Ronald E. Gilley

Ex-Alabama Politician Pleads Guilty To Accepting Cash, Ski Vacation In Bingo Bribery Case

Ryan J. Reilly | November 15, 2011, 12:36PM

Former Alabama State Representative Terry Spicer (R)

Former Alabama state representative Terry Spicer (D) pleaded guilty on Tuesday to accepting cash, campaign services and a ski vacation from Alabama lobbyist caught up in a massive bribery case involving casino interests in the state.

Between 2006 and 2010, Spicer admitted he accepted campaign contributions and gifts like concert tickets from Alabama businessman Ronnie Gilley and Jarrod Massey in exchange for his assistance. Massey and Gilley have pleaded guilty to either offering or paying bribes to Spicer and other state legislators. Massey previously testified that it would be "fair" to say Spicer was on retainer for him.

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Bingo Bribery

Federal Judge: Republicans Only Cooperated With FBI In Alabama Bingo Bribery Case Because They're Racists

Ryan J. Reilly | October 21, 2011, 4:50PM

A federal judge accused two state Republicans, called by federal prosecutors in a massive Alabama corruption case, of cooperating with the feds because of their "ulterior motives rooted in naked political ambition and pure racial bias."

State Sen. Scott Beason and former Rep. Benjamin Lewis, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson wrote, "lack credibility for two reasons."

"First, their motive for cooperating with F.B.I. investigators was not to clean up corruption but to increase Republican political fortunes by reducing African-American voter turnout. Second, they lack credibility because the record establishes their purposeful, racist intent," Thompson wrote.

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Scott Beason

Alabama GOPer Apologizes For Calling Black Casino Customers 'Aborigines'

Ryan J. Reilly | September 28, 2011, 9:25AM

State Sen. Scott Beason (R-AL)

An Alabama Republican who called blacks "aborigines" while wearing an FBI wire apologized on Tuesday for his remarks.

State Sen. Scott Beason called his comments "careless and unnecessary" in a statement he read outside a civic center. "Our purpose today is to say that I am very sorry and I apologize to anyone whose feelings were hurt by my comment."

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Bingo Bribery

After Major Setback, Feds Set To Retry Alabama Pols, Casino Owner In Bingo Bribery Case

Ryan J. Reilly | August 15, 2011, 5:30PM

The Justice Department suffered a major setback last week when a federal jury in Alabama tossed out most of the charges in a massive public corruption case involving casino interests allegedly bribing state senators to support a bill legalizing bingo in the state.

But federal prosecutors indicated Monday that they'll give it another go on the charges that weren't unanimously acquitted. A judge has scheduled a new trial for October.

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Bingo Bribery

Wearing FBI Wire, Alabama Republican Called Black Casino Customers 'Aborigines'

Ryan J. Reilly | June 17, 2011, 12:45PM

State Sen. Scott Beason (R-AL)

Alabama state Sen. Scott Beason, a cooperating witness in a federal corruption case, called black gambling hall customers "aborigines" when he was wearing an FBI wire and recording conversations with his fellow lawmakers, it was revealed in court this week.

Beason and two other Republican legislators were joking about economic development in predominantly black Greene County and the customers of the Greenetrack casino, the Associated Press reports.

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Milton McGregor

Alleged Bingo Briber McGregor Demands Immediate Trial

Ryan J. Reilly | January 24, 2011, 12:55PM

VictoryLand Greyhound Park in Shorter, Alabama.

Lawyers for Milton McGregor, the proprietor of Alabama's VictoryLand -- who the government says illegally bribed members of the state legislature to support legislation which allowed electronic bingo -- says the feds are dragging their feet in their case against him and demanded an immediate trial.

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Jarrod D. Massey

Convicted Alabama Bingo Briber Massey Heads To Prison

Ryan J. Reilly | January 20, 2011, 8:55AM

Jarrod D. Massey, a former casino lobbyist who admitted he bought and sold votes in the Alabama state legislator on pro-gambling legislature, went to prison yesterday. And he doesn't even know how long he'll be there.

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Alabama

Amid Bingo Bribery Scandal, Alabama Institutes Lobbying Reform

Ryan J. Reilly | December 28, 2010, 11:20AM

Gov. Bob Riley (R-AL)

The Alabama state legislature last week approved a package of ethics bills that supporters say will change state politics for the better amid the unfolding bingo legislation bribery scandal. But as the Birmingham News reports there's "disagreement on whether those changes are giant leaps or small steps."

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Jarrod D. Massey

Lobbyist Pleading Guilty In Alabama Bingo Bribery Case

Ryan J. Reilly | December 20, 2010, 3:55PM

An Alabama lobbyist who the government alleged bribed Alabama legislators to support a bill that would benefit the gambling industry will plead guilty and has worked out a deal with federal prosecutors, according to court documents.

Jarrod D. Massey will plead guilty to conspiracy to several counts (including federal programs bribery and aiding and abetting) for allegedly offering $200,000 dollars in campaign contributions, $1 million dollars for legislator's discretionary use, an undetermined amount in campaign contributions and $2 million in campaign support and services to legislators for their votes, according to a notice of intent to plead guilty filed by his lawyers on Monday. In exchange, federal prosecutors will recommend the honest services and fraud scheme charges against him be dismissed.

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Bingo Bribery

Judge Rules Trial Of Alleged AL Bingo Bribers Can Proceed

Ryan J. Reilly | December 15, 2010, 12:05PM

All 11 defendants in a massive corruption case out of Alabama that has snared several politicians and lobbyists appeared in federal court on Tuesday, where a judge denied a motion of several of the defendants to delay the April trial because their lawyers didn't have enough time to prepare.

Nine of the defendants argued that starting the trial on April 4 would be unfair because they'll need more time to go through 2,800 telephone calls and 200,000 pages of documents turned over by the prosecution. Court records show the motion was denied.

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