Alabama Gambling Corruption Case: Judge to Allow Wiretap Evidence
MONTGOMERY, AL: — The judge who will preside over Alabama’s gambling corruption trial said Wednesday that prosecutors can use recordings from FBI wiretaps as evidence.
The defendants contended that the FBI didn’t follow its own rules when tapping the phones of casino operators Milton McGregor and Ronnie Gilley and that agents listened to calls they should have avoided, including those between the casino operators and their attorneys.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson ruled that “the government has met the requirements for admissibility of the wiretap at issue.” He left open the possibility that the defendants could raise the issue again after the trial if they are convicted.
A ruling for the defendants would have been a huge blow to the prosecution, which has already played a few of the recordings during a pre-trial hearing.
The FBI recorded hundreds of calls to and from Gilley’s and McGregor’s cell phones in March 2010 when they were trying to pass legislation designed to protect their now-closed electronic bingo casinos from raids by state police.
McGregor, four present and former state senators and four others are scheduled for trial June 6 in Montgomery on charges of buying and selling votes on the pro-gambling legislation. Gilley has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify for the prosecution.
McGregor’s VictoryLand in Shorter is operating with dog racing, but as of June 1, live dog racing will be suspended and only simulcast dog and horse races will be shown. Gilley’s Country Crossing in Dothan is completely closed, but investors are trying to reopen two of the restaurants.
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