Posted on 10/04/2010 9:45:30 AM PDT by Onelifetogive
Read the latest: Feds charge 11, including McGregor and state lawmakers in gambling probe
FBI agents swept across Alabama this morning arresting state lawmakers and lobbyists as part of a federal probe into efforts to pass gambling legislation last spring.
The biggest name arrested so far has been VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor, who was arrested at his Montgomery home this morning.
Also arrested today have been state senators Jim Preuitt, R-Talladega, Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, Larry Means, D-Attalla, Harri Anne Smith, I -- Slocomb and Montgomery lobbyist Jerrod Massey.
McGregor lawyer Joe Espy of Montgomery said he knows of no evidence of wrong doing on McGregor's part.
"We plan to defend vigorously," Espy said.
Federal prosecutors had subpoenaed multiple legislators to come before the grand jury.
The Department of Justice in July began notifying various politicians, reporters, lobbyists and others that their conversations may have been picked up during wire taps. The phone taps occurred during a 38-day period this spring when the Alabama Legislature was considering a gambling bill.
Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer and FBI Assistant Director Kevin Perkins are holding a press conference at 10 am central time at Department of Justice headquarters in downtown Washington D.C., where details are expected about the public corruption investigation in Alabama.
Also speaking will be Timothy Fuhrman, special agent in charge of the FBI, Mobile division.
It's bipartisan corruption...except he was a Dem when it was happening...
From his Senate page: "Having previously served as a Democrat, Senator Preuitt officially announced as a Republican on April 6, 2010."
"Updated: VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor, Alabama lawmakers and others arrested in federal probe of state gambling legislation"
Also, here is something else I came across:
http://www.rickeystokesnews.com/article.php/gilley-back-on-tv-this-weekend-13399
Gambling is just a poor match for Alabama. It doesn’t fit the state’s personality at all. It doesn’t make money there, and by and large the citizens don’t want it.
Allowing a race track to be built to begin with was a huge mistake. Instead of expanding gambling, they should just roll back what has been done already.
States are different.
On top of that, we had a candidate for governor run on the platform of creating a state lottery. He wins and tries to implement the lottery. Alabamians showed up in force to make sure the measure failed (and it did). This has always baffled me.
* Ronald E. Gilley, 45, of Enterprise, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, six counts of federal program bribery, 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud, and four counts of money laundering;
Vicotryland is right down the road from me. It hosts a huge multi-story hotel and casino that has never seen a single guest.
I'm not far from the HealthSouth Hospital on Hwy280 with a similar story.
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