Ala. casino lobbyist separates donations, votes

Ala. casino lobbyist separates donations, votes
By PHILLIP RAWLS

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A casino lobbyist who pleaded guilty to bribery testified Monday in Alabama's gambling corruption trial that two indicted state senators never told him that campaign contributions were needed to get their votes for pro-gambling legislation.

Country Crossing lobbyist Jarrod Massey was on the witness stand for the eighth day Monday and testified about Democrat Quinton Ross of Montgomery and Republican Jim Preuitt of Talladega. They are among nine defendants on trial in federal court on charges accusing them of using campaign contributions to buy and sell votes for pro-gambling legislation.

Under questioning by Preuitt's attorney, Massey said he assured Preuitt in a March 24, 2010, meeting that casino lobbyists would stand by their offer of campaign contributions and a fund-raising concert by country music stars. But he said Preuitt never demanded the items in return for his vote.

"We did not specifically discuss a connection," Massey said.

Outside the courthouse, Ross' attorney, Lewis Gillis, called it "a significant day" for the defense.

But Massey gave much more direct testimony Monday about others on trial.

He said Country Crossing casino developer Ronnie Gillley, who also pleaded guilty to bribery, promised indicted independent Sen. Harri Anne Smith of Slocomb $200,000 in campaign support in early 2010, and she asked him about getting the contribution a few hours before she voted for the pro-gambling bill on March 30, 2010.

Massey said indicted VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor was an active participant in a Feb. 18, 2010, meeting when he and Gilley offered bribes to Republican Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale. Beason recorded the meeting for the FBI and testified earlier in the trial.

"I had my most direct corrupt criminal activity with Senator Beason," Massey testified.

Prosecutors also played a tape of a wiretapped phone call between McGregor and his indicted lobbyist, Tom Coker, from March 29, 2010, the day before the Senate approved the gambling bill. Prosecutors said it showed how contributions were promised for votes.

In the call, Coker said that on the day before, he had been to Talladega, where Preuitt lives, and to Gadsden, where indicted Democrat Sen. Larry Means works.

"I'm spending a lot of your money," Coker said.

"You delivering the cheese, ain't you man?" McGregor said.

"I mean in the future with those two guys," Coker replied.

Means, Preuitt, Smith and Ross voted for the legislation designed to stop state police from raiding electronic bingo casinos like Gilley's in Dothan and McGregor's in Shorter from police radis.

Massey pleaded guilty in December to offering millions in bribes and agreed to help federal prosecutors.

In testimony last week, Massey said one of his employees, lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy, told him that Ross said he was "not feeling the love" from gambling interests when raising money in early 2010 for his re-election campaign. But Massey said Ross had always been a supporter of pro-gambling legislation and never gave any sign of wavering.

"He gave me no indication he was going to change his position and vote against the bill," Massey testified.

Massey testified earlier that Ross asked him for a campaign contribution a few hours before the Alabama Senate approved the pro-gambling legislation on March 30, 2010. Under questioning Monday, Massey said, "I was never told by Senator Ross that I had to give him money for his vote."

Massey also admitted Monday that he erred in earlier testimony when he said he met Ross for lunch in early December 2009 and gave him another $5,000 campaign donation.

Ross' attorney presented records showing the lunch meeting was Oct. 7, but the donation was dated Dec. 2.

"I stand corrected," Massey told the jury.

Massey said he donated $2,000 to Preuitt in 2009 and none immediately before the Senate's vote.

He said he didn't deliver contributions to Preuitt, Means or Ross right before the vote for strategic reasons.

"I did not want to deliver anything prematurely and lose that leverage," he said.

None was delivered immediately afterward because FBI agents contacted Massey the morning after the vote to inquire about Statehouse corruption, Massey testified last week.

The FBI announced its investigation two days after the Senate's vote and the bill died in the House without ever coming to a vote. VictoryLand closed last year and has not reopened. Some of the investors in Country Crossing have changed its name to Center Stage and recently reopened it with a new type of bingo machines.