johan75
42
2012/02/17 12:17
#290526
Manne wrote:
Casino owner Milton McGregor told his lobbyist in a phone call secretly recorded by the FBI that he told a key political player in the state that a 2010 gambling bill was about survival for him and his industry.
McGregor, owner of VictoryLand, told his lobbyist Tom Coker in the wiretapped phone call about a conversation with Paul Hubbert, who was then the powerful head of the Alabama Education Association.
McGregor and Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley were among those trying to pass gambling legislation in 2010, trying to keep their casinos open, and were trying to talk state Sen. Jim Preuitt, R-Talladega, into voting for their legislation.
Preuitt, according to testimony, was concerned about Hubbert spending $2 million against him in the 2010 election. The senator, according to testimony, funded his own campaigns, but did not want a heavily-contested election.
McGregor said in the call played Thursday in a federal corruption trial -- where he, Coker and Preuitt are defendants – that he had a long discussion with Hubbert on Preuitt’s behalf.
Recounting to Coker his conversation with Hubbert about Preuitt: “I got more riding on it than anything and I need his vote.” He said he told Hubbert the bill was “about survival for not just me, but my whole industry.”
With concerns about pending raids by a task force created by then-Gov. Bob Riley, which had raided at least one casino at the time and attempted other raids, Gilley and McGregor were pushing legislation in 2010 that would have allowed voters, if the Legislature had passed it, to decide if they wanted electronic gambling in the state.
Gilley, on the witness stand in the corruption trial, said Preuitt told him he did not want direct contributions because he funded his own campaigns, but was “intrigued” by an offer from Gilley to have country music stars play events in his district.
Gilley, who was once a defendant in the case and has since pleaded guilty, said he told Preuitt that Randy Owen of Alabama and Jamey Johnson were willing to participate. He also said those singers were making phone calls in support of the legislation. Coker, in another conversation with McGregor, said he had lunch with Preuitt and that the offer of country artists playing events was “icing on the cake.”
McGregor told Coker that Gilley and his people followed up on what they said they would do.
Gilley called the campaign events with country artists the “Democracy Tour.” He said he hosted an event for state Sen. Harri Anne Smith of Slocomb, another defendant in the case, in December 2009.
Gilley, who would bring country artists to the State House to lobby for gambling legislation, said he and his team offered to pay for talent, production costs, and food for Democracy Tour events.
Gilley said he used a “drop phone” that he changed out every week or two to make many of his phone calls so they would be more difficult to track. He said they used the drop phones because they were discussing illegal activity.
Gilley said the FBI had wiretaps on his cell phone, McGregor’s cell phone and drop phone, and on the cell phone of Gilley lobbyist Jarrod Massey.
McGregor’s attorneys have said he did not have a drop phone and had his phones for years. They have also argued that Gilley is a con man who bilked people out of millions of dollars.
Trucks
Gilley, in another wiretapped conversation with then-Country Crossing spokesman Jay Walker, talked about purchasing vehicles from Preuitt’s Ford dealership.
Walker, another defendant in the case, told him he did not need a truck, but was willing to purchase a vehicle from Preuitt. Gilley said he needed a truck and that eventually the construction company for Country Crossing would need a fleet of vehicles.
Gilley said he told Preuitt he would bring country music legend George Jones to purchase a truck from Preuitt. He told Walker in a wiretapped conversation to tell Preuitt that he would bring Jones.
Gilley said he had other conversations with Walker, and with McGregor, about purchasing vehicles from Preuitt.
Gilley said he went to McGregor’s house, met with him in his sun room, and mentioned the possibility of purchasing vehicles. He said McGregor was supportive and said he had purchased vehicles from Preuitt, but to wait because it might not be necessary.
Susan James, attorney for Walker, said the talk of purchasing vehicles was a joke and they were not serious.
Preuitt voted against bringing up gambling legislation for consideration on March 3, 2010, but voted in favor of the bill on March 30, 2010.
Prosecutors allege he changed his vote because Gilley, McGregor and their lobbyists bribed the senator.
Defense attorneys contest that the first vote was procedural and that the two versions were very different, with the second one being much simpler and not “grandfathering in” existing facilities.
The Senate approved the bill on March 30, 2010, with the minimum number of votes. Federal authorities made the corruption investigation public two days later.
Join:
2012/01/24
Messages:
42