More Trouble for Rezko?

By Kevin Robinson on Jun 28, 2007 1:50PM

It seems that there isn't a piece of property on the South Side Tony Rezko won't buy - if it is associated with someone who might be powerful or politically connected. The Sun-Times broke an interesting story yesterday, with Jabir Muhammad, son of Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad, claiming that Rezko "embezzled" him out of his house, as well as eight other properties.

Of course, the story isn't as simple (although Muhammad might like it to be) as it might seem. Like anyone in Illinois who is a power player (or wanted to be) Muhammad got mixed up with Rezko in the 1980''s. In the 1990's, Rezko bought the property from Muhammad (according to Rezko's lawyers) for roughly half a million dollars, selling it to another business partner in 2002 for over $2 million. Along the way, Muhammad ran into marital problems, with a lawsuit filed in 2004 into which the home figured. In 2005, a fast-food company that listed Muhammad as its president lost its minority business certification and closed after city officials alleged that Rezko was using it as a front. Muhammad, along with the company's other principals were barred from participating in the city's affirmative action program.

While Rezko has his own share of legal problems right now (and could potentially take Barack Obama down if his people don't get their act together sooner, rather than later), Muhammad seems to be playing Rezko for the house back. It's not a stretch to think that Rezko might have swiped the mansion out from under Muhammad (just look at the amount of money moving between Rezko-owned businesses along the way). The problem for Muhammad, at least until the courts get involved (if they do at all), is the contract that Rezko has, transferring title of the home to him.