Alabama: Indicted analyst drafted legislation that would've hurt McGregor

Indicted analyst drafted legislation that would've hurt McGregor
Written by Sebastian Kitchen

Former legislative analyst Ray Crosby, who received monthly payments from VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor, drafted legislation that would have hurt McGregor and his gambling operations in Macon and Jefferson counties.


Crosby and McGregor are among nine defendants in a federal corruption case that charges casino interests with trying to bribe state lawmakers to support gambling legislation.


Federal authorities have charged Crosby with drafting legislation to favor McGregor and with reporting back to him on the progress of gambling legislation, even that introduced by lawmakers on the opposite side of the issue.


Crosby, who was an analyst for the Legislative Reference Service, drafted legislation that would have allowed gambling in Russell County that would have competed with VictoryLand and drafted legislation that would have only allowed class III gambling, which would include table games and slot machines, at Poarch Creek Indian facilities.


When asked by an attorney if the class III gambling bill would have hurt McGregor, lobbyist Jarrod Massey said “I assume it would be if he were not authorized to do the same.”


Massey, who was a lobbyist for Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley, and Gilley have already pleaded guilty in the case.