A third major developer has been served with a federal grand jury subpoena for records of its dealings with the city of Oakbrook Terrace, it was learned Thursday.
Officials familar with the probe also said that another developer, Robert Krilich, has been served with a second subpoena requesting that he submit writing samples, fingerprints and photographs to a grand jury that appears to be widening an investigation of the relationships between some suburban governments and developers.
Dennis Berkson, an attorney for Krilich whose business records were subpoenaed last December, said his client had no comment on the latest development.
Anthony Antoniou, president of the Anvan Company of Oak Brook, confirmed Thursday that federal agents have subpoenaed records of gifts and gratuities that the company may have provided to officials of Oakbrook Terrace.
Antoniou said the subpoena-received several weeks ago-was similar in scope to the one delivered to Miglin-Beitler Inc., a Chicago-based development and real estate management firm that built the 31-story Oakbrook Terrace Tower.
The Tribune reported in Thursday editions that federal investigators had subpoenaed records of gifts and gratuities from Miglin-Beitler.
Antoniou said officials at Anvan were ”looking to see if we made any contributions or gave gifts to officials of Oakbrook Terrace. We will cooperate with investigators.”
Antoniou said company representatives do take city officials and other business contacts out to lunch. But he said that except for small gifts-lunches, books or videotapes worth about $15 given out around Christmas-the company does not bestow gifts on municipal officials.
”They`re barking up the wrong tree,” said Antoniou.
Antoniou heads a real estate empire that ranges from recreational and residential developments to office complexes. Anvan owns and operates the new $22 million Lake Geneva greyhound track in Delavan, Wis., as well as the 1,650-acre Geneva National Golf Club in Lake Geneva, Wis.
In Oakbrook Terrace, Anvan has purchased residences along Myers Road as well as developed Oak Brook Towers and the Oakbrook Terrace Corporate Center. Anvan also has received approval to build a new corporate center consisting of two seven-story buildings and a single nine-story structure.
In addition to Krilich and Oakbrook Terrace, federal agents subpoenaed the municipal records last December of Niles and Lakemoor, which had also done business with Krilich.
Federal agents have also collected pay and expense records of Oakbrook Terrace officials, including Mayor Richard F. Sarallo and his two sons, as well as records of a 1986 civil suit against the city and the probate proceeding relating to the death of Sarallo`s mother in 1987.
Sarallo did not return phone calls on Thursday. He said last week the city will cooperate with the investigation.
Krilich`s main development in Oakbrook Terrace, called Royce Renaissance Center, has been mired in legal controversy.
The project, which called for towering office and apartment complexes, is only partially completed. Krilich, whose employees attempted to drain a fishing lake in 1988 at York Center Park District, remains in federal court with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a dispute over damages to wetlands surrounding the lake.
