Jurors began deliberations Tuesday in the corruption trial of political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, accused of crimes a prosecutor says involved "the highest levels of power."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Niewoehner scoffed at defense claims that the star prosecution witness lied on the stand out of fear he faced a life prison term.

"If (Rezko) is a victim, he is a victim of his own greed," Niewoehner told the jury.

The panel was handed the case late in the afternoon and adjourned about 5 p.m. The jury is scheduled to be off Wednesday and resume deliberations Thursday.

Niewoehner dismissed with contempt the closing statements given by defense attorney Joseph J. Duffy, who claimed the star witness against Rezko is a liar and swindler impaired by longtime drug abuse.

Niewoehner said Duffy tried to explain away Rezko's culpability to such a degree that the attorney made it sound as if Rezko were caught in the corruption scheme by sheer happenstance.

"This is a crime that involves the highest levels of power in the state of Illinois," Niewoehner said.

Rezko, 52, is charged with scheming with Stuart P. Levine to split a $1.5 million payoff from a contractor who wanted state permission to build a hospital in the McHenry County suburb of Crystal Lake.

He also is charged with scheming with Levine to shake down money management firms that wanted to invest the assets of the $40 million state fund that pays the pensions of retired downstate and suburban teachers.

Rezko denies he had anything to do with such a scheme. But Levine, who sat on the boards that made those decisions, testified that Rezko's clout with Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration was the key to the scheme.

Levine, who might have gone to prison for life if convicted in the case, agreed to plead guilty and testify against Rezko in hopes of getting a relatively lenient 5 1/2-year sentence.

Blagojevich has not been charged with any wrongdoing in the case, and Rezko's attorney claimed prosecutors greatly overstated Rezko's influence within the administration.

The trial attracted much attention because Rezko raised funds for Obama, but testimony barely addressed the Democratic presidential contender, who also has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Rezko faces 24 total counts of wire and mail fraud, aiding and abetting a solicitation of bribery, money laundering and attempted extortion. The most serious of the charges each carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

In Duffy's closing arguments earlier Tuesday, the attorney questioned whether some witnesses' memories were reliable. But he mostly lashed at Levine, who he said pleaded guilty solely to avoid a life sentence.

"This guy didn't get religion," Duffy scoffed. "He didn't go to the government because he cared about right and wrong."

"This guy is the quintessential con man," Duffy thundered.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press