified, often looking directly at the jury.

Prosecutors will continue questioning Levine today.