Former GOP Power Broker Bobby Tezak Bound For Prison Again

Former Will County coroner and convicted arsonist Bobby Tezak is prison bound again after a federal judge determined he wasn't trying hard enough to pay back the money he owes, officials said. "Last Thursday, Judge (Matthew F.) Kennelly ordered Tezak to serve four months based on a finding that he failed to make good on the efforts to fulfill his financial obligations," said Randall Samborn, the spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago. Tezak, 65, was sentenced to a 12-years and 10-months in July 1994. He had pleaded guilty to burning down a Crest Hill bowling alley and obstructing justice by threatening a witness. The obstructing charge stemmed from Tezak passing along a message to his ex-daughter-in-law, Nikki Leber, via his son that he “would have her brains blown out” if she testified for the government, according to court papers. As part of the plea deal, Tezak admitted "complicity" in another fire at the downtown Joliet PIC building even though prosecutors dropped charges that he torched it. On top of the prison time, Tezak was ordered to pay a $651,109 fine and more than $500,000 in restitution. The restitution was to go to various insurance companies, two fire departments and a claims and inspection service. Samborn said Tezak's impending return to federal prison "flowed from the restitution and fines from his original sentence." His sentencing date will be in 60 or 90 days, he said. Tezak was released from federal prison in 2002. After he got out, he did time in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Tezak now lives in Arizona. A telephone message left at his listed number was not returned. An appellate court filing from 2001 described Tezak as a "multi-millionaire who was a prominent member of the Republican party in Will County and has served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention." "By age twenty-one, he was a precinct chairman," the filing said. "In 1976, when he was twenty-eight, he was elected to serve as coroner of Will County and was re-elected through 1988. Prior to his election as coroner, he served as deputy coroner for nine years." Tezak amassed his fortune through the production and marketing of the card game Uno. Are you a true crime fan? Then check out our Facebook page.