Alabama: This for that

Bingo prosecutors: Money ties defendants to conspiracy
By: Lance Griffin

MONTGOMERY – This for that. Bribery.

After more than 40 days of testimony, 17 witnesses and 126 recorded conversations played in court, government prosecutors said Wednesday that the gambling corruption case against nine defendants comes down to a short Latin phrase.

Quid pro quo.

“This for that. Bribery,” prosecutor Edward Kang said during government closing remarks. “This case is about corruption and it’s about money.”

Kang quickly sought to reject an oft-used phrase during the trial that efforts to pass pro-gambling legislation in 2009 and 2010 were not politics as usual.

“The politics as usual defense holds no water,” Kang said.

Kang said the nine defendants were all tied together because they all stood to benefit financially if electronic bingo legislation passed, whether through campaign donations, lobbying business, or regular cash payments.

Kang focused primarily on Victoryland owner Milton McGregor, particularly his participation in a Feb. 18 dinner meeting involving McGregor, Sen. Scott Beason, lobbyist Jarrod Massey and Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley. Beason, Massey and Gilley all testified Beason was offered bribes at the meeting.

“And the defense wants you to believe someone as smart and sophisticated as Milton McGregor did not know what was going on at that meeting?” Kang asked.

Prosecutor Louis Franklin also said Sen. Harri Anne Smith was tied to the conspiracy through campaign money given to her by Gilley.

Franklin claimed the evidence against Smith was strong and compelling. He mentioned a call Smith made to Gilley in 2010, asking Gilley for $400,000 in campaign money.

“Smith asks Gilley for $400,000 like you asking your coworker for 60 cents to buy a Coke. That tells you everything you need to know,” Franklin said.

Franklin said Gilley “bought” Smith in May of 2008 when he donated to her campaign after Smith pulled a bill she sponsored that would have hurt Country Crossing if passed by a vote of the people.

“At this point she was bought and paid for by Gilley. Her purpose was representing Gilley, and not the people,” Franklin said.

Franklin also spoke about the defense attacks on Gilley, Massey, and the cooperating legislators who testified for the government at the trial.

“Remember, these same people the defense attorneys have been attacking during this trial were colleagues and friends of the defendants before the trial,” Franklin said.

“The United States of America does not have the luxury of going to some mythical bank and picking witnesses to put on the stand. We take them as we find them. We are not singing their virtues. You will decide if what they told you is true or not,” Franklin said.

“We expect you to reach a decision based on the evidence you saw or heard in this case,” Franklin said.

The prosecution used three of its five hours allotted for closing arguments. After all defendants have made closing arguments, the prosecution will have two hours of rebuttal arguments before the judge instructs the jury on the law. Deliberations are expected to begin Friday.