Prosecutor blasts defendants for corruption, greed in opening

Prosecutor blasts defendants for corruption, greed in opening
Written by Sebastian Kitchen

The nine defendants charged with widespread corruption made a good living, but they became greedy and corrupt in their attempt to pass pro-gambling legislation in Alabama, according to the federal prosecutor who outlined the government’s version of the scheme on Friday.


“This is not politics as usual. This is not about lobbying. This is not about raising campaign contributions ... This is about greed,” said trial attorney Justin Shur with the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.


He portrayed VictoryLand casino owner Milton McGregor, a defendant, as a man who became wealthy from his dog tracks, and became powerful in politics in Alabama.


“Mr. McGregor made a fortune off of the dog track at VictoryLand,” Shur said. “He too was greedy and he too wanted more.”


The prosecutors allege that McGregor and Country Crossing owner Ronnie Gilley conspired, along with their lobbyists, to pass pro-gambling legislation.


The other defendants include state Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery; state Sen. Harri Anne Smith, independent from Slocomb; former state Sens. Larry Means, D-Attalla, and Jim Preuitt, R-Talladega; lobbyists Tom Coker and Bob Geddie; legislative analyst Ray Crosby; and Jay Walker, who was a spokesman for the Country Crossing development.
McGregor, they alleged, invested millions in Country Crossing.


“The fate of these two men (Gilley and McGregor) were tied together,” Shur said. “ … They were not just business partners. They were partners in crime.”


Gilley and his lobbyist, Jarrod Massey, have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with the government.


Several defense attorneys repeatedly slammed those who have pleaded guilty and the three legislators who are cooperating with the prosecution and attacked their credibility.


“I think you’re going to be pretty disgusted with Mr. Gilley by the time he leaves you,” said Jimmy Judkins, attorney for Geddie.


Joe Espy, lead attorney for McGregor, said the case of the government is based on “three amigos and two crooks.” The crooks he referred to were Gilley and Massey.

The “three-amigos” he was referring to are two current and one former legislator who cooperated with the government and wore wires to record conversations: Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, Rep. Barry Mask, R-Wetumpka, and former Rep. Benjamin Lewis, who then-Gov. Bob Riley later appointed to a judgeship in Houston County.

Espy said Gilley and Massey, who screamed the loudest that they were innocent, are just trying to do what they can to keep their prison sentence as short as possible. Shur said the jury will determine whether Gilley is telling the truth.

The tapes

Investigators taped more than 12,260 phone conversations and plan to play those during the trial.