Gambling trial week 6: Quotes from Massey's time on the stand
Written by Sebastian Kitchen
Every week of the federal corruption trial has included quotes, comments and tidbits that did not make it into the dai ly stories in the Montgomery Advertiser. Since the sixth week of the trial of casino owner Mil- ton McGregor, his lobbyists and four legislators was no differ ent, the Advertiser decided to share some of those comments and tidbits from lobbyist Jarrod Massey's second week on the stand. Massey has already pleaded guilty in the case.
Nick of time
Bobby Segall, an attorney for McGregor, asked Massey if he had someone search Google for "Nick Bailey," who was a key witness in the corruption case against former Gov. Don Siegelman. Bailey pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, serving a year of that term. "I asked my spouse if you would like to know. I believe you already did," Massey said about having his wife search for Bailey. Mas sey said he does not have access to a computer in the jails in which he has been incarcerated.
Family reading
Massey said he read the in dictment on Oct. 4, 2010, the day he and 10 other defendants were arrested, after his son re cited parts of it to him from the Web.
Family reading
Massey said he read the in dictment on Oct. 4, 2010, the day he and 10 other defendants were arrested, after his son re cited parts of it to him from the Web.
Family affair
David McKnight, an attor ney for lobbyist Tom Coker, asked Massey how many people he had lied to. Massey admitted being dishonest with his father, but bristled when McKnight asked him about lying to his wife. McKnight then said "I am assuming as a gentleman you did not involve your wife in your activities." Massey said he used the joint account with his wife to move payments to a state senator and to bribe then- state Rep. Terry Spicer, D-Elba.
Tax man
Massey said he understands he owes about $200,000 in taxes to the IRS.
Waste of money
Massey said he disagreed with efforts by people working for McGregor to include state Rep. Barry Mask in phone bank efforts and media buys related to gambling. "I took issue with Mr. Mask's name being on the list," he said. " ... I believed Mr. Mask to be 120 percent completely opposed to the electronic bingo issue." Mask was cooperating with the FBI and opposed the legislation.
Waste of money II
Massey also said he disagreed with a fundraiser Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley held for Sen. Harri Anne Smith, I-Slocomb, in late 2009. "I didn't think it was the best way for Gilley and Smith to accomplish what they wanted," he said. Smith is a defendant in the case; Gilley has pleaded guilty and was a government witness.
Illustrating the point
During his cross-examination of Massey, Smith attorney Jim Parkman tried to make a point about the transactions being checks and not cash by waving a dollar bill in the air.
"To make the record clear, he was holding up in the air a dollar bill," prosecutor Emily Woods said.
"It's all I got," said Parkman as the courtroom, including Massey, burst into laughter. "Mr. Massey, I don't think that was funny," Parkman told the witness.
"You've got more in your pocket than I do now," Massey replied.
Unfortunate role
"You be you and unfortunately I will be Gilley," McKnight said to Massey before they read parts of a transcript in court. A prosecutor objec
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