Report: Rezko decision imminent

The jury in the Rezko trial appears to be coming closer to reaching a verdict.

The jury deliberating the fate for political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko is indicating that a verdict could be near.

As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, the jury seemed to give a hint they were close to a verdict on Monday, when they sent a note to U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve saying they were deadlocked on only one of the 24 counts against Rezko.

The former close aide and fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich is accused of shaking down businesses seeking to win contracts with the state. He is accused of fraud, attempted extortion and money laundering.

Jurors have been deliberating since May 13, and apparently considering each of the individual counts seriously considering how much time has passed.

Judge St. Eve told the jury, "You should make every reasonable effort to reach a verdict. Discuss your differences with an open mind."

Most of the 24 counts are related, but there is one single count of extortion. CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller said Judge St. Eve could accept a partial verdict on the 23 counts and leave that single count to the federal government to retry.

If Rezko is convicted of any of the charges, he might be taken into custody on the spot. But even if he is acquitted, there is a warrant for his arrest in Las Vegas, where he is charged with writing casinos $450,000 in bad checks.

You can bet the DNC is paying very close attention.