Alabama Vote Buying Trial Continues with Gilley

Gilley: Ala. casinos grossing millions on big days
PHILLIP RAWLS, Associated Press


MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A casino owner who pleaded guilty to bribery testified Monday about how electronic bingo halls had multimillion dollar grosses on big days and how he offered to organize campaign fundraisers with country music celebrities for two indicted state senators in return for their votes to protect the casinos from police raids.

Country Crossing casino developer Ronnie Gilley said he made the offers to state Sen. Harri Anne Smith and former Sen. Jim Preuitt before they helped the Senate pass pro-gambling legislation on March 30, 2010.

"I damn sure support people who have the same views I've got," Gilley said in a phone call with Preuitt that was recorded by the FBI.

Both senators are on trial with seven others on charges of buying and selling votes on the legislation. The bill was a proposed constitutional amendment that needed approval of both the Legislature and voters statewide to protect Gilley's electronic bingo casino in Dothan and others from raids by the former governor's gambling task force.

Gilley testified that the gross take for his three-day opening weekend for his electronic bingo casino in late 2009 was $16 million to $18 million. He said indicted casino owner Milton McGregor told him that his VictoryLand casino in Shorter, which was the state's largest, grossed $21 million on a good day.

He said casino owners had to pay winners and other expenses out of the gross intake.

Gilley's casino operated less than two months before being forced to close by the governor's gambling task force. McGregor's casino also closed last year.

Gilley testified that he was planning a "Democracy Tour" with country music singers to benefit senators who voted yes. He picked the name "Democracy Tour" because of the statewide vote that would have been necessary if the bill hadn't died in the House, dooming his casino.

Asked by prosecutor Louis Franklin how he would finance the tour, Gilley said, "I was broke." But he said McGregor was providing $5 million to promote it.

Prosecutors played in court a recording of a phone call between Smith and Gilley on the day before the Senate vote. In the call recorded by the FBI, Gilley outlined plans for "a big gala event" to help Smith. He didn't say who would appear, but he said it would be bigger than a fundraiser he organized for her on Dec. 8, 2009, where country singers John Anderson and Lorrie Morgan performed.

"I love it," Smith, I-Slocomb, said on the tape.

Gilley testified he spent about $60,000 on booking fees and production costs for the two singers' appearances at the fundraiser. Both had restaurants at Country Crossing bearing their names, but Gilley testified neither knew about his behind-the-scene dealings.

In another tape played in court, Gilley called Smith again after the Senate's vote to discuss the proposed fundraiser, "I'm going to go ahead and schedule it for you," he said.

"Sounds fine," she replied.

Gilley also talked to Preuitt, R-Talladega, in a phone call recorded by the FBI, where he discussed helping him with his campaign.

"We believe in supporting people who support democracy," Gilley told Preuitt.

"I appreciate you," Preuitt told Gilley.

"We're cocked and loaded and we'll be in touch with you next week," Gilley said.

Preuitt dropped his re-election bid before being indicted in October 2010. Smith was re-elected in November despite her indictment.

Outside the courthouse, Smith's husband, Charlie Smith, said he didn't believe Gilley's testimony.

"It is a work of fiction," he said.

Gilley said one of his lobbyists, Jarrod Massey, told him in a recorded phone call that a third indicted legislator, former Democratic Sen. Larry Means of Gadsden, wanted $100,000 to vote for the bill. Means did vote yes and was defeated in November.

In calls played in court and in his testimony, Gilley talked about other ways he used star power to try to pass the bill, including getting singer George Jones to meet with one senator and getting the lead singer for the country group Alabama, Randy Owen of Fort Payne, to call about 10 legislators to try to secure their votes.

Both entertainers appeared in ads promoting the gambling legislation. Jones' name was on the inn at Country Crossing. Owen was supposed to have his name on a family entertainment center that was planned at Country Crossing, but never completed.

Gilley will return to the witness stand Tuesday for a fourth day. In his plea agreement with prosecutors, he is facing a prison sentence of 20 to 27 years, but it could be shortened based on his testimony.