Kimberly gambling, bribery probe yields 2 more plea deals, indictment
Published: Monday, May 07, 2012
KIMBERLY, Alabama -- A federal gambling and bribery investigation that involved Kimberly Mayor Craig Harris wearing a wire for the FBI, has resulted in two more plea agreements and an indictment.
The indictment, unsealed in United States District Court in Birmingham today, charges Robert E. Taylor of Warrior with conspiracy, federal programs bribery and operating an illegal gambling business.
His attorney, Joe Basgier, said Taylor is innocent.
In addition, agreements were filed today between the federal government and Gardendale resident Carl E. Scoggins and Morris resident John Lynwood Taylor. Both men have agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and John Taylor will cooperate with the federal government.
Scoggins will not cooperate, said Thomas Spina, his attorney.
"He chooses not to be a rat," Spina said. "He takes full responsibility for what he did. But he did not find it in his heart to participate in providing evidence. I don't think they need his assistance in the prosecution of others. These transactions are videotaped and audio taped."
That brings the total to three plea agreements in the case. In March, Daniel "Boone" Stone of Morris agreed to cooperate with the federal government and plead guilty to conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery and operating an illegal gambling business.
According to Robert Taylor's indictment, from approximately November 2010 to approximately April 2011, Taylor and several other individuals operated an illegal business in and around Kimberly by placing numerous video gambling machines in private residences. The indictment alleges that Taylor conspired with eight other individuals to expand, protect and conceal the illegal gambling business by paying Harris about $4,000 in cash over the course of 15 weeks.
"The mayor was expected to ensure that law enforcement officers from Kimberly and the surrounding area did not interfere with the illegal gambling operation," according to a prepared statement by the U.S. Department of Justice. "In addition, the mayor was expected to notify a member of the conspiracy if Kimberly or any neighboring jurisdictions received complaints or tips regarding the illegal gambling business."
Harris was cooperating with the FBI the entire time, according to court documents. Harris said he wore a camera and wire for the government for almost a year.
Robert Taylor was arrested this morning and released on a $10,000 unsecured bond, his attorney said.
"We feel that the individuals you will see entering pleas, previously or in the near future, are the true guilty parties," Basgier said.
As for Robert Taylor's involvement in the case: "There has been some misinformation presented to the federal government, it seems to us" Basgier said. "Robert Taylor did not have any contact with the mayor that would rise to the level of a crime -- zero."
Basgier said he expects to hear about more plea agreements in the near future, but not from his client.
John Lentine, an attorney for John Taylor, said he would not comment about the specifics of the case.
"My client, unlike some, has acknowledged what he has done," Lentine said. "It will be up to a jury to make the decision about the rest, if it gets that far."
Arraignments are scheduled for Robert Taylor, Carl Scoggins and John Taylor on May 17.
Staff writer Kent Faulk contributed to this report.
Editor's note: Revised at 9:45 p.m. to reword charge of "prohibition of illegal gambling" to "operating an illegal gambling business."
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/05/kimberly_gambling_bribery_prob.html
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