Alabama gambling lobbyist seeks probation
PHILLIP RAWLS, Associated Press
Monday, September 24, 2012
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The first person to plead guilty in Alabama's gambling corruption investigation is seeking probation, but federal prosecutors are recommending two years in prison.
Former Country Crossing casino lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy is scheduled for sentencing Wednesday in Montgomery by U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy in September 2010 and faces up to five years in prison. She admitted offering $2 million to one senator and $100,000 to another to support pro-gambling legislation designed to keep the Dothan casino operating.
Her attorney, Tommy Spina, recently filed court papers saying she deserves probation because of her early cooperation with investigators and her testimony at two trials. He said the U.S. Justice Department initially offered her probation for her cooperation, but then took that off the table when the department's Public Integrity Section got a new leader.
He also said nothing would be served by taking the 36-year-old woman away from her husband and young son.
Federal prosecutors filed court papers Monday saying Pouncy deserves a lighter-than-normal sentence because she helped get the guilty pleas of her lobbyist boss, Jarrod Massey, and Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley. But they said she deserves two years behind bars because she was motivated by greed to keep her job and retain her biggest lobbying client.
"A sentence of imprisonment will properly promote respect for the law, serving as a reminder of the seriousness with which our system of government treats threats to its integrity," Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said.
Massey is serving a sentence of five years and five months in prison. Gilley begins a sentence of six years and eight months on Oct. 9.
Former Democratic Rep. Terry Spicer of Elba pleaded guilty to taking bribes from Massey and Gilley, but he was not connected to Pouncy. He is serving four years and nine months in prison.
The senators that Pouncy said she tried to bribe were acquitted at trial.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Alabama-gambling-lobbyist-seeks-probation-3889311.php#ixzz27VWJzfEC
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment