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July 8th-- Day 23

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11:40am -- Massey said he had a general conversation with Beason about his ability to get him campaign contributions.

Massey: In 2010, Picked up line of conversation from 2009 with Beason when he had indicated his vote could be swayed by campaign money.

Massey met again with Beason on Feb. 16, 2010. He expressed he had interest in being more of a presence in GOP and needed resources to do so.

Prosecutor Emily Woods: Woods: Do you remember telling Beason ‘these guys put money into races?’ Massey: I do.

Massey said his purpose was to provide an enticement, inducement to Beason if he voted for the gambling legislation.

After Massey reached out to Beason, he talked to Gilley, then a meeting was set up with Beason, McGregor, Giilley, Massey.

Massey: Concerned Gilley, McGregor would be seen meeting with Beason because it would 'tip off the other side' and put pressure on Beason.

Massey: we discussed "things of value" at meeting and it was important to have the men who could make that happen.

Massey said offers of campaign contributions, a public relations job were made during course of conversation.
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10:40am -- Woods asks who Massey was coordinating with to identify votes. Pouncy, Austion, CJ Hincy, lobbyists for Greenetrack, White Hall, more.

Massey said he had direct conversations with McGregor, Geddie and Coker.

Massey: “I would say I had substantive conversations with Mr. Geddie, where he and I both participated, 7 or 8 times.”

Massey: Geddie initially led the charge on legislation, Coker then took over because effort did not appear organized.

After BIR vote failed, Coker became the point man on March 30 vote. Massey: “I was told Mr. Coker had agreed to perform as coordinator.”

Woods now asking about Legislative Reference Service and LRS analyst Ray Crosby's work drafting gambling bills.

Massey said he did not know McGregor was paying Ray Crosby $3,000 a month.

Jury about to hear conversation between Massey and Sen. Jimmy Holley March 14, 2010.

Massey and Sen. Holley. "Just between you and me, Ronnie and Milton have had major words today."

Massey says he wanted to present his own #bingo bill but if he did that Ray Crosby with LRS would immediately contact McGregor.

Massey: I’m about ready to draft my own bill. If I do, Ray Crosby will call Milton immediately and he will know we’re off the reservation.

Massey says 90% of his time was caught up in dealing with #bingo issues. Says he didn't have a particularly heavy legislative agenda.
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10:20am -- “Mr. Stroud looked a little bit taken back, and, I could tell, nervous with where the conversation was going. But he continued to participate”

Massey recalls Gilley leaving the meeting after becoming agitated with Lewis

Massey: Gilley said we’re going to be aggressively supporting those who support us and aggressively opposing those who oppose us.

Massey said rulings leading up to 2010 legislative session were making it hard for electronic gambling to be profitable.

Massey said legislation that called for a constitutional amendment was necessary in 2010 due to bingo raids, court fights.

Massey testifies that he understood Milton McGregor had 6,000 bingo machines at VictoryLand.

Massey: SB380 would provide a framework for electronic bingo for years to come.

Massey describing original Senate Bill 380 that guaranteed VictoryLand, others would keep electronic bingo machines.

Massey said the only "clear" way to change state gambling law make the machines legal was to have a vote on constitutional amendment.

When SB380 failed BIR vote in early March, hadn't been modified in committee. Now talking about much shorter version that passed late March.
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9:59am -- Gilley did most of talking about Country Crossing, Sen. Smith, lobbyist Claire Austin, did some of the talking.

Prosecutor Woods asks Massey to slow down his speech--"Mr. Massey, I've been told you're a fast talker--"--on behalf of court reporter.

Massey: Smith at dinner said she changed her position on Country Crossing and that it was a popular project.

Woods asks Massey if it’s typical practice in lobbying industry to talk campaign contributions and official action in the same conversation.

Massey said it's widely accepted you do not "reference" campaign contributions when lobbying a public official for official action. Massey says this is to make sure there's no quid pro quo. Something for something.

Massey says campaign contributions and bingo votes were discussed in same conversation throughout dinner.

Massey: Gilley kept saying he and me collectively could raise hundreds of thousands for people that supported the legislation.

Massey said that Smith told Beason that he would need $500,000 to run a statewide race. Possibly a congressional campaign.

Massey: Gilley was speaking loudly about the money. Smith was engaged, didn't seem opposed to what Gilley was saying.

Massey: Gilley made offer to Sen. Smith. "She acknowledged these guys [Gilley] could be helpful to you."
Woods: How did Sen. Smith react when Gilley made offers of money for votes? Massey: Smith didn't seem uncomfortable about offer but other lawmakers got nervous about mention of funds for bingo vote.

Massey: Lewis 'broke out in a sweat' when Gilley started talking about campaign money for support of bingo bill

Massey testified that Lewis and Gilley got in disagreement over bill and Gilley "stood and started shouting."
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9:42am -- Judge Thompson says he requested that Massey's handcuffs be removed because he will be handling documents.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Woods asking Jarrod Massey about the infamous supper at Garrett's Restaurant, to present Country Crossing project.

Massey said he was at March 2009 dinner in Montgomery in which Gilley presented and discussed project with two legislators.

The point of the meeting, Massey says, was to present Country Crossing and SB 471, the 2009 "Sweet Home Alabama" bingo bill.

Woods: What was Smith's initial position on gambling. Massey: She was opposed.

Massey said Sen. Harri Anne Smith and lobbyist Claire Austin put together March 4, 2009 dinner. Bill was introduced following day.

Claire Austin was brought on to target republicans for project. Smith was at the dinner to bring in republicans to support project.

Massey testified that Smith was opposed to gambling, but changed her mind and said while she still opposed it she favored a public vote

Massey: Gilley wanted him to hire lobbyist Claire Austin to work with Sen. Harri Anne Smith who was initially opposed to gambling.

Massey said he hired Claire Austin at $5,000/month to help lobby for bill because Gilley said Austin was a friend of Smith's.

Massey: Smith's purpose was to bring Beason, Lewis to the dinner in hopes of swaying them to support bingo bill

Massey: Lewis got to Garrett's restaurant in the last 25 or 30 minutes of the meal.

Massey said they were trying to "convert" Lewis and Beason, both gambling opponents, to be in favor of Sweet Home Alabama bill.
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9:26am -- Court about to proceed. US Attorney Emily Woods will continue direct examination of lobbyist Jarrod Massey.

Woods says the government will introduce one phone call between Massey and McGregor. She says it links McGregor, Massey and Coker.

Segall says it's inconceivable that the government on June 26 wanted to make link between Massey and McGregor.

Asst. US Attorney Emily Woods is arguing in favor of introducing two taped phone calls.

Woods says McGregor-Massey call will establish their relationships.

Defense objects saying they weren't told it would be used.

Judge asks why he should depart from exhibit deadline for prosecution. Woods says the trial is a fluid process.

Basically, prosecutors are saying everybody has turned in exhibits after the deadline so they shouldn't be punished.

US Attorney Woods is adamant that the tape is necessary to corroborate Massey's testimony.

Judge says he will rule later about admissibility of Massey-McGregor phone call.

We're expected to hear a lot of wiretapped phone calls with this witness (Massey), I think Woods said the other day about 80.

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8:07am-- Jarrod Massey, the former lobbyist of Ronnie Gilley, took the witness stand late Thursday afternoon in the bingo corruption trial. Massey along with Ronnie Gilley have already plead guilty in the case.

Massey is the government's 10th witness in the case. He is expected to back-up everything that Gilley said on the stand in the last two weeks and to try and show truth that they were trying to bribe elected officials.

Emily Woods, attorney for the governmet, said that her direct examination of Massey will take all day.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
July 7th-- Day 22 --
Jarrod Massey is now up for the government
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Court has finished for Day 22 and will start again on Friday morning
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5:14pm – Massey said Jennifer Pouncy worked for him primarily dealing with the Alabama Senate.

Massey contract with Gilley started at $6,500 a month, ended up being around $16,000, $16,500 a month and $500K per year per bingo facility.

Massey described his contract w/ Gilley as "not the largest contract in our firm, but a large contract."

Massey said Gilley agreed to pay him $2.7 million to distribute to political campaigns in 2010.

Massey: Purpose was to make political contributions throughout 2010 election cycle. Agreement to use entire $2.7 million for that purpose.

Massey speaks very quickly. Appears confident. Matter of fact about all of this. He's the first witness we've seen jail attire.

Massey said he bribed Senators Scott Beason, Quinton Ross, Jim Preuitt, Larry Means and Harri Anne Smith.

Massey said Sweet Home Alabama coalition formed in 2009 after Governor Riley formed task force to take on gambling operations.

Prosecution asking question about the Sweet Home Alabama coalition. Coker was at SHAC meetings where "primarily lobbyists" gathered.

Coker and Geddie both rep'ed McGregor, both involved in the Sweet Home Alabama Coalition. Lobbyists met to discuss legislative strategy.

Massey: McGregor had an extensive knowledge of how the Legislature worked.

Present at Sweet Home AL Coalition meetings: McGregor (Victoryland), Gilley (Country Crossing), Luther "Nat" Winn (Greenetrack).
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4:58pm – Jarrod Dane Massey. Born in Troy, Alabama. Pike County. He went to Auburn University and got a degree in Public Administration.

Like Gilley, he changed his plea to guilty.

Massey interned for Terry Everett, worked an an executive assistant, Governmental Affairs Director for Alabama State Employees Association.

He is wearing his red prison outfit on witness stand.

Massey plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and five counts of bribery. He most recently worked at his own company.

Massey: "I promised to give things of value." To Beason, Ross, Preuitt, Means, & Smith. "It was in an effort to obtain passage of SB380."

Massey said he offered legislators campaign assistance, polling, favors, things of value in order to get their votes.

Massey's company is known a Massey Development Group and Mantra Governmental. Lobbying/Gov't relations firm. He was President.

Jennifer Pouncy was an employee of Massey's, was director of Legislative (Services?), "She was also my number one assistant."

Massey had several contracts with Ronnie Gilley's companies. Prosecution showing Massey a document, contract w/ Gilley.
_________________________________________________________

Ronnie Gilley is finished as a witness for the government
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4:30pm – Jay Walker lawyer Susan James asking Gilley about his plea agreement and jail house phone calls.

James: You said you are hoping to get a sentence of five years or less. Gilley: I hope so.

Walker atty Susan James: You told people you couldn't do 5-7 years in jail? Gilley: I probably did.

James: You've actually entertained the idea that you might get house arrest. Gilley: I have.

Gilley says, "Realistically I'm not looking for a 20 year sentence" when asked about the sentencing guidelines.

Gilley says his current attorney advised him that the Federal Government could and would pursue a life sentence and that federal sentences have no parole.

Gilley said he described plea deal as “home run” and after looking at the evidence that he had no choice but to plead guilty.

Gilley: Made comments to others it would be 'a year or two' until he is sentenced. James proving that Gilley was doing a lot of brash and somewhat embarassing speculation about his sentencing. Gilley cops to it.
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4:10pm – Bill Baxley is up on re-cross examination for the defense and Tom Coker: Did you tell the Dothan Eagle, "If you are gonna lie, make up a good one"? Gilley: Absolutely, I said it. Baxley finishes recross.
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4:05pm – Franklin asking Gilley about his relationships with defendants. Gilley said he didn't have much of a relationship with lobbyist Bob Geddie.

Gilley said he would not lie about defendants to shorten his jail time.

Franklin: Do you hold any animosity against any of these defendants? Gilley: I do not.

Franklin: Would you lie about any of these defendants. Gilley: I would not.

Gilley said he had a good relationship with Coker, Ross, Crosby, Smith and McGregor.

Gilley said he lived in same Wiregrass neighborhood as McGregor from ages 5 to 19.

Gilley says Mr. McGregor is one of the finest men he ever met. He says he spent nights at his house years ago after Milton asked him to.
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3:50pm – McGregor loaned Gilley about $13 million in 2009.

Gilley says he called McGregor after the dinner & said he "exploded" on Rep. Lewis. McGregor told him to calm down & each vote was important.

Gilley says he made a comment to Jay Walker's father when they were indicted, 'I don't know why Jay is here.'

Gilley says at time he had completely different perspective whether they were guilty or innocent.

Gilley says he made that comment, 'I don't know why Jay is here,' because somebody was sick in Walker's family.

Gilley said he tried to secure Sen. Preuitt's vote. he asked Jay Walker to do "whatever it took" when he met with Sen. Preuitt

Franklin now asking Gilley about disparaging remarks he made about lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy suggesting she undress for a senator to get vote.

Franklin: At any time did you ever ask Ms. Pouncy to perform a sex act to get Sen. Preuitt's vote? Gilley: No.

"It was a distasteful joke," Gilley said of comments about Pouncy. Gilley said he never seriously suggested she trade a sex act for a vote.

Franklin: With your debt, could you afford to actually pay the offer you made to Beason? Where would that money have come from? Objection.

Prosecutor tries to ask Gilley where he would get the $1 million to pay Beason since he was $160 million in debt. McGregor lawyer objects.

Now talking about Jeff Rubin (Ruben), who Gilley says he paid to sway public opinion on bingo issues by posting comments on online articles.

Gilley says he paid someone who ran a blog to make comments on newspaper web sites to make it look like most people favored bingo operations.

I think Gilley just said that on one occasion Jeff Rubin was paid to try and log into the capital's computer system. Objection from the defense.

Judge tells jury to disregard that comment. Not sure if Gilley said McGregor asked him to do that or if Gilley did. Franklin moves on.
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3:33pm – Prosecutor introduces consulting agreement between Gilley and McGregor and the amendments to agreement. Attached are 1 amendment & 5 notes. The 5 "notes" attached to the consulting agreement are promissory notes. Loans.

Gilley says he entered into this agreement in late Dec. 2009, or January.

Initial consulting agreement would give McGregor 14 % of hold at Country Crossing and Gilley's job was to take the "focus off Mr. Mac"

Gilley on contract: it does a lot of things, and "Basically it puts everything in there but buy votes, pass the legislation."

Gilley: Unwritten, unspoken intent of contract with McGregor. 'My job was to buy votes, pass legislation.' Defense objects.

Judge Thompson says he's already allowed the exhibits to come in and we don't need to rehash oral testimony again.

The consulting agreement was an initial $5 million loan, then a $2 million loan, and a $3 million loan, and some construction financing.

Gilley said that the contract was amended as Country Crossing construction went along and additional promissory notes executed.

The defense is objecting to Gilley testifying about McGregor agreement. Says the testimony is getting repetitive. Judge Thompson urges Franklin to move on quickly.
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3:17pm – Gilley says he had not seen all the evidence in this case when he originally entered a not-guilty plea. He later pleaded guilty.

Gilley said there was "overwhelming" evidence in the case. He listened to the recordings and read documents while he was in jail.

Gilley said his plea deal with prosecutors requires him to "tell the truth" and the agreement is null and void if he lies.

Gilley on coming to Montgomery: "The first several months I was here, it was a bitter awakening.”
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3pm-- Court has taken a 15 minute recess for the afternoon break.
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2:40pm – Gilley: "Time and time again" there was consensus at "gaming summits" about what bingo bill would be. McGregor lawyer's bill didn't resemble that.

Franklin asking about Feb 23, 2010 meeting at bookstore to "confirm" $1 million offer to Sen. Scott Beason.

U.S. Attorney Franklin: In conversations before/after meeting w/ Beason, did McGregor every express to you that he wouldn't take part?

Gilley: A public relations firm was going to be used as a mechanism to get Beason $1 million a year.

Gilley on McGregor's behavior during meeting w/ Beason: "I think you can listen to this tape and get the answer. He was fully engaged."

Gilley: McGregor said he had a $200 million debt during the meeting with Massey, Gilley, Beason.

Gilley says passing sb380 was "his life" when asked if his $160 million debt played into his urge to pass the bill.

Gilley: McGregor said he was $200 million in debt from building casino and attached luxury hotel.

_____
2:28pm – Gilley said passing Senate Bill 380 was top priority "next to our families" for he and McGregor.

Gilley said McGregor had more to gain from Senate Bill 380 because he owned Victoryland and the "lion's share" of Country Crossing.

Gilley said that during the legislative process, he spent 12 to 14 hours a day working to get SB380 passed.

Gilley said during the push to pass the gambling legislation he talked with McGregor "nonstop.

Gilley: "I never said I didn't have disagreements with Mr. McGregor."

Gilley said he did what McGregor said, but admitted he was at odds with McGregor over 'monopolistic' language in bingo bill.

Gilley said the bingo bill that McGregor and his attorneys were drafting were often provided to him and legislators the day before vote.

Gilley said he got copies of bill through e-mail from McGregor or McGregor attorney/business partner David Johnston.

Gilley said that had McGregor's monopolistic language been stripped from bingo bill, it would have passed easily and that none of the people in the courtroom would be there today if the bill had been passed.
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3:12pm – Prosecutor Louis Franklin tells the judge that his redirect questioning of Ronnie Gilley will take a couple of hours.

Franklin begins by asking Gilley about his contact with Ross. Gilley says the bingo bill was the only reason he had to talk to Ross.

Franklin asks Gilley if there was any reason for you to be contributing to campaign of Sen. Ross outside of bingo legislation? Gilley: No sir.

Gilley said when he met Ross in 2009, McGregor told him Ross was a good man and he should be supportive of Ross at campaign time.

McGregor told Gilley that they/we need to support Sen. Quinton Ross, Gilley says.

Gilley says he had conversations with Tom Coker, Milton McGregor, Jay Walker, and Jarrod Massey about possible offers to Sen. Jim Preuitt.

Gilley says he offered Preuiit "our support" by way of "Democracy Tour" fundraiser in which Preuitt's campaign would get all ticket proceeds.

On that phone call (Gilley was in Mississippi), Preuitt didn't accept "the Democracy Tour" at that point.

Gilley said he promised Preuitt support in a "significant way. " Gilley said he had a conversation with Coker about what significant meant.

Gilley called Coker (a lobbyist and close personal friend of Preuitt's) and told Coker about his offer to Preuitt.

Prosecutor Louis Franklin now trying to counter White's cross examination of how much money Gilley actually contributed to Smith.

Franklin asking Gilley about defense assertion that he really only gave Smith $20,000.

Franklin: Did the $217K in in-kind contributions for Smith fundraiser come out of your pocket? Gilley: It did.

Gilley on Smith fundraiser ($217k in-kind contribution): "She did want to surpass the fundraiser that was held by the other group in Dothan."

Franklin asking Gilley about fundraiser. Gilley said Smith received association with country music stars and contributions at event.

Franklin now asking about four $50,000 checks intended for Smith's campaign. Gilley says Smith thanked him several times for donation.
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1:35pm --The defense teams have finished their cross-examination of Ronnie Gilley. Prosecutors will soon begin their redirect questioning of Gilley.
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1:30pm – Gilley did not keep a ledger of campaign contributions.

Gilley cannot remember giving contributions to Ross in December 2009 but agrees that they weren't in relation to bingo bill.

Are you aware of Jarrod Massey giving Senator Ross $15,000 in 2010 or $20,000 or $25,000...Gilley was not aware of it.

Gilley says "Massey did come to me and said Sen. Ross did not feel the love and we needed to do something." Gilley said he authorized donation to Ross.

Gilley says he does not know if Massey ever made a donation to Ross.

Gillis to Gilley: Pointing to prosecution 'y'all are working together.' Gilley: Not working for anyone except my family.

Gilley says he knew it was wrong to bribe people all along... before he ever arrived in Montgomery.

Gillis: When you came to Montgomery, you knew the difference between right and wrong, didn’t you? Gilley: I did.

Gilley says he entered into no explicit agreement with Ross... particularly regarding a vote. Gilley: "I've had very little discussion with Senator Ross, period."
_____
12:10pm – Court has recessed for lunch.
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11:55am – Lewis Gillis accidentally introduces himself as representing Jim Preuitt. He represents Sen. Quinton Ross. Lots of laughs.

Gilley then takes the light opportunity to say he's happy he's not the only one with memory problems in the courtroom.

Gilley says Ross was not at a 2008 summit of gambling interests held at AEA offices.

Gillis: you never discussed with Ross the arrangement you had with Massey? Gilley: no, I did not.

Gilley had no real interaction with Ross. Gillis is establishing this through several questions.

Gillis: did you authorize any special entertainment for Ross? Gilley: no.

Gillis: You never brought in country music stars or B.B. King, Lionel Richie or Beyonce for Ross. Gilley: I love all those artists, but no.

Gilley says he named 13 lawmakers who he offered something of value to but Ross was not one of them.
_____
11:41am – Ron Wise, an attorney for former Senator Jim Preuitt, is now questioning Gilley.

Gilley said first time he remembers meeting Preuitt was in courthouse after they were all arrested in October.

March 2010 phone conversation with Preuitt.... Gilley says Preuitt told him he didn't want his money or campaign help. Gilley also says he got no commitment from Preuitt.

Gilley says he and his lobbyists said several times that Preuitt "ain't about the money" and Preuitt had all the money he needed. Gilley said Preuitt was known as being pro-gambling.

Gilley testifies that he understood that Gilley didn't want a vote for legislation unless he was certain it would pass.

Gilley said Preuitt was told a "story" by lobbyist that she would lose her job if the bill didn't pass.

Gilley says nobody ever bought a truck from Preuitt and the notion of George Jones coming over to buy a truck was a joke.

Wise: Preuitt said that if the Senate had 20 votes on the bingo bill, he would not hold it up and would support the bill to be 21st vote.

Wise: You never gave Preuitt money, put on a concert for him or paid for a poll. Gilley: No sir I did not.

Wise: in lieu of the fact Preuitt didn't need money, didn't ask for money, was pro-bingo wasn't it silly to do some of the things you did ? Gilley said , “I think so.”
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11:24am – White asking Gilley about cost of fundraiser he threw Smith and if he inflated the figures.

White says Gilley testified that he paid Lorrie Morgan and John Anderson over $60,000 to perform, but checks total up to $40,000.

White: Let's make a chart of how much Ronnie Gilley actually put in Harri Anne Smith's account...

White mentions a $5000 check that she gave back. $59,000 checks but some were duplicates but he directly did give $20,000. $30,000 went to different PAC's, doesn't know if any money went to Smith.

The $200,000 that went to other PAC's, none had Smith's name on them. She could not use the $217,000 in-kind contributions that he supposedly gave her.

Gilley never saw deposit slips that campaign money ever made it to Smith's account.

White asks Gilley of all of the money that he supposedly gave Smith, the evidence only shows that Gilley actually gave her $20,000.

White: No matter what you want jury 2 believe, all you can prove from your testimony is that you gave $20,000 to Smith? Gilley doesn't respond.
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10:43am – Gilley said the tent cost about $250,000-$300,000 to buy. Bought later. White suggests we'll hear from tent rental co. later in the trial.

Production cost $35,000 for Smith's fundraiser.

White: When did you find out how much the party (which cost $217,000), raised? Gilley: We kept tabs that night.

Gilley said on stage at fundraiser that they raised ~$250k, did not mention that it was largely in in-kind contributions.

White: Your motivation was to brag about how much money you raised....Gilley said that it wasn't.

Gilley said that fund-raising that night was difficult due to storms. White asks if he wanted to beat $240,000 raised by Dothan businessmen. Gilley responded, “no.”

White said Gilley was trying to inflate the numbers of what he spent to help Smith with in-kind services.

White wants to ask Gilley about BamaJam crowds/revenue. Judge excuses jury to determine if questions are relevant .

Gilley testified that he paid people to scan tickets at BamaJam to inflate the numbers so that it looked good on paper.
_____
10:27am – White: She had a reason to support your project because her constituents needed those jobs? Gilley: sure

White asking Gilley about his time in jail.

White: You found an easier way, you didn't need to crawl your way out? Gilley: I wouldn't classify what's happened to my family as easy.

White asks Gilley if he told Hunt's restaurant owner TIm Reeves he would claw his way out of jail if he had to. Gilley: Not that I recall.

White: did the government ever tell you Harri Anne done this. You shouldn't feel bad for her. She's not that stupid? (very long pause ) Judge Thompson said that matter would be taken up later.

Gilley says he may have told some business associates he may serve four years or less. On direct, he testified to having to serve 20 years.

White: Did you tell a lady recently u were working on a project bigger than Country Crossing? Gilley: I did.

White: "Isn't it true that your personal greed motivated you to try and get Sen. Mitchell out of bed?" Wendell Mitchell was sick and was a yes vote on SB 380.

Gilley: "It wasn't my greed." Gilley said the vote was good for the Wiregrass.

White now asking Gilley about the $217K in in-kind contributions resulting from December 2009 fundraiser he held for Smith.

Gilley said that his restaurant provided the food and drinks. It was a BBQ place in Enterprise.

$41k of that $217k was paid for food. Food was provided by a company Gilley owned. Tent rental was for $68k. (Gilley later bought tent).
_____
10:06am – Gilley complains to judge about White's lengthy questions. Gilley says he would like to give narratives himself.

Gilley has made 2-3 'speeches' during testimony about 'special interests' controlling Houston County and other places.

White now playing a tape which features Gilley. In conversation with Beason, he says he's going to protect Smith's seat from Flowers.

Gilley: "We discussed several bribes with Scott Beason. I'd like to see if it was the one Smith proposed or the one Jarrod Massey proposed."

White: You said there are special interests on one side of the track and the common man on the other. Which side are you on, Mr. Gilley? Gilley said he is on the side of the common man.

White asked Gilley how many common men flew in a jet from Enterprise to Montgomery and Gilley answered, “quite a few.”

Thompson says lawyers are getting off track with questions about living on rich or poor side of the tracks. Wealth is not an issue, he says.

Gilley said, "I said on several occasions, I didn't ask Harri Anne Smith to do anything when I talked with legislators."

Gilley insists Smith asked him for 400K. Now listening to phone conversation between Smith/Gilley.

Smith on the call asked Gilley about some people he said he might could get to help with the campaign, she said she needed it.

Smith to Gilley: "We need another $400,000 to finish off the campaign, anything you can help with that would be appreciated."

Gilley said in the call that he had some other people who would help. He told Smith that he could get her what she needed.

Gilley said that Smith never specifically asked him for $400,000.

White: Did you ever talk to Smith about moving Country Crossing to Mississippi? Gilley: I did
______
9:50am – White has highlighted handful of inconsistencies on dates during Gilley testimony and statements to FBI.

Gilley told FBI he was trying to do things the 'right way' in early 2009. He testified in court it was a year earlier.

On Garrett restaurant meeting, Gilley said that he didn't know who sent invitations. Gilley testified earlier in court that Smith sent the invitations. This is another inconsistency that White has pointed out.

Gilley said that Smith demanded that he hire lobbyist Claire Austin. White: Did you fabricate story about Smith asking you to get Jarrod Massey to hire lobbyist Claire Austin? Gilley: No

Gilley says he said to Smith "if we knew your date was on the auction block, one of these gentlemen might write you a check for 5 thousand"

White moves on to Gilley testimony about gaming summits he said involved numerous people. White establishes Smith was not there.

Gilley asked about George Flowers - Gilley says he's a leader in the Dothan business community and ran against Smith for Senate.

Gilley said that he was 100% against Flowers winning Smith's senate seat.

Gilley: When George Flowers assisted Smith campaign, he was excited about Country Crossing. Offered to install pools there.

Gilley describes Flowers as not an enemy.
_____
9:40am – Gilley says he's answered same question 5 times. White says he doing his best. Gilley says he is too. "You're sweating me out up here."

Gilley said Smith thanked him on many occasions. I am sure that was one of them,” Gilley said of running ads against Jay Love in 2008 election .

White said, "You told the FBI the contributions were contingent on her voting for bingo legislation." Gilley said "that understanding was implied.”

Gilley: Day after Jay Love started running ads saying that Harri Anne Smith took money from gambling interests, I held a press conference.

Gilley said in meeting Smith said they would figure out a way for Gilley to get money secretly to her campaign.

Gilley held a press conference to "bash" Jay Love on July 3rd'ish, produced ads over that weekend, and began running ads ~Monday, July 7.

White notes that Smith couldn't have thanked Gilley for ads bashing Smith opponent in May meeting because the ads didn't run until July.

Gilley admitted that he said in the press conference that he was going to support Smith whether she wanted it or not.

Gilley has been wrong on every date so far today and White has pointed it out and it has been very obvious that Gilley is wrong.
_____
9:25am – White is refreshing Gilley's memory on when Smith withdrew her bingo bill. Gilley admitted he was off on the date when he testified earlier.

White continues to work on undermining Gilley's credibility with the jury by pointing out mistakes in his testimony.

Gilley: "I agree that I was off on the dates, I do agree."

Now we're talking about May 2008 event at Tartan Pines Country Club.

Gilley went to the event, a fundraiser for Sen. Smith, alone. He took a check for $5,000. A check which was later returned.

Gilley: "I handed it [the check] directly to her." "I handed it to her and I remember the look on her face." Says they buried the hatchet.

Gilley claims McGregor legislation was pending then took back statement... He says check was returned later but doesn't remember day.

Gilley said, "It has been three years. I've had thousands of meetings. I can't remember the dates."

White: What did you do with $5K check you said Harri Anne returned to you in 2008? Gilley: I don't know what was done with it.

White asks if Gilley's accountants still have the $5,000 check that Gilley says Smith returned in person. Gilley says he'll get back to him and White says he is looking forward to it.

Gilley said that at the meeting, Smith will work on a way to get money to her campaign. White said "this is the beginning of conspiracy you said existed between you and Smith?”

White: You never had an explicit conversation with Smith to take some action in exchange for money? Gilley: Not in those exact words.
_____
9:11am – William White, attorney for Harri Anne Smith, it continuing his cross-examination of Ronnie Gilley.

Interesting moment at the start: Gilley stops as he's about to speak about conversation with his lawyer. His attorney comes to stand.

White begins by asking Gilley about when he last met with FBI. Gilley says he doesn't remember.

Gilley is now recanting a statement made yesterday regarding a meeting with his attorney regarding a mistake in his 302. He said what he said in court was wrong.

White begins by asking Gilley about conversation he had with Trish Don Francisco about poll he said indicated his popularity.

Gilley testified the poll was conducted by Smith and he did not see actual poll. Gilley told investor poll was run by AEA.

Gilley says on cross-examination that he was incorrect in earlier testimony about when Smith withdrew anti-casino legislation.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
July 6th-- Day 21
_____
5pm – William White said that he has a long long time left with Gilley.

The jury has been excused for the day and will resume with cross-examination of Ronnie Gilley at 9am Thursday morning.
___
4:57pm – White: Was your refusal to meet part of your plan to get your sentence reduced? Gilley: It was not.

White: Was your refusal to talk to me prior to the start of this trial part of your plan to reduce your sentence and secure convictions? Gilley said that he would do his talking in court.

Gilley said that when the project was announced, the masses were excited about it.

Gilley said that at the beginning everybody focused on bingo, not the water park/bowling alley, etc.

Gilley told FBI he first met Smith at a bingo rally at Dothan Convention Center, where Smith first said she was pulling her bingo bill.

Gilley testified last week in court that he first met Smith at Tartan Pines Country Club in Enterprise.
____
4:26pm – Gilley: "She brought the check back, she said she didn't want to take any money from me directly." Funnel it through lobbyist Jarrod Massey.

Gilley said, "She said Jarrod Massey would be in touch with me." Money would be paid to Massey in consulting fees, Smith told Gilley, he says.

White said Gilley story about Smith returning $5K and needing money to come from other sources not originally told to FBI until the sixth meeting between Gilley and the FBI on April 29th, 2011.

White said to Gilley that he only told FBI that you only *assumed* that $40,000 went to Sen. Smith, isn't that correct? Gilley said if its in the FBI Form 302, its the truth.
_____
4:10pm – Gilley: "She said 'I'm yours. Just tell me what you want to do and it's done.'" Thanking for '08 money (2008) and radio ads against Jay Love.

Now moving on to the $200,000 in April 2010. White: You claim that Harri Anne Smith asked you for $400,000, correct? Gilley: Correct.

White: Where did you get $200K for Harri Anne Smith in April 2010? Gilley: I don't know. Our bank account.

White: You don't know if one dollar (of $200,000 donation) was deposited into Smith's account. Gilley: I don't.

Gilley said that he knew for a fact it was hand-delivered to Harri Anne Smith. White: Were you there? Gilley: I was not.

Gilley said that he has first hand knowledge that the checks were delivered but he does not know how she got it.

Gilley said that Smith could not buy any yard signs or pay any employees with the in-kind contributions.

On $217,000 in in-kind contributions, White asks if Smith had any control over that money. No, Gilley says--it was all to pay for fundraiser.
_____
3:58pm – White now getting to all the money Gilley said he gave Harri Anne Smith...

White now asking about campaign donations to Sen. Smith. First contribution that he testified to was $5,000 check in May 2008.

In December of 2009- $59,240- 10-for-10 Campaign Fundraiser
December 2009-- $163,000
January 2010-- $30,000
April of 2010-- $200,000
In Kind- $217,000
Summer of 2008-- $40,000

White adds up to $714,240 that Gilley contributing to Senator Smith from 2008-2010.

Gilley said either through personal donations or through phone calls to people, he is responsible for that money.

White throws out that $5,000 in May 2008, Smith returned that check. So $709,240 given/raised/bundled for Smith from May 2008-April 2010 now.

White is going item by item over all money Gilley said he contributed to or was responsible for others contributing to Smith.

White:In all these checks you claim responsibility for, you never once told any of these people the money was to be used for a bribe, did u? Gilley said, “No.”

White notes many of checks were actually from long-time Smith supporters. Gilley: I never said it was my money..it was from fundraiser I had.

White: Out of the $59,240 from Dec. 2009, is it fair to say that $36,000 is a duplicate from the $163,000? Gilley: Yes.

White asking about Worley Bird Saloon, Lorrie Morgan's Hot Chicken, 38 other entities, contributed $500 a piece to Smith for a total of $20k.

White asked, “Tell me how you're aware that Sen. Smith got the PAC money you sent to her?” Gilley: "She thanked me."

Gilley said, "I can remember specific 'thank-you's' from Smith." "I do not remember this specific 'thank you.'" "I know she got the money."

White said while we're here let's come up with every time Smith thanked you for money. Gilley asked “Have you got a while.”
_____
3:25pm – William White, attorney for Harri Anne Smith, is now cross examining Gilley.

White starts off by asking Gilley about a conversation with DiFrancisco. In that conversation, Gilley was talking about a poll that was run a month prior to the phone call.

White asks Gilley if he had ever heard from Smith about the poll that said that he was the most popular, he said that Smith told him but he had not heard it in a conversation played in court.

White asks Gilley if his investors knew how much in debt he was because he always asked for money but never mentioned his debt. Gilley said, "I can assure you, both of those investors knew how deeply in debt Country Crossing was.”

Gilley said that all of his people knew that he was deep in debt.

When Gilley said "both of those investors," he was referring to Carter and DiFrancisco. Gilley said he was $15 million cash invested in Country Crossing.

White: Do you recall testifying Ronnie Gilley Properties was $55M in debt in 2008? Gilley: No, but it is probably accurate.

White: Anything you're taking that would affect your memory or any reason you can't go forward? Gilley: I can go forward.

Gilley says he can't recall looking at a financial statement since he's been on the witness stand.

Gilley: "Whereas I started out with one mortgage on my house, I ended up with 2nd, 3rd and 4th mortgages," "I'm leveraged up to the hilt."

Gilley said, “I'm dead broke as of right now. I'm continuing to look for investors in BamaJam and Little Nashville.”

Gilley said that he is working on both projects as of today and hopes to see them through.
_____
3:10pm – Gilley says a Macon County judge changed a ruling to stop Country Crossing from opening over night.

Gilley raises voice describing how a judge altered an injunction so it would protect only VictoryLand from task force raids and not him.

Gilley: "McGregor was in charge of the whole legislative process. Not 99% of it, 100% of it. He called the shots.

Gilley said that McGregor told him from the beginning that SB379 (general bingo bill) would piggyback on SB380. Gilley seems still upset about this because he was told all along that the bill would pass as well.

Baxley said that Senator Rodger Bedford sponsored the bill.

Indictment alleges Gilley was in Tennessee when he made calls in March 18-19, 2010. He was in Mississippi. Wire fraud charges apply.

Baxley plays tape in which Gilley asks Coker's first name. Baxley: This is the man you've been conspiring with and you didn't know his name.
_____
2:40pm – Gilley talking to Massey in this phone call, sounds like Milton's attorney David Johnston has cut Houston County out of the gambling bill.

Gilley and Massey were very upset in the call and said that McGregor was looking after his monopoly.

Gilley said that he personally had $15 million tied up in Country Crossing.

Gilley said that he did not make any money from Country Crossing, BamaJam or Little Nashville.

Baxley told Gilley that he must have made his money going around and getting money and loans form investors and lied to people to get money.
______
2:35pm – Gilley said he doesn't remember which Democrat told him that he could have his pick of any political office because of his popularity. Gilley said that Merritt Carouthers was also at the meeting.

Baxley now playing Gilley conversation with Mississippi casino owner Rick Carter. Gilley tells Carter on call that he has 24 votes for bill.

Gilley also tells Carter that he and Milton came to verbal blows. In the call, Gilley is very detailed about what he told McGregor. "You either going to get on board or the consensus is to lay your a-- on the sideline," Gilley says he told McGregor.

Gilley in another conversation played between Gilley and Chuck Taylor where Gilley wants $2 million loan document sent to casino owner Rick Carter. Gilley said in the call that Carter was going to wire him the money over the next two days.

Baxley asks Gilley if he got the $2 million loan from Carter after telling him something that was untrue about bill having 24 votes.

Gilley said that after SB380 passed, he along with Jarrod Massey and Jennifer Pouncey told people that they were responsible for getting that bill passed.

Another investor, Randy Owen's manager Dale Marsh of Nashville, invested $3 million with Gilley.

Baxley: It’s not unusual for you or Massey to keep secrets from your employees? Gilley: That’s not unusual in any case.

Tony Carter, a booking agent from Nashville, took out a home equity line on his home to make a loan to Gilley.

Baxley is asking questions to Gilley and Gilley keeps going off track with his answers. Gilleys asks Baxley if he can interject and Baxley says, “No you can not. You can interject to your hearts content with the government gets back with you.”
_____
2:03pm – In a transcript, Gilley says that "We're going to pick up Alabama and put it in Mississippi." He says he was referring to a similar gaming project.

Katz: You got to tell me when you want me to get to Haley. You can’t push me to do this in one minute. I’m going to need a 2-week window.

Katz asks Gilley when he wants him to get to Barbour and promises that he will deliver like unf-- ing believable."

Baxley asks if there was anything that had to with Alabama politics in that conversation. Gilley says there wasn't.

Baxley asks who Trish Donfrancisco is.... Gilley says that she is an investor in Ronnie Gilley Properties and Country Crossing and that she invested more than $1.5 million.

Baxley wanted to show Gilley was not caught up in Alabama corruption but was a ring leader by doing a similar deal in Mississippi

In conversation with Donfrancisco, Gilley tells her poll indicates he is the most popular public figure in 2nd Congressional District.

Gilley says he had zero ambition to run for political office.
_____
1:45pm – Bill Baxley, attorney for Tom Coker, is asking Gilley about Milton McGregor's phone numbers. Gilley said that McGregor has had his phone number for as long as he has known.

Gilley is talking about a contract between he and Jarrod Massey where it states that for every bingo hall that opens up or gets legislation passed for, Massey will get up to $500,000 a year per facility.

Baxley presented Alabama law showing a contract like Gilley had with Massey with contingency fees is illegal under state law.

Signing a contingency contract is a felony, Baxley said. “Every legitimate lobbyist in Montgomery knows it’s illegal,” Baxley said in court

Baxley moves on to question Gilley about March 17, 2010, conversation between Gilley and entertainment lawyer Joel Katz.
_____
1:27pm – Judge Thompson told the jury that Gilley became ill and that his illness should play no role in the deliberations.

Thompson is now meeting with the attorneys behind closed doors.
_____
1:20pm – Judge Thompson said that the prejudice outweighs probative value on Houston County bingo amendment. Judge Thompson said that there will be no more questions on the subject.

Prosecutor: Gilley's attorney may have told another attorney how much Gilley's sentence will be reduced for cooperation.

Gilley's attorney David Harrison said to another attorney that he thinks his client will get 4 to 5 years in prison.

Defense attorneys are trying to get the sentence information into evidence.
_____
12:05pm-- Court has recessed for lunch and Ronnie Gilley will be on the stand when the afternoon session resumes.
_____
11:58am – Jim Parkman now up, asking McEachern if he has specific memory of calls containing conversations with Harri Anne Smith.

Parkman is asking McEachern about how he knows all of Smith's calls. He also asks what and when and how Smith's name was mentioned and what she did in the calls.

Agent McEachern said that Smith was not mentioned at all.
____
11:10am – Judge Thompson formally tells jury to ignore testimony about Robert Lambert being employed by Milton McGregor.

Judkins back to talking about call between Geddie and McGregor. they are talking about getting house votes for bingo bill.

Judkins is talking about more calls between Geddie and Milton McGregor.
_____
10:38 -- Gilley and his attorney are in the courtroom. Judge is saying that "attorney-client privilege as to the Mississippi matter was waived."

That means that the recorded phone call made form the Montgomery City Jail can and will be admitted as evidence.
_____
10:23am – Jimmy Judkins, attorney for Bob Geddie suggests "The Steve Clouse-Ben Lewis game plan" was reference to Riley plan to get their votes and not a plan cooked up by Geddie/McGregor.

Judkins trying to prove a bias on FBI Agent McEachern's part--McEachern's saying still a McGregor/Geddie plan. Judkins hammers on it.

Transcript: Voicemail from Randy Brinson of Christian Coalition says Riley is bringing him in to discuss Steve Clouse and Ben Lewis.

McEachern: Several intercepted calls involving Randy Brinson, head of the Christian Coalition of Alabama.
_____
10:15am – Ben Espy asked McEachern what he thought the big picture of the corruption investigation was...the FBI agent said that he said it was all about corruption.

Espy then asked about the filtration of the recorded phone calls. McEachern said that if the call was not important, he never heard it but he heard every call that was important.

Agents says “I don’t know if we’ll ever now the complete picture with respect to the corruption in the Alabama Legislature”

Espy then asks about his interpretation of the context of the recorded calls. Espy asked if it was possible for two people to have two different interpretations. FBI agent says “yes”.

_____
9:20am – Prosecutor Edward Kang is asking FBI Agent John McEachern about calls made between Quinton Ross and Milton McGregor.

FBI Agent John McEachern is now looking at a check from ALAPAC, Alabama Medical PAC (a Coker client), to Sen. Quinton Ross.

McGregor to Ross: Coker represents me, he represents a lot of other people I can get him to call on in your behalf

Kang trying to tie Ross and McGregor to an offer of support in exchange for vote

Transcript: Ross tells McGregor, "We know the window is closing on us fast." Prosecutor notes call was hours before Senate vote.

McGregor, in call to Sen. Quinton Ross: "What I can do, I can certainly call on some folks that I have relationships with to help you."

9:05am – Prosecutor Edward Kang is asking FBI Agent John McEachern about calls made between Quinton Ross and Milton McGregor.

FBI Agent John McEachern is now looking at a check from ALAPAC, Alabama Medical PAC (a Coker client), to Sen. Quinton Ross.

McGregor to Ross: Coker represents me, he represents a lot of other people I can get him to call on in your behalf

Kang trying to tie Ross and McGregor to an offer of support in exchange for vote

Transcript: Ross tells McGregor, "We know the window is closing on us fast." Prosecutor notes call was hours before Senate vote.

McEachern: May 6, 2010, $10k check from the Ala. Med. Assoc. to Ross was signed by someone named Whitaker, McEachern says

Kang referencing Parkman comment yesterday that none of the 12,000 wiretap intercepts had Harri Anne Smith on them.

Kang then points out through questioning the selectivity of defense argument. 9 recorded calls between Sen. Smith and Ronnie Gilley.

Espy begins by trying to dispute Ross statement that "window is closing on us fast" is reference to upcoming bingo vote.

Transcript: McGregor and Ross discuss whether Ross will have an opponent and discuss that qualifying deadline is coming up.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
July 5th-- Day 20--

5:15pm -- Court has recessed for today without Ronnie Gilley taking the stand.

Judge Thompson asked the lawyers how long they were going to take with Agent McEachern and then how much longer with Ronnie Gilley.

Court will regroup at 9am.
_____
3:52pm – The government is playing a taped call between Milton McGregor and Bob Geddie. In the call, McGregor asks Geddie if he is on a safe phone. Geddie: Hope so. If I’m not, I’m in trouble

McGregor says on tape: "I wish I could have a press conference every day, because (Riley) has one every time he combs his hair.”

McGregor and Geddie then take shots at Bob Riley.

Agent McEachern also says that Geddie manages McGregor's PAC money.

McGregor to Geddie, on bingo bill: "This ain't a damn party issue," as many Republicans support it as Democrats
_____
3:10pm-- The government is asking Agent McEachern about certain phone calls between Milton McGregor and Ronnie Gilley and about their phone toll records.

A toll record is something is that is provided from the phone company showing all calls made from that particular phone number.
_____
2:10pm – Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley will be back on the stand Tuesday afternoon after missing two days with an illness.

Gilley arrived at the federal courthouse last Wednesday morning and left and went to the doctor and has not returned until this morning.

FBI Special Agent John McEachern took the stand for the government after Gilley went home ill.

The government is still doing its re-examination of Agent McEachern.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 29th-- Day 17
_____
4:47pm-- The government has been asking the FBI agent about recordings and how things were done and basically a lot of technical stuff.

Nothing has happened that is even mildly interesting in over an hour.
_____
3:58pm – Speaker of the House Seth Hammett, Rep. Mike Hubbard, Ken Guin, Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom, Senator Zeb Little, Col. Chris Murphy were told on April 1st of 2010 that there was an ongoing investigation into the corruption.

The wiretaps lasted for 38 days and in that time there were over 12,000 intercepts. McGregor had over 3,000 intercepts.

The wiretap issue was not made public until the grand jury heard it.
_____
3:45pm – On March 1st of 2010, the FBI went to a federal judge (Truman Hobbs) in Montgomery and got an order saying the the FBI can use the wiretaps.

The initial order lasted for 30 days. The FBI had to go to the judge every 10 days and show him that criminal conduct and other things were going on in the calls. The FBI went to the same judge after the 30 days and the judge issued another order for a 30 day extension.

The lines that were tapped belonged to Milton McGregor, Jarrod Massey and Ronnie Gilley. Gilley and McGregor had more than one line so the FBI tapped those as well.

The FBI said that Gilley was using so many numbers that they could not get authorization for all of his numbers.

McEachern said that is is extremely tough to track someone who has a drop phone because anyone can get them.
_____
2:50pm – The government and McEachern are talking about toll records obtained through a grand jury subpoena. The toll records obatined for this case came from Verizion, At&T, and Bell South.

In the records are the dates and time of calls to and from people as well as number of time that the numbers were called.

McEachern and the government prosecutor, Edward Kang, are going over the exact same thing that was discussed during Barry Mask's testimony.
_____
2:20pm – McEachern said that he met Barry Mask during the investigation. They first met at Mask's office in Wetumpka. Baker was with McEachern at the meeting.

Mask contacted the FBI because of a voicemail that was left on his phone. McEachern said that the voicemail was left by Milton McGregor. Bask and McEachern asked Mask if he would be willing to help the FBI in the investigation.

McEachern says that Mask returned the call to Milton McGregor in his presence. McEachern said that he did not instruct Mask what to say on the call and the call lasted about 35 to 37 minutes.
_____
2:02pm – FBI says that their policy says that the meetings with the people assisting the FBI do not have to be recorded by audio or video. They instead use the FBI Form 302.

It is not a sworn statement but rather a summary of the notes taken down by an agent at the meeting. McEachern said that he has taken down numerous 302 forms in his career.

McEachern said that the agent takes down the information from the interview and what is taken down are the thoughts and the impressions that the agent perceives.

McEachern said that he met Beason on April 15th of 2009. Beason first called Special Agent Keith Baker and wanted to meet with him. Baker then got in touch with McEachern and wanted him to be there at the meeting.

The meeting was in the conference room at the FBI building in Montgomery. The FBI took down a Form 302 during the meeting. Beason agreed to wear recording equipment for the FBI. Beason was provided with the same equipment as Lewis. McEachern said that Beason made some recordings with his own equipment because the equipment that the FBI gave him was in the shop for repairs.

McGregor , Massey, Smith, Monica Cooper, Brad Unruh, and Gilley were recorded by Beason. Beason turned over the calls to Baker.

McEachern said that Beason made several inadvertent recordings and not calls or recordings were ever destroyed.
_____
1:40pm – The government is talking about the FBI agent on the stand and that he is very knowledgeable of the case and can identify the voices on the recorded phone calls.

The argument is about the use of “code words” and if the FBI knows what the people in the call are referring to.

The defense is saying that they do not have to documents relating to the calls. The judge says that he will rule
_____
12:04pm – John McEachern is an agent of the FBI and has been with them for 23 years. He works for the Auburn agency but has been temporarily been located Montgomery office.

McEachern is classified as a special agent and helps lead investigations into criminal acts.

He has worked previously in Los Angeles as a gang crime investigator.

Now back in Alabama, he works and specializes in public corruption. McEachern is the co-case agent in the indictment and helped lead the corruption investigation. He kept up with the day-to-day work, gathered evidence, did interviews, help government as well as other things in the corruption.

He said that the FBI opens a case after a complaint is file. It can be file by phone or in person. The complaint is sent to the supervisor and a decision is made as whether to open a case or not. The FBI will then proceed when the case is opened.

McEachern said that he know Benjamin Lewis. He said that Lewis brought information to the FBI. He said that he received a call on March 9th of 2009 from a Dothan Agent. In the call, the Dothan agent said that information was supplied to him and that they needed to meet.

McEachern met with Lewis on March 12th of 2009 at the Federal Courthouse in Opelika Alabama. In the meeting, McEachern said that Lewis came to the FBI and that the FBI did not go to him. He said that Lewis provided information about a dinner meeting at Garrett's in Montgomery. McEachern said that Gilley hosted the dinner and had some music artists, lobbyists, and state legislators there.

After the meeting, the FBI asked Lewis if he would be willing to assist them and gather additional information related to the dinner. The FBI asked Lewis to record conversations and by doing this, it will substantiate what was said to Lewis.

The FBI uses an eagle (digital recorder) to record the conversations. It can be used on a telephone or can be used in a face-to-face conversation.

Initially, Lewis was provided with a cassette recorder and not a digital one. Lewis made recordings with the player and his first one was in late March of 2009 and he made roughly 18-20 recording through April of 2010.

Lewis recorded Gilley, Smith, Claire Austin and Jarrod Massey. All of the people that Lewis recorded were at the original meeting at Garrett's. McEachern said that he opened up Lewis as a source.

A source is someone who is assisting the FBI while wearing a recording device. McEachern said that he was the point of contact for Lewis. They met in person and also often talked on the phone.
_____
11:30am – Looks like we're about to get FBI Agent John McCarron on the stand. He is the first FBI agent to take the stand for the government.
_____
10:45am – Jim Parkman, attorney for Harri Anne Smith, is questioning Raby about the daily practices and procedures of his office.

Parkman asked him if he knows how to mail system works. Raby says that he is familiar with it and he knows that if something is mailed on one day, it may take a few days to get somewhere.

Raby says that it is not common practice to write a check for money that you know is not in the account.

Parkman focusing on one PAC check written to Senator Smith Jan. 11th of 2010, but Gilley's money to the PAC didn't come until Jan. 12th.

Parkman is showing Raby that the checks written to Smith and the PAC checks do not match up.

Raby said that he would not write the check without being sure that money is in the account and he said that his uncle would not either.

Raby said that he never talked to Smith, and his PAC's never wrote a check to Smith.

Raby said that he had no contact from Smith personally about PAC checks, only Hartsill and Mowery
_____
10:09am – Shur finally gets Raby to say checks received routinely through mail. The sending of the checks through the mail is one of the requirements for mail fraud.

August 2010, Raby had a meeting at a Montgomery Starbucks with Dave Mowery, a political consultant working for Sen. Smith.

Raby now looking at checks his PAC's wrote to other PAC's after August 2010 meeting with Sen. Smith consultant David Mowery.

Raby: total value of checks $200,000. Raby says he wouldn't have written the checks if it weren't for the meeting with Mowery.

Raby said that send money form PAC to PAC is a way to hide where the money actually came from.
_____
9:51am – Raby ran several political action committees after his uncle Steve Raby decided to run for Congress in north Alabama in 2010.

Rick Hartsill is a political consultant from Birmingham area, Raby says McGregor was one of Hartsill's clients at the time

Raby and US attorney Barak Cohen are talking about four $50,000 checks that Gilley wrote to the PAC's for Harri Anne Smith.

Raby testifies that a check for March 24th of 2010, was paid by Ronnie Gilley in the amount of $50,000 to the Progress for Alabama PAC. The second check was also from Ronnie Gilley to the Real Democrat PAC for the same amount and the same date. The third check was also for $50,000 from Ronnie Gilley to the Senate Majority PAC on March 24th. The fourth check from Gilley for $50,000 was to the TVA Citizens PAC.

Raby said that after the checks were deposited, they wrote $200,000 worth of checks to other PAC's.
_____
9:37amThe government has called William Bryant Raby. Raby is a chairman of several PAC's and will testify about four checks that Gilley wrote for Harri Anne Smith.

Raby runs/associated Progress for Alabama PAC, Real Democrats PAC, Tennessee Valley PAC, and another one.
_____
9:30am – Smith attorney William White has said via text message that Gilley will not testify this morning at least. Nothing determined beyond that.

Country Crossing casino owner Ronnie Gilley may be delayed in returning to the witness stand in Alabama's gambling corruption trial.

Prosecutor Louis Franklin announced in court that Gilley went
straight to the bathroom after he arrived at the federal courthouse
in Montgomery on Wednesday morning and he may need to go to a
doctor.

After Franklin's comments, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson
went behind closed doors with attorneys to discuss the situation.
_____
8:56am – The attorneys are in the courtroom for Day 17 of the bingo corruption trial. David Harrison, attorney for Ronnie Gilley, says that his client is ill and should not testify today. Harrison said that he has advised Mr. Gilley to go to the doctor.

We are waiting to see what Judge Thompson will do as it relates to this situation.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 28th-- Day 16

The defense will cross-examine Ronnie Gilley. That starts at the beginning of Day 16.
_____
5:13pm – The afternoon session for day 16 has come to a close.

Bill Baxley for Tom Coker will finish up his cross examination of Gilley on Wednesday morning.

Baxley was asking Gilley about the legality of Country Crossing by showing him the local constitutional amendment. In the act passed by the people of Houston County, it says that everything about his facility is illegal but Gilley says that the Houston County Commission gave him a special permit that made him legal to open his facility.

William White, for Harri Anne Smith is scheduled to speak tomorrow.

Court will begin at 9am.
_____
4:18pm – Bill Baxley, attorney for Tom Coker, is cross-examining Gilley now.

He mentions the meeting at Garret's and Baxley asks Gilley if he told Lewis that if he knew that his campaign was for sale, he could have paid him $500,000.

Gilley said that he knew that the next day or so that Lewis went to the FBI and told them that he tried to bribe Lewis.

Gilley said that he knew the information was on the recorded because it was recorded.

Gilley said that he was at a meeting in an office that he believed to be Tom Coker's office. Gilley said at the meeting there were 15 to 20 people. Gilley agrees. Baxley points out to Gilley that only 3 to 4 people could fit in the office and Gilley said that he must have misunderstood but he thought he was in Coker's office.

Baxley asked Gilley if using country music stars was a sure-fire way to win and Gilley said that he thought so. Baxley told him that Lorrie Morgan's father, Hank Williams Jr., and other have campaigned in Alabama for people. Hank Jr. even campaigned for Baxley and Baxley said that he still lost the election so that country music stars were not a guarantee.

_____
3:45pm – Susan James was showing Gilley his financial records and at one point he had a good deal of money in the bank.

James: You had $177,000 in the bank when Walker was asking to be paid? Gilley: And we probably had $400K in checks on the street. Gilley assured James that he was not sitting on any money.

James then brought up buying 100 trucks from Senator Prueitt's dealership. The trucks were F-150's and brand new would cost roughly $30,000. Gilley said that they would but $1 million dollars worth but they never did.
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3:25pm – Susan James is playing a conversation between Gilley and his CFO. They are talking about paying George Jones and paying him $50,000 for work that he was doing as the national spokesperson for Ronnie Gilley Properties. Gilley said that he never borrowed any money from Jones.

Jay Walker was not a Dothan, Houston County, or Coffee County resident.

Wright family investors put money into Country Crossing/Gilley, but they also had a political consulting agreement with Gilley.

During the time with Country Crossing, Jay Walker was never on the payroll. Gilley never gave him to proper IRS tax paperwork and Walker never filled out anything for Gilley relating to work.

Walker left and quit working with Gilley soon after BamaJam in 2010.
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2:40pm – James asked Gilley if he would be on the stand for more cases, he replied with possibly.

That makes one think that his sentence will be postponed and he will work with the government and more indictments may be forthcoming.

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2:14pm – If convicted on all of the counts, James said that Gilley could face upwards of 400 years in prison and Gilley responded, “That would be tough.”

Gilley said that through his cooperation he could get a lesser sentence. Gilley said that there are a few forms that the government can file on his behalf to get him lesser time. Judge Thompson is the one who makes the final decision. Gilley said that he will continue to cooperate with the government even when the trial is over. Gilley said that he does not think that he will be sentenced in November.

Gilley said that he made phone calls while in jail to friends, families, and associates. Gilley said that he knew that the calls were being recorded and he said it would not be surprised if they made a disc of the calls made while in jail.
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1:53pm – Gilley said he believed his release had nothing to do with his plea or his cooperation with the US.

Gilley said the conditions in the Montgomery City Jail were not very comforting and were definitely not the conditions that he had been used to.

Gilley said that US Attorney Louis Franklin was not his best friend and tried to keep him in jail and Franklin did a good job.

James asked Gilley a question about dates that he met with the FBI and Gilley told James that he would be scared to disagree with her.

Gilley said that he did get a 24 hour release to go see his son who was having an operation in Birmingham. Gilley went to the hospital and then spent the night at his house in Enterprise and returned to the jail by 8am the next morning.

Gilley said that he stopped at his office in Enterprise but he said that he got permission from his probation officer. To make any stop outside of what he was allowed to had to get prior approval. His new office is at the BamaJam grounds. Gilley said he met people who told him about him being a conman in court at his office, where he is allowed to go.

Gilley said that he took measures to prevent eavesdropping at his office. He had camera installed and took several other avenues to prevent it.
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1:30pm – Susan James, attorney for Jay Walker, asks Gilley why he is in the courtroom. Gilley told the FBI that they were there because of greed. James asked Gilley if he was there because he had $160 million in debt...Gilley said, “no mam”.

Gilley said that he was tired of living a lie and that's why he plead guilty. Gilley said that he invited the government to come arrest him and they did and he said that he regrets saying that.

James asks Gilley, Do you remember saying something to Jay Walker on day of arrest to the effect of "Why are you here?" Objection from the government, James moves on.

Gilley says that he never directed Massey or Jennifer Pouncey that he would pay them $1 million a year for their silence.

During the initial bond hearing, the judge told Gilley and everyone else that they were not to speak to any of the defendants. Gilley said he spoke to Massey only twice. Gilley said that he spoke to other defendants more than he did Massey after the indictment.

Gilley said that he and Massey told each other that if they got into trouble during the whole process, they would take care of each others families.
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11:55am – The court has recessed for lunch.

McGregor's legal team has finished their cross examination and Susan James, attorney for Country Crossing Spokesperson Jay Walker, will be first after the lunch hour.
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11:50am – McGregor's attorneys are asking Gilley about how much construction on the Bingo Pavilion costs. Gilley said that dealing with McGregor made his cost double on the building. McGowan showed Gilley the initial contract for the construction and it was $20 million dollars.

Gilley said that he did not provide the government with a document showing that McGregor made it go up. Gilley said he did have the form at home though.

Gilley said that Milton McGregor's name was not brought up at the meeting in Prattville with Scott Beason. Gilley said that McGregor did not want to go and left it up to Gilley to go but Gilley said that his name was never brought up.

Gilley said Benjamin Lewis would be wrong if he said Gilley tried to bribe him at Garrett’s and asked to walk on the vote

McGowan: Lewis asked you if he had to vote yes on the bill, will you replenish my campaign funds ($250,000)? Gilley: Yes

Gilley said Benjamin Lewis would be wrong if he said Gilley tried to bribe him at Garrett’s and asked to walk on the vote

Gilley said that his office was foreclosed on while he was in jail. He said that inside his office was a “war room” where they met and kept up with all of the things that were going on as it relates to the bingo legislation.

When the office got foreclosed on, the war room got cleaned out. Gilley said that the bank owns the building where his office used to be located.

Gilley told the FBI that the “war room” was at his house. Gilley said to the court that the “war room' was at his office.
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11:25am – Rick Carter was loaning money to Gilley in March 2010, help cover some other debt. Del Morris, manager for Randy Owen, also helped out with some money.

Senator Roger Bedford told Gilley that he had 21 votes and was ready to pass the bill. In a recorded call with Carter, Gilley said that they had 24 committed votes.

Gilley said that he was the founder of BamaJam. Gilley said that the concert was never profitable. In may of 2009 Gilley pledged to McGregor $500,000 in BamaJam receipts.

Gilley and McGowan are reading through a recorded conversation where Gilley talks about a disagreement with Milton McGregor. Gilley said in the call that he told McGregor that if he did not get on board that he would be left on the sidelines.

McGowan asked Gilley, “You were a part of the Etowah Alliance, which would have created problems with McGregor's monopoly on bingo?” Gilley said yes.

Gilley said that he supported some groups that were against Milton McGregor.
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10:34am – Miami Group- $31 million, Dr. Bob Wright and Russel Wright of Columbus Ga.- $15 million, Lord Abbot- $21 million, Gaming Manufacturers- $17.6 million, Keith Givens- $19 million (owner financed property), Floyd Mayweather- $4 million, along with others were invested in Country Crossing. Gilley said that he carried roughly $160 million in debt in 2010.

The court recessed for the morning break.
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10:21am – Gilley said that he initially used drop-phones or throw phones because he thought Riley was listening, later he thought it was the government.

Riley said he thought Riley was listening specifically to him. Gilley even told McGregor to get a drop phone so that nobody would listen to him.

Gilley said that he had several drop-phones and he said that he may have had around 20. He said that McGregor's phone number never changed during the whole process. Gilley never registered the drop-phones in his name. He had it registered in someone else's name other than his.

Gilley said that he had his life savings tied up in Country Crossing. Gilley said that he had roughly $46 million dollars of his money in the project. Gilley said that his life was on the line but was unsure if McGregor's financial well-being hung in the balance for SB380.

Gilley said that once they had 21 votes on the bill, they wanted it to go to the floor for a vote. Once word got out that they had 21 votes, Gilley was worried that Gov. Riley would talk some senators out of their bill. Gilley said that is one big reason that he was using other phones.

Gilley said that his main year was real estate and he quit some projects in 2007 after the real estate market crash

Gilley said he then turned his attention to Country Crossing.

Gilley said that the bingo corruption investigation could ruin him financially.
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10:03am – Gilley said that to get a reduced sentence, he has to provide substantial help to the government.

“It was a great day” Gilley said of when he got out of jail. He said that he does not want to go back to jail.

Gilley said that if he is not truthful, he understands that he will not get any help as far as a reduced sentence. Gilley said that his hopes are that his truthful testimony will help his get a lesser sentence.

Gilley said that he is working on a project in Coffee County which was going to be “Little Nashville” but it is now going to be called “Key Stone”. Gilley said that he is working on things to help feed and support his family. He got permission from his probation officer and has been working on the project.

Gilley said that he has met with the government at least a dozen times. The first two meetings took place at his home in Enterprise. Agent Keith Baker of the FBI, Agent John Machern and Louis Franklin were at the first two meetings. The rest of the meetings were in Montgomery at the FBI office with the same people.

Gilley said that he listened to a lot of tapes even ones that were not played in the courtroom. Gilley said that he took tapes home with him to Enterprise. Gilley said that he took home one disc and the disc contained roughly 50-75 recorded calls.

Gilley said that he did not like Bob Riley. He said that he felt Riley was abusing his power as that governor.
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9:45am – Gilley said that when he got to Montgomery and got engulfed in the flames of politics.

Gilley says he tried being honest in Montgomery, but that didn't work. So, "I jumped right into the fire, I take full responsibility 4 that"

Gilley said he tried to pull legislators to the table honestly on his first year in Montgomery, get them to meet people, he got nowhere.

When asked if Gilley would do anything to reduce his sentence, he said that he would not do anything but he would only tell the truth.

Gilley said that his sentence is not up to him, he will do what he said he would do and that is to tell the truth and cooperate with the government.
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9:31am – Walter McGowan, attorney for Milton McGregor, is cross-examining Ronnie Gilley and his first question is asking Gilley how far he would go to get the bill passed. Gilley said that he voluntarily violated the law and he did it a number of times but there was a limit on how far he would go.

McGowan played a taped conversation between Gilley and his lobbyist Jarrod Massey. In the call, the two were talking about their partner Jennifer Pouncey. In the call, Gilley told Massey to tell Pouncey to “whip her titties and let Senator Preuitt suck one of them and video tape it.” Gilley said that he was sorry and he was joking during the conversation but he was not serious. The comment was for a vote

Gilley said that he has plead guilty on 10 or 11 counts. He also said that his lobbyists plead guilty for working with him. Gilley said that on his initial arraignment he entered a plea of “not guilty”. Gilley said that he plead guilty long before he heard all of the tapes that have been played in court.

McGowan played a recording of Gilley where he said that he has done nothing wrong and is innocent until the cows come home. Gilley added in the recording that he never offered a quid pro quo to anyone.

Gilley said that in April of 2010 he offered Massey an equity interest in Country Crossing if he would have lied on his behalf. Gilley said that the offer was for him to “hold the line” and not cooperate with the government. Gilley also said that he told Massey that he would pay his legal bills. He said that he did this to help him stay out of jail.

Gilley said that his bond was revoked because he tried to hurt the integrity of the trial and that he posed a danger to the community. Gilley said that once he went to jail, he did everything he could to get out. Gilley said that the jail was unsanitary and he was in a small cell with three other inmates.

Gilley said that he was miserable and had never been in a place like that in his life. Gilley said that after he plead guilty, he got out of jail. On April 13th, the FBI and government officials came to the Montgomery City Jail and he told them what he know of the information related to the case. Gilley said that he met with the FBI several times before he was released from jail.
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9:04am – The court reporter who supposedly fell asleep yesterday actually passed out due to a low blood sugar. Judge Thompson said that this is a hard trial to fall asleep in and all of the attorneys laughed. He added that with Gilley's colorful language, it would be very hard to fall asleep.
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8:20am – The defense attorneys will get their first crack at Ronnie Gilley Tuesday morning. The legal team for Milton McGregor will be up first.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 27th-- Day 15

5:15pm – The government has finished its initial examination of Ronnie Gilley. Defense lawyers will get first crack at 8:30am. The attorneys for Milton McGregor will begin.
______________________________________________________
The government is still examining their ninth witness in Ronnie Gilley and began it at the 4pm mark on Day 13.
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5:01pm – Now listening to a call between Ronnie Gilley and Jarrod Massey. They're looking for votes from Steve French, Preuitt.

Massey said that Beason is not returning phone calls and tells Gilley that he needs to call Sen. Smith and make another run at him.

Massey says for Gilley to tell Smith to tell Beason "Either he can start acting like a man, or accept the consequences.”

Massey said that even if you're paying for them (votes), counting votes in the legislature is a lot like herding cats. Cats with egos.
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4:41pm – Jarrod Massey's lobby firm sent Ronnie Gilley Properties four invoices worth $270,000 each. Gilley said that he was unsure of exactly how much he has paid on those invoices but it is several hundred thousand dollars.
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4:22pm – The judge will allow the recorded conversation of Massey telling Gilley about a 'shakedown' from Sen. Means

Pouncey expected to testify Senator Means asked for $100,000. Judge Thompson says that he will allow the use of the word “shakedown”.

In a recorded phone call, Massey tells Gilley that a shakedown is happening with Senator Means and he is asking for $100,000 for his vote. Gilley cuts him off and says that he will call him right back on another phone that supposedly was not being listened to by the FBI.

In the call, Gilley says that he is 100% on board with the money. Gilley says that he will support someone full board who supports democracy. Gilley said, “Whatever we have to do, do it.”

Gilley said that he supported candidates but he was dead broke. Gilley said that when his doors closed, he was $19 million short on paying his bills.

During JonesJam in March of 2009, on one night, McGregor's Victoryland took in $21 million dollars.

Country Crossing took in $18 million dollars on the grand opening weekend.
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3:47pm – Gilley said that if we have to buy a truck for a yes vote, then we are going to buy a truck for a yes vote.

Gilley says Walker was going to help Preuitt's campaign pro bono...for free

Gilley said on Pouncey's recommendation, I did not send Walker to 'Dega. I talked with personally with Preuitt on phone.
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3:22pm – A recorded call between Gilley and Jay Walker was played in the courtroom.

This was the first time Jay Walker was really introduced into the trial. This was the first recorded call involving Walker.

Gilley told Walker to go meet with Senator Preuitt and tell him what you need to. Gilley told him to buy a fleet of cars if you need to. Gilley could not attend because he was going to be in Mississippi meeting with the gaming commission.

Walker told Gilley that he was making $10,000 a month form his company in Georgia and Gilley told him that he would pay him too and not to worry about money.

Gilley to Walker on Preuitt: "It might pay us for you to jet over there and see him at his dealership on behalf of Country Crossing."

Gilley said that he knows Preuitt is a huge Jamey Johnson fan, "Jamey invited him to hang out with him at BamaJam, all that bullcrap.” Gilley said that Massey told him that he was a fan.

Gilley said that he was unsure if Walker lived in Alabama or Georgia but he did know that he lived right on the line.
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3:07pm – The government is playing a tape between Milton McGregor and Ronnie Gilley talking about the democracy tour that was being offered to legislators.

McGregor says Riley was pressuring Sen. Jim Preuitt by threatening to withhold School for Deaf and Blind money.

“I dropped the same thing I dropped on him that I dropped on Preuitt,” Gilley said to McGregor of Senator Mitchell.

Gilley says he was broke but would use five million dollar loan from McGregor to bring in A-list artist. Cost for doing that was $500,000
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2:15pm-- The court is in a brief recess. The court reporter fell asleep at the wheel and was sent home.
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1:57pm – In a recorded phone conversation between Gilley and Jarrod Massey, the two talked about giving Larry Coker the same deal that was given to Jim Prueitt.

Massey said in the call that he trust Coker “like hell”.

Gilley: I called Coker and told him that in the event that Preuitt had a challenger, we would do a "Democracy Tour" for him.

In another call, Gilley mentions his support for Wendell Mitchell and he would support him with music stars and upwards of $500,000.

Mitchell was the 21st vote to pass the SB380 bill.

Gilley said, "We will make a statement in three elections. We are trying to make Alabama a tourist destination."

Gilley to Perkins: Tell Mitchell if he comes to vote it will be the best day of work he's ever done in his life.
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1:27pm – The court is back in session.

The government is playing a call between Gilley and McGregor. In the call, the two men are talking about which governor candidate they are going to support.

Ron Sparks called and asked Gilley to send a couple of country music stars to a fundraiser that he is hosting. McGregor says that he thinks that Sparks will win the democratic nomination.

Gilley asks McGregor who the Indians will support and he then asks what would he (McGregor) think about him (Gilley) if he knocked out an Indian one day at the state house. McGregor said that would not be a good thing at the particular moment.

John Teague is a lobbyist for Native Americans. Gilley tells McGregor, "They are sorry.” McGregor replies, "People are realizing how selfish and greedy they are."

McGregor tells Gilley to go ahead and support Sparks. Gilley says that he is broke and has no cash but he will make some calls and get support from people in the music industry.

Gilley said that he seeked advice from Milton McGregor because he was in control and did not want to be responsible for messing things up.

Gilley said in March that there was no cash flow from him or for him.
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12:05pm – The court recessed until 1pm.
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12:00pm – Gilley tried to talk to Johnston about SB379 (which was way more important to Country Crossing, which was closed, than to McGregor).

Gilley couldn't get in touch with Johnston so he called McGregor and asked him to talk to Johnston about SB379 .

Gilley told McGregor said that they were going to beat the Indians this time.

A call where McGregor called Gilley about trying to get Charles Bishop to vote with them. Randy Owens (lead singer of Alabama) even reached out to Bishop because their wives were really good friends.

Bishop said that he was going to vote “yes” on the bill but told everyone else that he was opposed to the legislation.

Gilley thought all along that he had a commitment from Bishop.

Gilley said that under normal circumstances, he would beat Beason's a** but he could not afford to go to jail. McGregor said that he would bail him out. And they laughed.
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11:40am – Gilley said that he has been called a con-artist during the course of the trial. The court excused the jury to find out how he knew the accusations.

Gilley said that some personal friends told him that people from the court referenced his as a con-man and a con-artist and he said that he was being conned.

He said McGregor was conning him the entire time.

Defense council questioned him on how he knew those words were said.

Gilley said he heard from friends and did not read them on the internet or watch them on TV.
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11:30am – In a call between McGregor and Gilley, McGregor says not to mention names on this call but he had two guys working on a senator (Scott Beason).

McGregor also said that he felt very very confident that the bill would pass the house if it made it out of the senate.

Gilley asked McGregor several times about Senate Bill #379. That was the general bill that was going to accompany SB380 allowing Country Crossing to re-open.

Gilley says McGregor didn't want anyone to hear what they are talking about because they were talking about buying votes.
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11:20am – Gilley said that knew Jim Preuitt had been in touch with Milton McGregor's lobbyist Tom Coker. He heard from Coker, through McGregor, that he (Gilley) had swayed Preuitt.

Gilley actually calls Tom Coker about Gilley's offer of a fundraiser (or the Democracy Tour) for Preuitt.

Gilley: "I was in Miss. the day that Jennifer Pouncey wanted me to go meet face-to-face with Senator Preuitt." Jennifer Pouncey was a lobbyist that working with Massey.

Gilley said Jay Walker told him Preuitt was old school wanted to look him in the eye.

Gilley sent Jay Walker to meet him instead.

Gilley: Preuitt wanted Gilley to pull strings to keep someone from running against him. Gilley then reached out to McGregor. Preuitt also wanted them to talk to Senator Lowell Barron and Dr. Hubbard.

In a phone conversation between Smith and Gilley, she asked him if he would pay for a poll to be run. The poll was going to be paid by Gilley for someones else's campaign. Gilley said he was unsure of who it was.
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10:53am – In another recorded phone conversation, Smith calls Gilley and he asked her if she had any other information about the general bill (bill to allow Country Crossing to open).

“We didn’t have the same protection everyone else has. You’re going to have to lead the charge” Gilley said to Smith.

In the call, Harri Anne passes the phone to Senator Jim Preuitt. Gilley thanks Preuitt for supporting democracy and thanks him for his support of the bill. Gilley said that Preuitt will get a lot of support from the gambling interests.
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10:35am – Senate Bill #379 would allow Country Crossing to open back up. Gilley said that it "left us naked. Exposed to the task force. Victoryland was open."

The bill would have let the gambling facilities stay open until the constitutional amendment was voted on in November.

Gilley said that McGregor was not enthusiastic regarding SB379. Gilley: "It was easy for Mr. McGregor not to support it, because he was open and we were not."

A Macon County judge signed a temp. restraining order allowing McGregor to open without fear of a raid from the Gov's Task Force on Illegal Gaming.

Gilley said that the restraining order was statewide at 1st (would've allowed Country Crossing to reopen), I told McGregor I was reopening, and then all of a sudden the order changed.

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10:00am – McGregor asks Gilley to take lead on another bingo bill letting casinos stay open until vote. Gilley: "I'm on it like white on rice."

Gilley said that it would have been devastating for Clouse if he had a campaign opponent that was pro-Country Crossing because said that the place was popular in his district.

Gilley said that Mark Culver is the chairman of the Houston County Commission. Nothing else was mentioned about Culver.
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9:54am – McGregor: “Hey Big Boy.” Gilley: “Congratulations Mr. Mac.” McGregor: “Call me back on your good phone” Gilley did not have it.

McGregor asked Gilley how he thought about Steve Clouse and Benjamin Lewis. McGregor asked if they needed to do anything special to get them to vote “yes”.

Gilley said that he was looking for some leverage against Clouse because he did not have an opponent in the upcoming race.

Gilley said that Mark Culver was working Steve Clouse to get a “yes” vote. McGregor said that Mark Culver was a great person to pressure him.

McGregor asked Gilley to get Smith to sponsor a bill to help get them open. McGregor said that Roger Bedford would help sponsor the bill with Smith.
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9:45am – Gilley said that he had a congratulatory phone conversation with Harri Anne Smith on March 30th shortly after the bill passed.

In the call, Gilley said congrats to Smith. She said, “Congrats to ya'll.” He then asked her to tell the republicans in the house that they need to pass it to. Gilley said that he appreciated Smith's help and she was one who helped the bill through the senate.

Gilley asked if the local people in the legislature supported it and she said she was unsure of everyone's stance on the bill.

Gilley said that they were short on votes in the house and the Indians were gunning real hard to kill the bill. Gilley said that he and Jimmy Holley had a hate towards each other but he said that he would support Holley's campaign if he voted in favor of the bill.

The vote count in house was short because a lobbyist did vote count. Jarrod Massey gave me the vote count to Gilley.

Gilley said that if Steve Clouse was a no vote, he wanted to be sure that he ran an opponent against him in his race. Gilley along with McGregor would financially support the other candidate.

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9:30am – Gilley said that any time he would be in the statehouse, the governor’s lobbyists would follow up right behind him and tell the legislators to vote no on things.

Gilley said that Jay Walker was working for Express Holdings out of Georgia but was the spokesperson for Gilley and Country Crossing.

Gilley was to pay $160,000 a month to the company that hired Walker. Gilley said that he ultimately paid $300,000 to Express Holdings.

Gilley was supposed to pay Walker $10,000 per month. He made only 1 full payment and 1 partial payment.

Glley said that he wanted Jay Walker involved in Smith's campaign due to his political experience in Georgia. Gilley added that Smith never paid Walker for anything.

Gilley said that "Jimmy (Holley) got back on our side of the fence." He was a yes vote. McGregor told him he was a yes vote back off on attacks. Gilley said he backed off right away.

Now prosecutor Franklin asking questions about March 30, 2010--the day of Bingo vote--and a wiretapped call between Smith/Gilley. The bill passed out of the Senate on that day,
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9:20am – Smith: How are we with (Jim) Preuitt? Gilley: We're OK. Gilley said he had commitment from Preuitt via Jarrod Massey on March 29th.

Gilley called, gave Preuitt "my willingness to support him in the upcoming election." He said he'd do for him what he did for Smith.

Gilley said that he called Jim Preuitt from Mississippi and said he would support Preuitt in exchange for his vote. The call was made from pre-paid (drop) phone.

Gilley said that the country music stars cost about $60,000 per appearance and he paid for that.
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9:10am – Gilley is talking about a call between he and Senator Smith on March 24th of 2010. Gilley had just gotten back form a trip to Mississippi.

Louis Franklin is asking Gilley about a call on March 29th when he and Smith were talking about a fundraiser that he was going to throw for her and Jimmy Holley.

Gilley said the conversation was regarding the idea of a fundraiser for Smith and Sen. Jimmy Holley, proceeds would split 50/50. This was the day before the Senate vote on SB380.

In the call, Smith called Gilley, and asked her if he could host a fundraiser. Smith agreed. Gilley said that he would make a profound statement about who he supports and why he supports them. Smith said that she was telling the republicans that it was over and that they didn't have the votes.

Also, Smith said that she went to a meeting at the Dothan Rotary Club and sat at the table with John Watson and John Downs and neither one of them spoke to her because of he stance on the issue.

Gilley said that he wanted to raise more money at this fundraiser than he did in the previous one.
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8:45am – Attorneys have entered the courtroom for day 15 of the bingo corruption trial.

Country Crossing developer, Ronnie Gilley, will be back on the stand this morning for his third day of testimony before the court.

On Friday Gilley talked about campaign contributions to Senator Harri Anne Smith and some dealings with Milton McGregor. So far, he has not mentioned anything about any of the other defendants.

Joe Espy, attorney for McGregor, said that he thinks Gilley will be done with the initial examination with the government at some point this afternoon then the cross-examination will begin.

Charlie Smith, husband of Senator Smith, said that his wife is doing good and is ready for the truth to come out instead of the lies that are currently coming form the witness stand.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 24th-- Day 14

The government is examining their ninth witness in Ronnie Gilley and began it at the 4pm mark on Day 13.
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5:55pm The day ended with Gilley on the stand and he will be there again on Monday morning.

The government said that they will be done with Gilley sometime on Monday afternoon.
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4:57pm – One of the PAC's that the checks was going through was a democrat PAC. Smith said that it was 'ok' because they were going to take the money and move it form there.
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4:50pm – Smith told Gilley in another phone call that the republicans called a press conference to say that they were against the bill. Scott Beason was one of the senators at the press conference and they wrote Scott Beason off of the list.

Gilley told Smith that he'll get those checks busted up the way they need to be and to lean on others senators the best she can.
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4:45pm – Gilley now discussing a trip he made to Biloxi, MS on March 22, 2010, to try to work out a deal with Mississippi Gaming Commission.

Gilley tells Smith that if anyone is on the fence and needs pushing, let him know and he will do what he could.

Gilley said that at the December fundraiser, he met with Smith and he campaign manager backstage at the concert and he said that the Smith campaign people were not fond of Gilley giving them all of the money from himself. Hartsill said that they wanted to disguise where all the money that Gilley was giving, they wanted to make it look like it was coming from multiple places. PAC to PAC transfers, Gilley called it swapping checks.

In phone call, Gilley asked Harri Anne Smith to lean on Scott Beason some more for his gambling vote.
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4:30pm – Government is getting ready to play conversation between Gilley and Rick Hartsill. William White objects. Jury excused while they discuss the issue.

The issue was taken up behind closed doors. The jury and attorneys are back in the courtroom.

Gilley in the call says that he is sending money to Harri Anne Smith at the end of the week. Hartsill asked Gilley where and who and which organizations the money was coming from. Hartsill said that he would email Gilley some PACs and other things used to send the money.

Gilley said that he did receive an email that week and that he complied with the instructions that were in that email.
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3:35pm – Gilley says that Smith was pushing legislation for him in exchange for campaign contributions.

Gilley said that paying the money Senator Smith was a small investment in the case that they opened back up for business.
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3:33pm – Gilley says combined that him and his supporters contributed about $600K to Smith's State Senate Campaign.

In another call, Smith called Gilley and said that they were going to start TV commercials this next week and were going to hit it hard along with some radio spots.

Smith said that she has not qualified and expects the republicans to kick her out of the party but she is going to run the TV spots anyways.

Smith asked if Rick Hartselle had contacted him about how to get the money for Smith's campaign. She also asked him to tell her if there was anything that she needed to do.
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3:24pm – Gilley says that Senator Smith said in a call one night (March 11, 2010) that she wanted $400,000.

In the call, Harri Anne said that she needed another $400,000 to help with the campaign. She said that she needed it by the end of the next week. She did not specifically ask Gilley for the entire amount. Gilley said that he could give her $200,000 this week and the rest the next week. She told him to put it in the Tennessee Valley PAC. Gilley said that this was after he had already given her $217,000 in in-kind contributions.

Gilley said that they money was coming from other investors. Rick Hartselle was the campaign manager for Smith. Hartselle also was working with Milton McGregor.

Gilley said he was giving her this amount of money to get her elected because he told her that he would. In return, she was voting yes on bingo legislation as well as trying to gain other senators votes.
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3:13pm – Gilley says he was upset with Beason and wasn't going to give him the same deal as before.

Gilley said that he wasn't going to talk with Beason until McGregor called him back about it. Gilley said, “You are not going to hear me disagree with anything Mr. McGregor wanted me to do.”

In another recorded call, McGregor tells Gilley to hold off on talking to Scott Beason. McGregor says that they should not need them so just wait on reaching out to him. McGregor said that Beason would come back to them after he realized what he threw away.

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3:00pm – In a recorded phone call, McGregor asks Gilley if he needed to call him on his other phone and Gilley said that he did not have it with him at the moment. McGregor says that he doesn't care if anyone is listening in on his call. He and Gilley laugh.

In the call, McGregor tells Gilley to reach back out to Beason and try to get his support. Gilley said that he would go back to him but this time he would be more firm with him. Gilley said that the offer would not be as good this time but they would do whatever they needed to do to get the legislation passed.

McGregor and Gilley both say that Troy King will change the issue the next week. They both agree that King is a wild card.

The call ended with Gilley saying that he would reach back out to Beason and McGregor says that it would be a good idea.

Gilley said that they were talking on drop phones so that the FBI could not listen in.
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2:53pm – Another tape between Massey and Gilley is being played. Massey says a rumor in growing that Roger Bedford and Senator Hank Sanders are cutting a bunch of deals. Massey says that Senator Jim Preuitt still a problem and Gilley thinks that he will come around. Massey later said that Preuitt will vote “yes” if he is the 21st vote on the bill.
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2:44pm – Gilley had thought he had secured Beason's vote. He learns March 24, 2010 that he did not have Beason's vote. He was very upset and thought that Beason had backed out of the agreement.

Franklin asked Gilley if he remembered the conversation and Gilley said that he unfortunately does.

The government is playing a tape between Massey and Gilley. In the call, Gilley tells Massey, that Beason is not with them. Gilley learned the news from Milton McGregor who learned the news from Senator Roger Bedford. In the call, Gilley was irate saying that his money was good and he just spent his last dollar trying to get Beason's vote. He said he would do whatever to get Beason “un-elected” in the next election.
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2:18pm – Gilley said in a taped conversation with Beason that his support for Harri Anne Smith is 'unconditional'. He tells Beason that he has never asked her for a things and she is a great senator. Gilley says on the witness stand that he lied about Smith.

Beason and Massey had a later meeting where Beason asked Massey that his support would cost one million dollars a year. When Massey told Gilley that Beason wanted a million a year, Gilley told McGregor that he was broke and could not afford that. McGregor said that he would help with that. McGregor told Gilley that if this bill failed, they were “toast” and said that their facilities would close down.

Gilley and Massey thought that they had a deal with Beason but when the bill came up for a vote, Beason voted “no” on SB-380

Gilley said that with Beason's support, the funding for his would be almost unlimited. Gilley said that Beason would have been the 21st vote required to pass the legislation.
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1:53pm – Gilley said that with Beason's support, the funding for his would be almost unlimited. Gilley said that Beason would have been the 21st vote required to pass the legislation.

McGregor said that they need to put the bill in front of the people. McGregor said that if the bill was to fail, the only people that would be left standing are the Indians. McGregor said that he needs the bill to pass so that they can stay open because he has a several million dollar note that he has to pay off, with interest.

McGregor told Beason that he has never cast a vote for anything that he has supported. Beason agreed then McGregor told Beason that he needed it and the people of Alabama also needed it.

McGregor said that he had a bunch of good strong friends that could support Beason.
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1:30pm – Gilley said that they money used to pay for the fundraiser was from the $5 million dollar loan from Milton McGregor.

Gilley said that he, McGregor, and Massey all met with Scott Beason one afternoon in hopes to gain his support for the bingo legislation. The meeting was arranged by Massey. Beason said that he wanted McGregor there and Gilley called and asked McGregor to attend.

Gilley said that Smith called him and asked if she could call McGregor to reaffirm the commitment to Beason and the $500k. Smith and McGregor both confirmed to Gilley that the call took place.
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1:20pm – Gilley said that the plea deal does not guarantee him anything for his cooperation. He has to tell the truth and hopes that the court takes it easy on him. He plead guilty to bribery, money laundering, and wire fraud. In the plea agreement also says that he will not be charged with anything else regarding this indictment. The agreement says that Gilley will face 20+ years in prison without the possibility for parole.

In regards to Gilley and McGregor going after Scott Beason, McGregor said go after him hard because 20 votes is like 2 votes because we need 21 to pass the bill.

Gilley said that in November and December, he held a fundraiser for Harri Anne Smith called 10-for-10. It was to show her the common man and how they liked her. A country music singer sang at the fundraiser and all proceeds went directly to her campaign. Louis Franklin, for the government, showed Gilley a copy of the invitation and he said that was what he approved.

Gilley said that he was unsure of how much money was raised for the campaign. John Anderson and Lorrie Morgan performed at the event. The event was located at the BamaJam site in enterprise. Gilley said that cost was $217,000 and was listed as in-kind contribution to Smith's campaign.
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11:43am – Gilley said that he turned to Milton McGregor for guidance on how to deal with politicians.

Gilley and Lewis had another meeting in his office in April of 2009. Gilley said the meeting took place in his office and he offered Benjamin Lewis a bribe. Gilley said the bribe was a yes vote on a bill in exchange for money. Gilley said after he offered the bribe, he talked to Milton McGregor because they were keeping up with who was going to vote yes.

Franklin then asked Gilley if he remembered the day that he was arrested. Gilley said that he did. Gilley said that he claimed that he was not guilty and he told everyone that. He said that he changed his plea to guilty because he was actually guilty of what he was charged with. He said that his plea says that with his cooperation he could get a lesser sentence. Gilley said that early in 2010 that he bribed Jarred Massey to “stay the line” and not to cooperate with the government. Because of the dealings with Massey, Gilley was put in jail because he violated the terms of his bond. Judge Thompson granted his release from jail because he did plead guilty and was no longer a risk.

Gilley said that in early 2010 he talked to McGregor hundreds of times. The talks were face-to-face or by phone. He said that the number of times, was to large to remember or even count.

Gilley said that in early in 2010 he also started talking to Scott Beason at the advice of Senator Smith. Gilley said that Smith called him asking if he was in Montgomery. Gilley said that he called her back on his “drop” phone and Smith told him that Beason was back in play and was curious if the $500k offer was still on the table.

Gilley said that he sat at Zaxby's on Taylor Road in Montgomery waiting on Beason to call him because he wanted to meet outside of town so that they would not be seen together.
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11:43am – Gilley had contract with Massey through an enhanced marketing agreement. The agreement was worth $2.7 million dollars.

Gilley said that he got into a verbal altercation with Benjamin Lewis. Gilley said that he was making a presentation and Lewis was expressing his dis-pleasures of the project. Lewis told Gilley that he could not support the legislation. Lewis said that his supporters would not like him supporting the gambling legislation and would not support him anymore.

Gilley told Lewis that if he would have known that his vote was for sale, they could have doubled what he made during his campaign.

Gilley said that in the restaurant and Senator Smith approached him. Smith asked Gilley if he and Milton McGregor were willing to contribute $500k to Scott Beason's campaign for a “yes” vote on bingo.

Lewis then asked Gilley if they could speak in private. Then Lewis asked Gilley if he could “walk” on the vote. Gilley said that if the votes are there, he could “walk” but if the votes are not there, the “line is in the sand”. Lewis responded they will do what each person needed to do.

Gilley told McGregor about his conversation with Benjamin Lewis. Gilley told him everything that happened in the meeting with the group and that he thinks that they could get Beason but not Lewis. Gilley said that he was going to attack Lewis and his campaign but McGregor told him to calm down about Lewis because the bill was still in the senate. Gilley said that McGregor was happy about Beason's possibility of a yes vote. Beason has normally voted no on most gaming legislation.

Gilley said that the gaming interests normally did not have support for the republican party and that is why they were happy for Beason.
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11:20am – Gilley said that legislation needed to be passed to help the gambling interests out and Gilley did anything that he needed to do to get the bills passed. Gilley said he raised funds, held rallies, made campaign contributions, and even paid for dinners.

In the contract between Gilley and McGregor, it lays out everything that would be done to help give the bills passed. The loan that McGregor gave Gilley was to help with the project and he could also use it for political things.

Gilley says he got into "dire" financial circumstances because Country Crossing wasn't moving as fast as he hoped. He asked Milton McGregor and got another $2.8 million to help fund the construction aspect of the project.

Gilley said that he had never been in a position where he could not pay his bills. He said that on some Fridays, he could not make his weekly payroll.

McGregor loaned him more money, took greater share of Country Crossings of the future profits of Country Crossing. Gilley said that he got $13.2 million dollars from McGregor. Gilley said that he could use $5 million for political campaign contributions and whatever he deemed necessary. Gilley said that they could still not pay their bills when the project was complete.

Gilley said that Country Crossing was open for about seven weeks and they did not make any profits and were still in the hole what then closed.

Louis Franklin for the government is now asking Gilley about the meeting at Garret's in Montgomery. Smith invited Gilley, Scott Beason, and Benjamin Lewis. Gilley invited the country music stars to the dinner. He had to pay for a private jet and other things to get them there. The purpose of the meeting was to convince Beason and Lewis to support the “Sweet Home Alabama Bill” and to give presentation of Country Crossing project.

Senator Smith told Gilley that Scott Beason was a possible “Yes” vote and that's why he was invited.

Gilley said that he does not know what Beason's political ties are but he did know things about Benjamin Lewis.

Claire Austin was a lobbyist for Jarrod Massey and she was also at the dinner that night. Gilley told Massey that he should hire Austin because Harri Anne Smith recommended her. Austin was on Massey's payroll.
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10:43am – Gilley said that the bingo pavilion was too small for McGregor's liking. The two set up a meeting in Coffee County. McGregor said that the facility was to small to handle the amount of machines that would be going into the facility.

Gilley said that he had numerous country music stars that would help him to try to get legislation passed. He had Randy Owens, George Jones, Lorrie Morgan, Tracy Lawrence, Darryl Worley, John Anderson, and others. They helped him with concerts, cutting commercials, appearances and other things to help in campaign races.

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10:20am – Gilley said that in January of 2009 he had a meeting with Chris Bence. Bence was the chief of staff for then Attorney General Troy King. Gilley tried to hire Bence to work for him. Bence denied him and gave him advice on how to work and survive in politics in Alabama.

Gilley then said that he wrote about $200k in checks and deposited them into PAC's around March of 2009. Gilley then met with Milton McGregor at another gaming summit and he was then introduced to lobbyist Bob Geddie. They had another meeting at McGregor's hangar at the Montgomery Airport, where McGregor keeps his airplanes. They talked about finances, bills, and other things. McGregor told Gilley that he could not support him because it would hurt his business by roughly 25%. He and Gilley then talked about ways that the two could work together.

The two agreed to enter a consulting agreement. The agreement said that McGregor would make 14% of whatever the facility (Country Crossing) took in. The machine owners would take in 20% off the top and McGregor would take 14% and Gilley said that was a lot of money. Also in the agreement, McGregor said that he would pay $5 million dollars to continue building the facility. McGregor would pay for it himself or would get the money from someone else to pay for it.

Gilley said that he was working with the two largest gaming manufacturers in the world for the machines that would be at Country Crossing. McGregor was speaking on the behalf of Gilley with the machine manufacturers.

Country Crossing broke ground in 2008 and started building the buildings in early of 2009. Gilley said that McGregor made good on the loans of $2 and $3 million dollars to help build the project.
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10:03am – Gilley said that the meeting took place in his office. The purpose was for Holley to explain the bill and his position on it. Gilley said that he explained to Holley why he was opposed to the bill.

Gilley and Holley had a meeting the next week in Gilley's office. The meeting was between Gilley and Holley. Holley brought a manilla folder and inside the folder was an amended bill. Holley told Gilley that he personally changed the bill to help Gilley's project by removing some wording of the bill.

Gilley asked Holley why was he helping McGregor and not him. Holley then said that he was unsure if he had McGregor's phone number. Holley did have the number and called Milton McGregor and it went straight to his voicemail. Then they called McGregor's lobbyists and told them their stance on the bill. The meeting ended and the two said they would stay in touch over the weekend. Gilley told Holley that if he voted in favor of the bill, he would make sure that he was not re-elected to office.

The next day McGregor called Gilley and asked what was his problem with the bill. Gilley said the talk went well and the two would also stay in touch.

Gilley said that they all had a meeting in Paul Hubbard's office with all of the gaming interests in Alabama. McGregor, Nat Nugyen (owner of Greentrack), Gilley, Bob Geddie, The Native Americans, Massey, Senator Hank Sanders, Tom Coker, and several others were present at the meeting.

Gilley said that he has used pre-paid cell phones in the past. He said that he thought the phones were untraceable. Gilley said that he started using those phones shortly after the meeting because he thought that Gov. Riley was listening in on his conversations. Gilley recommended to Milton McGregor to start doing the same thing. He said the He and McGregor both started using “drop phones”.
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9:45am – Gilley said that Smith gave the check back to him. Gilley said that Smith had met with Massey on how to get money to Smith without it looking like it came directly from Gilley.

Massey told Gilley to give him two checks worth $20,000 each for consulting work and Massey would then turn the checks over to Smith as campaign contributions. He was to “bleed” money into Smith's campaign.

Gilley said that he was unsure if Smith received all of the money but he knew that she did receive money from Gilley because she came by his office and thanked him for the money. Smith thanked him for everything that he had done for her congressional campaign. Smith said, “Thank you, I'm yours for whatever you need.”

Gilley said that he took it as she would help him with whatever he needed to get his project open.

Franklin asked Gilley is this the first time you gave money to a legislator in return for getting support. Gilley says he gave money to former representative Terry Spicer. Spicer told Gilley that if he did not pay him, he would hurt the bill to open his project. Gilley paid Spicer $20,000 but Spicer asked for $50,000. Spicer came to Gilley's office and picked up a box of cash.

Gilley said that he also had an issue with Jimmy Holley. He opposed the legislation that Holley supported in trying to eliminate Gilley's project.
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9:22am – The government has now decided that Jarrod Massey will testify.
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9:15am – The government said that they are unsure if they will call lobbyist Jarrod Massey to testify. The government said that they will let the evidence play out as to whether they will need him or not but he is still a potential witness for the government.
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9:10am – Gilley said that he and Smith tried to meet several times but were unable to meet due to schedule conflicts. Smith met with lobbyist Jarrod Massey twice saying that she wanted to meet Gilley.

Gilley said he gave Smith a campaign contribution for $5,000. Smith came to Gilley a few days later and returned the check. She said it would not be a good idea to take money directly from Gilley but it would be better to get it form someone else.

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8:27am-- Day 14 begins with Ronnie Gilley on the stand again for the second day. Louis Franklin will examine Gilley for the government.

Gilley is expected to be on the stand for about a week with the prosecution taking about three days.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 23rd-- Day 13

The government called their in ninth witness in Ronnie Gilley and began their examination at the 4pm mark on Day 13.
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5:50pm Day 13 is done. The day ended with Ronnie Gilley on the stand for the government. He talked about how he got into real estate and eventually Country Crossing. The day came to a close as he was talking about the first time that he met Senator Harri Anne Smith.

The issue of campaign contribution came up and attorneys and Judge Thompson went in his chamber for a closed door meeting.

Gilley kept using the words, “I” and “Me” in reference to his work. The defense attorneys said that he should not use those words and should only use the word “I”.

Gilley will be back on the stand Friday morning for his second day of testimony. He is expected to be on the stand for a long time. On Friday, they may play some tapes between him and others. It should get interesting.
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5:27pm – Gilley said that in 2008, he tried to talk with Senator Smith but due to conflicts and schedules, they could not meet.

Smith later pulled the bill. Gilley and Smith sat down week after the bill was pulled from the legislature.

The first time they met was at Tartan Pines Golf Course in Enterprise. The meeting was at a campaign fundraiser for Smith's congressional campaign. The meeting was on May 27th of 2008. Gilley was listed as a host for the fundraiser. Gilley said that he had no ill will towards her after she pulled the bill stopping bingo in Houston County. Gilley said that he never ask Smith to pull the bill or change her mind.

Gilley said at the meeting, he gave her a $5,000 check, hugged her neck, and they “buried the hatchet”. Gilley said that Smith gave the check back the next week.

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5:10pm – Gilley said that in 2008, he ran into opposition in people who were trying to kill the project and not let it open.

Gilley said that Harri Anne Smith was opposed to the project at the time. He added that she was opposed to it because special interests groups were backing her and telling her not to support it. The special interests were John Downs, John Watson and George Flowers. Gilley said that the men made comments to the media and he knew that they did not want the project to open.

Gilley said that Smith would have introduced a bill that would have killed the Country Crossing project.

McGregor was opposed to his project because he said that McGregor was trying to pass a bill that would have allowed only the open places could have bingo and no new places.

Gilley said that he knew his project would have a negative impact on the other facilities in Alabama.
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4:58pm – Gilley said that when they were going to make the move to Houston County, the facility was changing names to “Country Crossing”.

Gilley said that bingo was going to be the main source of funding compared to compared to residential retirement homes for Little Nashville.

Gilley said that money was chasing him in institutional money as well as equity. Gilley rolled all of the money from the Little Nashville project and moved it to Houston County.

Gilley presented entertainment as the project to Houston County. Not retirement. He said that bingo would help pay for the rest of the facility and future expansion.

Gilley said that he needed a lobbyist to help get legislation in place to totally clear the way for Country Crossing. Gilley restructured the agreement with Jarrod Massey to keep him on board. This new agreement was going to pursue gaming legislation to help Gilley operate and possibly invest in other interests then he deemed fit. The new compensation was $6,500 per month with incentives. Massey could make an additional $500k per year per facility if he owned more that just County Crossing. Gilley hired Massey to find places where they could open facilities.

Gilley said the “Sweet Home Alabama Bill” was a bill put together by gaming interests in the state to help legalize and regulate electronic bingo.
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4:48pm – Gilley said that Massey worked on several projects for him.

The investors and lenders were in place and they were ready to break ground on the facility. Then at one point without notice, the economy and stock market crashed and all of the lenders and vendors backed out.

They had roughly $2 million dollars on the table when the market collapsed.

One day, Gilley received a call from the Lt. Governor's office about putting in electronic bingo facility at Little Nashville. Gilley said at the time he had no idea what electronic bingo was. Gilley then said it would be a great idea to have electronic bingo in the Little Nashville project.

Gilley said that several municipalities (Lowndes, Russell, and Houston Counties), and two states were courting Gilley about moving his project.

Gilley said that all of the counties had bingo amendments in place. Gilley met with all of the counties about the project.

Gilley said that he met with city commissioners, county commissioners, business leaders, real estate developers in a meeting in Houston County. Gilley said that bingo became the economic catalyst to fund the project and attract more investors.
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4:31pm – Gilley said that most of his investments and his passion has always been real estate.

Gilley now discussing how he got involved in the entertainment industry. He said that he integrated music and real estate to group people and things together.

Gilley said that he got involved in Little Nashville. He said that he wanted create a retirement community to group the baby-boomer generation together and there is no way better way to do that then with the music and entertainment. The project was going to be located in Coffee County, eight miles outside of Enterprise.

Gilley went to Terry Spicer in early 2007 to help with support for the project because upgrades were needed in Coffee County to help build the project. Spicer then told Gilley that he needed a lobbyist to help him get things accomplished. Spicer recommended that he hire Jarrod Massey as his lobbyist to help him go forward with the project. Gilley paid Massey through Ronnie Gilley Properties. Gilley paid Massey $5,000 per month.

Gilley said that legislation passed so it could have been subject to federal/state grants, tax breaks, liquor licenses.

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4:15pm – Louis Franklin for the government is handling Ronnie Gilley. Gilley is a lifelong resident of Enterprise and went to New Brockton High School.

He is 46 years old and his first job was delivering furniture. Then he opened a lawn care service, then a car wash , then several other businesses. He bought his first house when he was 19. He flipped that house and made a good profit and then got into construction.

He had no specialized training in building houses. He would go on to build houses and start his own construction company. He helped build and develop sub-divisions.

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3:58pm – The government has called former Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley. Before they ask him questions, the attorneys are taking up a matter behind closed doors.

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The government called their in eighth witness in Jim Sumner and began their examination at the 2pm mark on Day 13.

3:27pm-- The government is showing Mr. Sumner the statement of economic interest from Joe Crosby. the 2008 and 2009 forms from Crosby showed that he did not receive any additional income.

When the word of the federal investigation came out, Crosby filed amendments to his forms and claimed that he gained 10 to 50 thousand dollars from Milton McGregor's Greyhound Park.
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3:20pm – Sumner says public employee can't use position for personal gain. Sumner statement of economic interest list all income including family, consulting arrangements. all public officials, appointed, and public employees who make more than 50 thousand must file the report.

Sumner said outside the presence of the jury that he believed that state employees could not be paid as a consultant.
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3:10pm – Judge says Sumner can't interpret the ethics law because he wasn't identified as an expert. The government made a pretty big mistake by not stating that he was an expert.

Sumner says that he is employed by the actual ethics commission. The commission is made up of 5 very prominent businessmen from all over Alabama.

He has been in his position for the last 15 years.
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2:21pm – The next witness for the government is Jim Sumner with the Alabama Ethics Commission, after court takes up a few issues with jury not present

Attorney for defendant Ray Crosby is trying to keep some evidence out about Crosby not reporting the payments from Milton McGregor.

The government says that Crosby did not report any of the McGregor payments in 2008 and 2009, but did so very soon after investigation was made public.

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The defense started their cross-examination of Lynn Burk and began that at the1:33pm mark on Day 13.

1:50pmWitness says ledger entry was placed there as an entry to note the checks were not tax deductible
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The government called their in seventh witness in Lynn Burk and began their examination at the 1:33pm mark on Day 13.

1:20pm – Mrs. Burk is an accountant for Milton McGregor for Jefferson county Racing Inc.

She said that she produced checks for McGregor for him to sign. She saw checks made out to Ray Crosby and McGregor would sign them. After they were signed, Burk would mail the checks.

A three-thousand dollar check was mailed monthly to Crosby from April of 2008 through March of 2010.

She kept an accounting ledger dedicated to payments strictly for lobbyists. She said that the checks stopped around the time of the announcement of the investigation.
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1:20pm – Judge Benjamin Lewis is finished on the witness stand. Up next is Gayle Traylor for the government.

She works for the state of Alabama in the finance department. All she is here for is to say that the state gets more than $10,000 in federal money so that's why feds can prosecute for federal program bribery and some other charges.
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12:07pm--Judge Benjamin Lewis was dismissed from the witness stand after all parties finished their questions with him.

The court took recess for lunch and the government will call Gayle Traylor after lunch.
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The government did their recross-examination on Benjamin Lewis at the 11:55am mark on Day 13.

11:55am – The government doing their recross-examination of Lewis. They are asking him about his testimony to the grand jury in March of 2010. Lewis said that he took an oath and everything he has said has been true.

The government is trying the re-tie Harri Anne Smith to the bribery aspect of their case. They are asking Lewis about what she supposedly said to Scott Beason and that she offered him money.

They are playing a tape when Smith said that she has never taken money from Gilley and will never take money from him.

Lewis said that she believed her because they were friends.

The government said that Smith received $5,000 from Ronnie Gilley's or his associates in May of 2008 and another $40,000 in June that same year. Lewis said that he did not know about anything about Smith and the money.
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The defense starts their cross-examination on Benjamin Lewis at the 2:03pm mark on Day 12.

11:30am – Ray Crosby's attorney Tommy Goggans is now addressing Lewis on the legislative reference service. He only asked three questions.
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11:42am – Susan James, attorney for Jay Walker, asks Lewis that while he has been a judge, has he ever seen a witness take the stand and lie. Lewis agrees that does happen.

James says that sometime people have things to gain by taking the witness stand. Lewis again agrees with her.

James begins asking Lewis about his interactions with Gilley. Lewis said that by supporting the bingo bill, he would lose financial support from his district.

James asked Lewis if he ever proposed a bribe to Ronnie Gilley and he said “no”. He said that Gilley offered him a bribe.

James asks Lewis about “aborigine” comment made by Senator Scott Beason. Lewis couldn't remember but called Beason a man of integrity. Lewis says someone using that term wouldn't necessarily change his integrity opinion of that person.

Lewis said that he and Beason never talked about working with the FBI until Beason started cooperating. Lewis said that he learned that Barry Mask was working with the FBI after the vote on SB 380 in the senate.

Lewis said that he thought lobbyist Jarrod Massey was “a freaking piece of crap”. Lewis said that Massey apologized to him for Ronnie Gilley at March 4, 2009 meeting, but did not change my opinion of him.

In the FBI documents Lewis said that Gilley offered him a bribe, in Gilley's FBI document, he said that Lewis offered him a bride. James is pointing out now that can Lewis still believe Gilley after he made this statement even though he has plead guilty.
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10:58am – Now Quinton Ross attorney establishing that Lewis did not record Ross in any of his 20 recordings.

Lewis says the FBI never suggested Sen. Ross as someone to record. He says, "I've had no dealings with Sen. Ross.

Lewis specifies that he never exchanged texts, emails, or anything with Quinton Ross.

They switch gears to start talking about campaign finance reports and Lewis also says PACs have to disclose contributions but parties don't have to.
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10:40am – Jimmy Judkins is the attorney for Bob Geddie and he is asking Ben Lewis if he ever dealt with a lobbyist from Geddie's firm.

Lewis said that he had several dealings with Lamar Higgins, who is a lobbyist for the firm and also a member of the board of trustees at Troy University.

He said that Higgins never pushed him to do anything and always told him to vote the way he felt. Lewis said that all of the lobbyists for Geddie's firm all acted professional and he never saw them do anything wrong.

Judkins then like every other attorney turn to attack the credibility of Ronnie Gilley.
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10:32am – Bill Baxley is now asking Benjamin Lewis if he knew the client that he represents in Tom Coker.

Lewis said that he knows exactly who Tom Coker is and states that Coker has never done anything illegal or offered him anything in exchange for anything.

Lewis also says that Gilley went ahead regardless of the law in Houston County and built the facility knowing the the law was against him from the beginning.
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10:22am – Lewis said that if Gilley was under oath, he said that he thinks Ronnie Gilley will tell the truth.

But Lewis said that he would believe Ronnie Gilley under oath but only after he plead guilty.
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10:05am-- Lewis said that Gilley was a con-man and a crook. Lewis also said that Gilley is a convicted felon.

Lewis said that he used those word to describe Gilley because it was Gilley's reputation. Lewis said that Gilley was a shady business guy because he started projects, borrowed money and didn't pay his bills.

McGowan again asked Lewis what he thought about Gilley, trying to hurt the character of Gilley before he stakes the stand later today.

McGowan asked Lewis is he would believe Ronnie Gilley under oath and the government objected.

The McGregor legal team produced an case that said that the question can be asked.

Judge Thompson said that the case is a "knife that can cut both way and that it can cut very deep."

Judge Thompson rules that Judge Lewis can speak the the credibility of Ronnie Gilley.

_____
9:45am – Walter McGowan now up for McGregor's defense team. Lewis says he never recorded or communicated with McGregor.

Lewis said that John Watson and John Downs would not support anyone who supported gambling.
_____
9:41am – Parkman is questioning Benjamin Lewis on when and how he learned about the details of Country Crossing.

After the details of the project were known, Lewis, John Watson, John Downs, George Flowers, Harri Anne Smith, and others had a meeting to discuss the project. After that meeting, the group went and met with the governor.

Judge Lewis says when he went to meeting with John Watson at Gov. Riley's office that Sen. Smith had polling data on bingo in March of 2008.

Parkman said that the polling data did not come out until April of 2008. Lewis said that he was unsure.

Lewis says he never proposed a quid pro quo for a vote to Ronnie Gilley on an occasion.

Lewis said that he never remembered Scott Beason saying the word “aborigine” in a recorded conversation. Lewis said that he considered Beason a good person.

Transcript indicates Lewis, in talking about Greenetrack customers, said 'That's Y'alls Indians.' Lewis said he wouldn't have said it.

Parkman finished by asking Lewis if “he traded in his tape recorder for a robe” and Lewis said, “No sir.”
_____
9:07am –Judge Thompson hearing complaints from defense lawyers about exhibits. some not being correct. They pertain to Ronnie Gilley.

Asst US Attorney Louis Franklin explaining why some documents not put on exhibit list until last night. Franklin says it was a mistake

Among the Gilley exhibits are a consulting agreement between Gilley and McGregor's racetrack.

Another Gilley exhibit is a handwritten note from Gilley about how he would 'explain' agreement with McGregor.

Thompson told Franklin that he should have known that he was going to use the documents.

Also the documents say that McGregor was invested in 2.8 million dollars in Country Crossing.

The government says that the defense attorneys are also late in submitting evidence.
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8:40am – Milton McGregor's defense attorney is complaining that the government has turned over trial exhibits past the court-imposed deadline. They are also saying that the government is sending new evidence the night before a witness is to take the stand.

The court-imposed a deadline to the government seven weeks ago that the government if it has additional evidence, it must have been turned over by the said deadline.

The government is waiting one of the US Attorneys to show up to court.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 22nd--Day 12

The defense starts their cross-examination at the 2:03pm mark on Day 12.

6:37pm-- The day comes to an end with Benjamin Lewis on the stand. Jim Parkman asked Lewis about his judgeship as well as his political ties ot the big money people in Dothan and how much he liked Harri Anne Smith.

Lewis said he did not want to hurt Smith in all of this but the FBI said that she was wrong.

Parkman kept attacking the fact that Lewis and Beason had different stories of the event at Garret's in Montgomery and he, in my mind, removed any wrongdoing by Smith from either Beason or Lewis.

The government said that they have a couple more quick witnesses for Thursday then they will call Ronnie Gilley.

Gilley will be on the stand Thursday afternoon or on Friday morning.

_____
5:15pm Lewis said that he didn't know until June 21st of 2010 that he was given the judgeship.

Lewis said that he had no clue that he was going to get it.

Lewis said that there was a process that he had to go through.

Parkman asked him that before the interview process, did he go see Judge Larry Anderson and tell him prior to the interview, that he was going to need help learning the bench because he was going to be a judge.

Lewis said that he used his connections to help get support to get him to judgeship appointment. He asked John Watson and John Downs to call the governor on his behalf. He even used George Flowers and Mike Hubbard.

Parkman asked Lewis if he asked Bill Canary to call the governor.

Lewis said that he had a George Flowers sign in his yard for state senator after he said he did not want to be involved with Flowers. Lewis said that he did not have a Smith for Senate sign.

Parkman is asking Lewis what he did with the campaign money that he raised and asked Lewis of he gave it back or if he kept it.

Parkman says that he has witnesses that say that they were told by Lewis that he got the judge spot weeks before it was announced.
_____
4:36pm-- Parkman said that through all of the talks about the bill, the dinner, the commercials, everything...not one time did Senator Smith speak on behalf of Ronnie Gilley.

Lewis said that he had no knowledge of Smith ever taking or receiving any money from Ronnie Gilley.

Parkman said that Smith said that she was not going to take any money form him.

Lewis said that John Watson, John Downs, and George Flowers all supported Smith and Lewis during their campaigns. When she supported Bobby Bright, Smith knew that it could be trouble if she did that.

Smith said that she knew the possibilities of supporting a democrat. Lewis said that he knew what was going on because he was on the republican committee.

Parkman said that all of a sudden, Smith got kicked out of the party, then all of her supporters that had been with her for 10+ years were now supporting someone else. All of the Dothan big money donors were supporting George Flowers.

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4:23pm-- Parkman is questioning Lewis about if he thinks that Smith was trying to give him money. Parkman points out that she is talking about the development project. Lewis says that he disagrees.

Lewis says that Smith told him that Ronnie Gilley is a con. Lewis agrees with Parkman. They both said that Gilley was a crook.

Parkman is saying Smith was not a part of Ronnie Gilley or his project. She was not affiliated with him. The people that actually were with the project, had the funds to make things happen. If they didn't support them in the project, they could make the next election tough.

Smith said that the people running the project probably did not have the money to fund the project but they people they were friends with in the entertainment industry, did have the money for the project...not to pay people with campaign finances.
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3:47pm – Parkman, did you say to FBI that Scott Beason told you Harri Anne Smith offered him 500 thousand dollars?

Lewis: Beason told me Smith said he could get Beason $500K for his Senate race. Beason previously testified the offer was for statewide run for office of Lt. Governor.

In the letter that Lewis typed, there is only one mention on Smith's name. Lewis said that she was at the meeting at Garrett's. There was no mention of the $500k for campaign funds.

Parkman is trying to punch holes in Lewis recollection. Parkman says you are judge you know how important details are?

Lewis: My March 9 typed statement was 'the highlights'. Not complete. No mention of Smith and $500,000 offer.

Lewis seems to be indicating he feared something might happen to him. Why he typed up the March 9 statement

Parkman moving around the podium, varying his inflection, keeping the jury engaged

Parkman now says he'll focus on today's testimony from Ben Lewis. Asking about Sen. Smith's view on bingo issue.

Lewis: Smith said she had polling data that supported bingo, but still would not allow it to happen on her watch.

Parkman, polls changed Smith's position on electronic bingo. Lewis in 2008 Smith opposed regardless of polls. Parkman but she changed
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3:25pm – Parkman is asking Lewis if he know what all was going to be at Country Crossing. Lewis said that he knows several ideas that would have been at the venue such as a bowling alley, fairgrounds and a water park.

The facility would not just be a bingo complex. Gilley told Lewis that the funding mechanism would actually be the bingo aspect because they needed an economic catalyst. Lewis said that the facility would be and would have an economic impact on Houston County.

Lewis said that Smith never personally offered him any money for his vote. Lewis also said that she never told him how he should vote. Lewis said that Smith never did anything to try to get him to change his mind on how to vote.

Parkman is showing Lewis a copy of his testimony to the grand jury

Parkman asks Lewis why Smith interjected during the dinner that night at Garrett's in Montgomery. Lewis said that she did it because she knew the details of his finances. Lewis said that he did not think that Smith was working on behalf of Ronnie Gilley.

Parkman now is talking about the heated discussion between Gilley and Lewis. Lewis says that Senator Smith did nothing to act like or to show signs of support to Gilley. Lewis said that Smith stayed with him and did not try to help calm down Gilley.

The county commission asked Troy King for an opinion for the legality of Country Crossing. Sheriff Andy Hughes also asked King for an opinion on the facility. After getting the opinions, the county signed off for Country Crossing to move forward with their project.

Lewis agreed with Parkman that the facility opened in late fall of 2009.

Lewis said that the group got up and left the restaurant together that night and were all pretty friendly.

Lewis said he did not see conversation between Beason and Smith that Beason testified to earlier about him being offered money by Smith.

US objects on hearsay to Parkman asking Lewis' exact words he said to Beason about Smith. Thompson overrules and says "I'll allow it.
_____
2:45pm – Parkman wants statement introduced because Lewis' statement has no mention of Smith or $500,000 offer.

They are also tying it back to Beason because he said that Smith did not offer him $500,000 only that people could help raise him some money.

Lewis said that Beason told him that he could get $500,000 for his Senate race and Beason testified that it would be for a Lt. Governor position.

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2:32pm – Lewis said in 2009 that he told to Sheriff Hughes that Ronnie Gilley offered him a bribe and was unsure if he said anything about Senator Smith.

Lewis said in a lunch meeting with Sam Cherry at the Red Elephant in Dothan, “Ronnie Gilley threatened me. Nobody, including my day threatens me.”

On May 28th of 2009, in a meeting with the FBI, Lewis said that Smith told him to leave the gambling legislation up to Ronnie Gilley. Lewis said he was unsure if he said that verbatim but he could have.

Parkman now asking Lewis about a typed statement he made after March 9 2009 meeting with FBI. Lewis said that he did it to keep his mind fresh.

The government objects to using the letter that Lewis typed up himself to be used as evidence so the jury is asked to leave so Judge Thompson can hear the reasons.

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2:22pm – Lewis again on Smith comments: Her actions are stupid just as my children's actions are stupid sometimes

Lewis called Smith “stupid” in a conversation and Parkman says that Lewis did not clarify in the conversation thus meaning he thought Smith was in fact “stupid”

Parkman asks Lewis: “At any time during the ten meetings with FBI, did they give you direction on what to say on tape?”

Lewis said that the FBI told them to play a role and direct him on some things and he said that it was difficult to do. Lewis added that “I don't remember any specific recollections in meetings with the FBI.”

Lewis said that working for the FBI is not a pleasant thing to do.
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2:11pm – After the bill died, polls came out that the people wanted the chance to vote on the bingo issue.

Lewis said in testimony that he thought that bingo was not what his people wanted and that he votes based on his conscious. Parkman asks him, “Why do you not give the people the opportunity? Despite polls, you were going to vote the way you wanted to, right? Lewis: yes sir.

Lewis said that Smith has always said that she was opposed to gambling and did not want it in her district. And Parkman said that's true Smith has always wanted to give the people the right to vote.

Lewis said that he did not keep up with the testimony of Senator Scott Beason. He said that he did not watch the news or read any papers on his testimony.
_____
2:03pm – Parkman asked Lewis if he needed a tissue because he was upset and almost cried on the witness stand.

Parkman said that his partner William White called Lewis and wanted to meet him and talk about some of his testimony.

Lewis said that he would be happy to answer any question in front of a federal prosecutor. Lewis said that the federal prosecutors would not allow the defense to be present when he talked with them.

On March 4th of 2009 was the meeting at Garretts in Montgomery...Three days later, he had the long discussion with Beason about the testimony. On March 9th he met with Valeska and Hughes in Dothan.

The Samson event was on March 10th.

Parkman asking Lewis about recorded conversation with Beason. Lewis said that he did not know he was being recorded.

Lewis told Beason that Harri Anne Smith is stupid. Parkman is saying that Lewis got upset because he said it.

Lewis said that he considers Smith a friend today and has no ill will towards her but knows that she may not feel the same about him.

Lewis said that the bill that they proposed in 2008 would outlaw everything but paper bingo. The bill would actually give the people the right to vote.

By submitting the bill, Smith ultimately tried to give the people the right to vote back in 2008.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The government has called their fourth witness in Benjamin Lewis. The government starts their examination at the 4:07pm mark on Day 11.
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1:45pm – The government is now talking about the judgeship that Lewis was appointed to.

Lewis said that he learned of the vacancy the day that it opened on April 23rd of 2010. Judge John Steensland retired early from his term and Lewis called him that day because he said that he was surprised.

Lewis said that he had a desire to be a judge and often times, timing is everything. He said that he applied for the position. He called Mike Hubbard to tell him that the position is available. Hubbard was directing the republican campaign effort in the House. Hubbard told Lewis that he wanted to come back to the House. Hubbard told Lewis later on that the position looked good for Lewis. Lewis went through the interview process and met with the governor's staff and then got the job not long after the meeting.

Lewis interviewed with Sonny Reagan and Josh Blades with the governor's office. Reagan now works in attorney general's office for Luther Strange.

Blades is now the chief of staff for House Speaker Mike Hubbard.

Lewis said that Banks Smith and Ashton Ott both interviewed for the vacant position.

Bob Riley called Lewis to tell them that he had gotten the job as the district judge of Houston County.

Lewis said that he did not cooperate with the FBI to gain any favor with the state government or to gain a judgeship.
_____
1:35pm – Lewis said that he meant that Smith had a good argument in relation to the reason she changed her position on the gambling issue, or on the bill.

Lewis said that he felt like he was working for the FBI and lying to the people he was recording.

Lewis said that when he called Smith “stupid”, he was not talking about her intellectually but just on some decisions that she had made.

When saying this, Lewis got emotional.

Lewis then said that Smith was a very smart woman.

Lewis said Harri Anne Smith was stupid. But he did not target Smith. He came forward because of a conversation he felt was improper

'It is difficult to have to tape record a friend of yours when you mean no harm to her'...Lewis said of Smith.

FBI wanted Lewis to talk to Gilley, Smith, Terry Spicer and Claire Austin to talk about getting financial support in favor of a vote.
______
1:20pm – Judge Thompson had a judges meeting to attend over the lunch hour thus causing the 30 minute delay in getting started this afternoon.
_____
1:05pm – The attorneys are back in the courtroom for the afternoon session with Judge Benjamin Lewis.

The prosecution will spend about an hour finishing up their questioning of Lewis and then Jim Parkman will be up first to cross-examine him.

Judge Thompson is in his chamber taking care of a matter.

_____
11:45am – Lewis said Beason came to him said he felt threatened. Beason said that he wanted to cooperate and offered to wear a wire or do whatever was necessary to help the FBI.

Lewis said that he did not know that Barry Mask was working with the FBI. He learned that he was cooperating after the FBI announced that they were looking into a possible corruption case.

The jury is being handed ear phones so that they can hear a phone conversation between Lewis and Beason.

Jim Parkman asked that the jury have ear phones so that they could hear the entire conversation.

The court has recessed until 1pm for lunch.

_____
11:45am – Judge is trying to determine if Lewis can be asked about a comment he made to Beason about Smith.

During conversation, Lewis apparently says "Yeah I told them ‘I think Harri Anne has a good argument’

Lewis: Told FBI agent 'Harri Anne had a good argument' meaning she would be able to tell her side of the story in court.

Beason was taping Lewis in Beason's car. Lewis calls taping an accident

Lewis said Smith was a friend of mine. I didn't do this against Harri Anne.

During this talk with the court, you could hear the emotion in Lewis' voice.
_____
11:31am-- Lewis read and talked about SB-380 and what it was.
_____
11:15am – The government is now about to play a March 26th recording between Lewis and Gilley.

Lewis called Gilley on the call. Gilley had been in the hospital with pneumonia for the last several days and was still in the hospital when the call took place.

Lewis said to Gilley that he talked with Harri Anne the night before and she told him to call Gilley. Gilley said that he had intentions to talk with him but the hospital issue has set him back.

Lewis said Harri Anne told him that there was some polling data out. Gilley said you will be shocked. It was broad based and that the number show that the governor has nine percent support locally.

Gilley told Lewis that the level of support isn't anything compared to what could be done if he supported it.

Lewis said that his church supporters are opposed to the bill and gambling.

Gilley said that they would support Lewis through all of the weathers.

Eventually the Sweet Home Alabama bill died in the Legislature. No vote. Now we move on to 2010.

Lewis says Smith ran as an independent because she broke party rules by supporting Bobby Bright for Congress. GOP disqualified her according to their by-laws.

Lewis said that he had gotten over and had no ill will against Smith for endorsing Bobby Bright for Congress.

Lewis said that SB-380 came up in the 2010 legislative session. Lewis said that to pass the Senate, it would need 21 votes.

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10:55am – Smith on tape: Even if it fails and you and they did a vote for it and you voted, I believe they will raise you that money.

Lewis said that his problem is that his based supporters will be mad if he votes for it. Lewis says that his problem is this he always been opposed to gambling. Pastors and preachers, our supporters are going to be opposed to this.

Smith said that she would not take the money form the gambling people but she may vote for it to keep them from giving it to an opponent.

Smith said that John Downs and john Watson are pressuring them to vote “no” on the bill. They are doing the same thing that Gilley is but in the opposite way.

Lewis: Never had John Downs and John Watson ever talk to me about taking official action in exchange for something.

Smith said that if we vote against the bill, Gilley will find us opposition in the next race and we will get beat.

Smith said that although she is opposed to gambling, she think the people in her district want the Country Crossing project.

Smith said that "I'm not telling you to vote for it. . . I can tell you feel more comfortable with the governor's thing."

Lewis said that Gilley is crooked and will stab you in the back.

Smith said that she doesn’t believe Ronnie Gilley will stab you in the back in a heartbeat if you vote for that.
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10:20am – Smith said that she believed that the people behind Country Crossing have the brains and the knowledge to build the facility but do not have the money to build it.

Lewis says that Ronnie Gilley is a crook. Smith told Lewis that Gilley didn't have the people to build the facility when he originally wanted it in Enterprise.

The defense wants to take up an objection outside the presence of the jury. Judge Thompson told the jury and the witness to leave.

Defense objecting to testimony and questioning from US. They don't want what the witness "thinks they were offered or is improper/illegal."

Thompson tells the government that it is not up to the witness to determine a bribe. It is up to the jury.

Judge Thompson: "If his motives are impeached, that can open the door for a lot more coming in."
_____
10:04am – A transcript of a conversation between Lewis and Sen. Smith offered by US.

The first recording is just over an hour long but the government is only going to play portions if it.

Conversation is from March 24th of 2009 just a couple of days after dinner with Gilley. It's hour long but only will play a bit.

In the call, Smith says that she is worried about the people in Samson and how to get them help and equipment.

Lewis asks Smith what she was wanting to do about the gambling bill. Smith said that she was unsure.

Smith asks Lewis about White Hall.

"I talked with governor about the Samson thing. I laid it out for him, why wasn't he there for us a year ago. Now he thinks he has the authority."

Smith said that she didn't understand why the governor felt he had legal authority to raid bingo facilities.

Smith said, "He didn't really have his staff look into it back then. . . he referred us to the Attorney General's office.”

Smith said that Riley said his staff did not research gambling issue completely until recently to see if he had standing for bingo raids.

Smith then says that she is passionately opposed to gambling and I do not trust the governor and what he is doing is a sham.

"He was real shaky on that. His voice quivered" Smith said when she questioned Riley about why he was addressing gambling now.

Smith said that Riley got involved when Walker County representatives asked him about bingo. Riley then went to Troy King and they disagreed and Riley said that he would raid White Hall the next week.

Riley added, “If Milton is illegal, we will get him.”

Smith asked Riley, “Why don't you go after the 800-pound gorilla in Milton McGregor.”

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9:45am – Lewis: FBI told me they believed a crime had been committed and asked me to cooperate by recording conversations

The FBI told him to record Smith, Gilley and anyone associated with gambling and the gambling bills then provided him with the recording equipment.

Beason did not tell the FBI about the 500k offer but Benjamin Lewis did even though it was told to him through another person.

(Beason said under oath that Smith never offered him the money)

Lewis said that he probably had more than 100 phone conversations with FBI agent McCarron during investigation.

Lewis met with FBI about 10 times face to face during 15-month investigation.

The last call or conversation Lewis taped was in April of 2010. He did this for just over a year. In the time period, he recorded roughly 20 conversations.
____
9:38am – Lewis said that he met Beason in Montgomery because Beason beat a 32-year incumbent and Lewis was up against the same challenge.

They talked some and Beason gave him advice and eventually they roomed together after that.

A week or so later, Lewis and Beason talked about the meeting. Lewis said that Beason told him that Smith had offered him 500k.

McGregor's attorney objected and Parkman, for Smith, ask them to please not to object because he would take care of it. He promised.

Lewis said that went to the FBI after talking with Beason. Lewis said that Beason told him that Smith offered him 250k for representatives and 500k for senators.

Lewis talked with his dad, wife, Jimmy Holley, and even Doug Valeska about what he should do about the bribe that Gilley offered him. Sheriff Andy Hughes was even in the meeting with Lewis about his situation. Valeska said to tell someone in Montgomery but Hughes said go to the FBI. The following Monday, March 9th, Lewis went to the FBI.

Lewis said that he went to the FBI the day before the deadly shootings in Samson.
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9:26am – Judge Lewis is back on the stand. Lewis says that the Sweet Home Alabama Bill was introduced March 5th of 2009.

The government is now bringing up the dinner the night before at Garrett's. Lewis was invited by Beason and Smith. Lewis was not interested and said that he would find something else to do. Lewis also said that Aaron Tippin and John Andersen would be there as well.

Lewis said that at that time, he and Ronnie Gilley were not on the same page about the Country Crossing Project.

Lewis said that the group was having dinner in a private room at the back of the restaurant. Lewis said that lobbyists Claire Austin and Jarrod Massey were there along with Beason, Smith, Gilley, a country music producer, and others.

They talked about a BamaJam, Country Crossing, and other entertainment ideas. Lewis said that he and Gilley exchanged words after talking about the local bingo amendment in Houston County.

Lewis said that he told Gilley that he thought they could not operate in Houston County. Gilley got heated and jumped up from the table and pointed his finger at Lewis and raised his voice. Lewis said that Beason intervened. Gilley left the room and cooled after talking to Jarrod Massey.

Gilley came back and they all had small talk about other things such as the upcoming bills. Lewis said that he was interested in the project and what they were trying to do at Country Crossing. The project was in his county and he at least wanted to hear them out. Lewis said that Gilley was “hot-headed”.

The topic of discussion then turned to the “Sweet Home Alabama Bill”. Gilley asked Lewis where he was on the bill and if he would support it. Lewis told Gilley said that he would not support the bill and would rather night fight it in public. Lewis said that he would vote no and would not publicly criticize the bill.

Lewis says Gilley asked what were his campaign cost and Lewis said it was around 200-thousand dollars. Gilley says it will cost twice that amount next time.

Gilley said a music producer James Stroud can write you a check for twice that.

Smith told Lewis that it would be hard to raise money next time in the Wiregrass area.

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9:10am-- Judge did not rule publicly, but it appears he will allow Lewis to be cross examined about his judgeship
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8:58am – Government is asking court to preclude cross examination of Lewis about Scott Beason's 'aborigine' conversation

At issue federal prosecutor Edward Kang asked to exclude questioning of Benjamin Lewis involving aborigine talk

Lewis was there at republican caucus meeting where Beason made aborigine comment. Kang says Lewis had no comment

Thompson says he was "baffled" by the distinction of "greed" vs. "politics." He says every politician needs and wants money.

Kang says defense should not question Lewis about Beason's comment

Thompson says the distinction is, when they pursued that money did they cross the line and the motives of pursuing that money.

Kang says only motive should be why Beason and Lewis went to authorities

Thompson says, "I'm going to cut him off at the knees?" about coloring the conversation with Beason?

Thompson says defendents should be able to color conversation about motive of those making accusations. What do you expect defendents to do?

Judge Thompson said “Do you just expect to put this witness up, let them give running commentary without cross examination?”

Thompson do you believe Mr Lewis motive at issue in that conversation? Kang yes I do.

Judge Thompson said that he is not their to clean up the witnesses language because they said it. Thompson said that cleaning up people's talk is an impossible task.

The government is now talking about a taped conversation between Beason and Lewis. In the enhanced audio they are talking about cooperation with FBI.

In the conversation, Lewis tells Beason that Harri Anne Smith has a good argument in this case. The FBI says “no,no she should have known better.”

______
8:30am – Day 12 is underway in the Frank M. Johnson Federal Courthouse in Montgomery.

Judge Benjamin Lewis of Dothan will be on the witness for the government for the second consecutive day.

Jim Parkman, attorney for Harri Anne Smith, said that he is eager to get to cross-examine Lewis because the truth will come out. Parkman said that Lewis was leaving out a bunch of important details.

Smith added that today was going to be a good day and that her attorney was going to prover her innocence. She was excited to be in the courtroom today.

Joe Espy, attorney for Milton McGregor said that Lewis was not going to be a big witness for him but if Lewis opened a door, they would gladly go through it.

Espy also added that the government was mentioning Bob Riley's name a lot yesterday and that may help clear the way to get him on the witness stand.

Right now at 8:38, the attorneys are meeting with Judge Thompson in his chambers to go over some motions that are yet to be ruled on.

We are also expecting a ruling as to whether the defense can ask Lewis about his judgeship appointment from the Gov. Riley.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 21st--Day 11

The government has called their fourth witness in Benjamin Lewis. The government starts their examination at the 4:07pm mark on Day 11.
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5:38pm – The court is taking up the motion by the government regarding the cross-examination of Lewis as it relates the judicial appointment given by Gov. Bob Riley.

Jim Parkman says that he has evidence that shows that Lewis' cooperation was politically motivated and he knew what his future was going to be.

McGregor's attorney said that they will also show evidence that Lewis knew about his future judgeship while cooperating with the FBI.

Attorney for Joe Crosby says that their own FBI analyst report indicates political gain may have been a motive for Lewis' cooperation

The government says that the motivation of Lewis has nothing to do with his cooperation. Lewis began cooperating with government long before the judgeship became vacant.

Thompson said that “If it is good for the goose, then why it shouldn't be good for the gander.”

Thompson said that he will rule on the issue on Wednesday morning.
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5:21pm – Court has recessed for the day...Lewis will be back on the stand first thing tomorrow morning.

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5:17pm – The government just admitted into evidence the house and senate versions of the “Sweet Home Alabama Bill.” They also just handed a copy to all 12 members of the jury panel.

Senator Quinton Ross introduced the bill in the Alabama Senate. Lewis said that he does not know Ross other than that he is a senator. The person who wrote the bill was Joe Ray Crosby, also a defendant.
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5:10pm – HB #819 was the bill the Lewis introduced in regards to electronic bingo in Houston County.

Smith called Lewis and told him to turn the bill in on the same day that she did. They both had their first reading on the same day.

Lewis is now going over the text of the bill introduced by himself and Smith relating to bingo in Houston County

Lewis: Purpose of the bill to do away with any argument that electronic bingo would be allowed in Houston County

Lewis said that both bills died and did not move forward. Bills died for (1) lack of consensus from local delegation.

Steve Clouse and Locy Baker would not sign off on the bill in the House and Smith pulled he bill two weeks later.

Lewis said that he knew Ronnie Gilley as the owner, developer, and spokesperson for the County Crossing project.

He said that he also knew who Milton McGregor was but has never been to his Victoryland facility.

Lewis says he had personal knowledge that Milton McGregor had six thousand electronic machines
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4:51pm – Lewis said that the Alabama constitution has a general prohibition against gambling. It has been that way since 1902. Local constitutional amendments overwrite that constitution on the for the area that it was passed and voted on. Lewis said that Alabama has 18 counties with local constitutional amendments regarding charitable bingo.

Lewis and Smith looked at the local Constitutional Amendment #569 for Houston County. It said that it gave power to the county commission to give a permit process to allow someone to operate electronic bingo.

The bill that he and Smith wanted to draft was going to take that power from the county commission, or take limit the permit process, or to allow only paper bingo in the county.

Lewis said that if the bills would have passed, it would have been illegal to operate electronic bingo in Houston County.

Smith and Lewis both agreed to sponsor the same bill in their portion of the state legislature. Lewis said that the basically drafted the bills together.

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4:33pm – Lewis said that he has been in then governors office only once outside of the meeting with Smith and others.

Riley then referred them to Troy King because Riley said that there was nothing that he could do. The meeting with King was held in Smith's senate office. They asked King if there was any way that the casino could be operated legally in Houston County and what could be done to intervene in the project.

After that, Lewis and Smith both introduced legislation in regards to electronic bingo.
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4:30pm – All of Lewis' house district was inside of Smith's senate district.

The relationship between Smith and Lewis was good according to Lewis. It went on past the 2006 election year.

Lewis said that he was paid by the taxpayers of Alabama. He said that he was a public official and wrote, voted and worked on bills that would best represent his district.

Lewis said that his starting salary was about $32,000 a year and then jumped to $50,000 after a legislative pay raise.

Early in 2008, Lewis learned of a development called Country Crossing in Houston County through several media reports. Lewis said that he learned of the project in February of 2008. Lewis said that the initial project was supposed to have entertainment venues and would also have electronic bingo. He considered electronic bingo to be like playing slot machines.

Lewis said that a gambling facility would not fly in his district because it was very conservative and family oriented. He also said that the lottery was voted down by 72% and he thought that the people in his area would not like that in their county. He said it would be bad for Houston County.

Lewis said that he talked to Smith about his views of the facility in Feb-March of 2008. He said that Smith was very concerned about having the facility in Houston County.

Lewis said that Smith has always been opposed to gambling and said that Smith said that she had been fighting gambling for over 10 years and she would not allow gambling in her area on her watch.

Lewis said that Smith never said to him, “Let's let the people vote.”

Lewis said that he and Smith had a meeting with then Gov. Bob Riley with several local contributors in the Houston County area. They wanted Riley to help stop the facility form being built with bingo involved. The other people involved were John Watson along with John Downs. The meeting was in Riley's office in the state capital.
_____
4:17pm – Outside of the legislature, Lewis worked on the family farm. Then he took the Florida Bar exam and wanted to practice law somewhere. After his first session went to Arkansas to get a Master's in agriculture law.

He graduated in 2007 and after his second legislative session, he took a job with the Florida State Attorney's office in Jackson County until 2010.

He worked and took a job in Florida so that he wouldn't have a bad image of holding two state jobs. H e said that he went to Florida so that people would not look bad on him being a politician and a Alabama State Attorney.

In Florida, he prosecuted misdemeanors and other crimes in the area.

Lewis said that being a politician is all about timing to get your foot in the door.

Lewis said that his 2006 campaign costs over $225,000. He raised the funds by asking form support form well known people in the community. He asked businesses for help. He had a fund raising committee to oversee his parties and seeking monies.

Lewis said that he ran as a republican and got money from the republican party. The republican gave him a lot of money for his 2006 campaign. Lewis said maybe even around $100,000.

Lewis said that he knows Harri Anne Smith. They first met in 2006 during the election cycle. They were both supported by the same people in the community.

_____
4:07pm – Judge Benjamin Lewis is now on the stand. He has been a judge exactly one year to the day.

He is from Houston County and was raised on a dairy farm. He still lives near his parents. He went to Utah State for a dairy farming degree. He went on a mission trip to New Zeleand after school.

He married after his trip and wanted to go to law school. He started at Wallace CC in Dothan and went on to Troy. After Troy State, he went to law school in Montgomery.

He has four children, all boys.

He graduated from law school in December of 2005. He took the Alabama Bar Exam in 2006 and the Florida Bar in 2007. Lewis passed both exams on his first try.

Lewis wanted to get into politics and he ran for the Alabama legislature in 2006. He qualified and ran a campaign. He was elected in November of 2006 to serve in the Alabama House of Representatives.

______________________________________________________
The government called their third witness Cheryl Farrow. The government starts their examination at the 1pm mark on Day 11 with the cross-examination by the defense beginning at 2:32pm.

_____
3:24pm – Farrow said she changed the ledger before May 4, 2010, when handed over to federal grand jury.
_____
3:17pm – Farrow says there are no contributions from McGregor to Quinton Ross. Says there is one from Bluecross & Blueshield to Sen. Ross.

The defense is finished with its cross examination of Farrow.

The government is now asking a few questions in response to the questioning of the defense.
_____
2:32pm – Farrow made Great Southern wood ledger entry Feb. 18, 2010. Indicates a quick 'correction' , not one in response to a subpoena.

Farrow says she helps manage the finances of 11 PACs.
_____
2:32pm – Jury entering courtroom. After cross examination, Judge Benjamin Lewis will be next government witness
_____
2:14pm – Farrow said she changed ledger to show that two checks to Mask from McGregor actually came from other sources.
_____
1:57pm – McGregor's ledger first noted a debit from his account to Mask from 2 PACs, but the ledger entry was crossed out

Prosecutor: Why did you record the Mask contributions as coming from McGregor?

Prosecutor: Ever deducted money from Milton McGregor’s ledger without express direction to do so? Farrow: No Ma'am

Farrow: I suppose I was instructed to do it. I’m not sure. I don’t remember back that far. The words "Bob, error" written near where McGregor ledger notation was crossed out.

Farrow said that the only reason the ledger was scratched out was because Mr. Geddie told her to do so.

Farrow says she doesn't know if the money that was crossed out in the ledger came from McGregor.

Farrow says she marked down the payments on the "correct" ledger and says she relied on what Geddie told her to do.

After crossing out McGregor ledger notation, Farrow then registered a contribution on Great Southern Wood's ledger

Great Southern Wood is also a client of Fine and Geddie.

_____
1:50pm – Prosecutor now getting to the two $2,500 donations made to the Mask campaign from Geddie PAC's.

Farrow says she wrote the checks on Feb. 15 and was requested to write the different checks to the same person at the request of Geddie.

Attorney asks Farrow why she changed her record keeping to a hand ledger from computerized. She says it was easier for the office because when someone needed to look at it, she did not have to get off of her computer because they could just look in the book.

Larry Means' name shows up on the hand written ledger. He received a check from IMPAC worth $5K requested by Bob Geddie. Means received five checks worth $5,000 all in one day. All of the checks came form the money that McGregor gave to the PAC.

The ledger also shows that two checks for $2,500 each came out of two different PAC's. The money was given by Milton McGregor and approved by Bob Geddie to give to Barry Mask.
_____
1:34pm – Ben Patterson who lobbies for McGregor took legislative analyst Ray Crosby (defendant) to eat and charged it to McGregor.

McGregor paid three checks totalling $150,000 dollars to the Fine and Geddie PAC from his account in 2009. Around the same time of the previous three checks, McGregor wrote a check in the amount of $18,500 from the Jefferson County Racing Inc., a company in which he owns as well.

Farrow said that Mr. Fine or Mr. Geddie decided who the money from the PAC goes to and how much it is spent.

Farrow said that she can't remember spending PAC money without notice from Fine or Geddie
_____
1:25pm – Cheryl Farrow is back on the stand this afternoon and is being questioned by the government.

Farrow works for Fine and Geddie and is testifying on a McGregor invoice at the firm.

Emily Woods, attorney for the government, is possibly working toward a ledger notation for the checks given at the Mask fundraiser.

Farrow said that McGregors' payments to the firm exceeded tens of thousands of dollars during the time of the investigation.

Farrow talking about bill from lunch with Fine and Geddie employee Ben Patterson and Ray Crosby. The total bill was 37 dollars at a Montgomery restaurant

Farrow is talking about a few meals that the lobbying firm paid and was later reimbursed by McGregor.

Woods is now asking Farrow what a PAC (political action committee) is. She said that she knows what they are. Farrow says that Fine and Geddie contribute to 11 different PAC's.
_____
1:01pm-- Right now, the bookkeeper for Bob Geddie's lobbying firm is on the stand testifying about who paid who and who the different clients are in the firm.

She uses the same lawyer that Geddie uses. Before the trial, she refused to cooperate with the government. Today is the first time that she has spoken with them because she was called to testify.

She is not being very cooperative with them.

_____
1:00pm – I am back in the courtroom for the afternoon session.

A woman who organized a fundraiser for state Rep. Barry Mask testified a representative of Milton
McGregor's VictoryLand gambling hall wanted to buy all of the 100 tickets priced at $50 each.
Debbie Moore said she told the man that no tickets were left for the event in February 2010.

But the man said they would attend anyway. Moore said two men showed up at the fundraiser with two checks totaling $5,000 in campaign donations. Both were lobbyists for McGregor. One of them, Bob Geddie, is on trial with McGregor.

Moore took the witness stand Tuesday after Mask testified that McGregor offered him significant campaign contributions if he would support pro-gambling legislation. Mask testified Geddie never asked
him to do anything wrong.

_____
The government has filed a motion Monday evening with Judge Myron Thompson in efforts to keep the defense attorneys from cross examining a key witness in Benjamin Lewis about his appointment to a Houston County District Judge seat by then Gov. Bob Riley.

Prosecutors do not want the FBI Analyst to be asked about Lewis' motivations about cooperating with the FBI saying that those issues are irrelevant to the case.

The FBI analyst report that states although Lewis was a "suitable" source to be used, he could have a political motivation for cooperating with the government.

The motion says that two months after Lewis' last FBI recording, he was appointed as Houston County District Court Judge by Riley.

The motion will be ruled on by Judge Thompson sometime on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Mask still has a few attorneys to go through on Tuesday but them Judge Benjamin Lewis will be next on that stand.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The government called their second witness.Rep. Barry Mask. The government starts their examination at the 4:50pm mark on Day 9.

4:16pm-- Mask spoke at public hearing of the tourism committee on a similar gambling bill.

Now Espy says he's going to try to disprove that Mask was simply role playing for the FBI.

Feaga objects to espy reading transcript using his inflection on what was said. Thompson says jury can make final determination

"I think there was an issue of when he was role playing," judge said of Mask.

Espy trying to prove that Mask was working on his own behalf as well as that of the FBI.

Espy: There was no mention of a fundraiser in this conversation before you brought it up, correct?

Espy: Isn’t it a fact Geddie said to you, 'Mr. McGregor asked me to come but here are two of my corporate client’s checks'? Mask: No.

Espy says there wouldn't be a dispute over what was said, had Mask hit the record button. Mask says FBI didn't tell him who to record.

Espy questions Mask about who he chose to record and who he didn't choose to record

While Mask spent hours w/prosecutors and FBI prepping for trial, admitted he wouldn't meet with attorney for defendant Geddie

Judkins says poarch creek casino benefits in Wetumpka if McGregor goes ou tof business? Mask says he doesn’t know that for a fact.
Mask said he has never discussed any gambling bill with lobbyist Bob Geddie.

Judkins says the money can't be proven it's from Computer Associates and we don't know it's from the Poarch Creek Indians.

Mask was named chairman of house committee that used to handle gaming bills after republicans took control of house

_____
4:03pm-- Mask spoke at public hearing of the tourism committee on a similar gambling bill.

Now Espy says he's going to try to disprove that Mask was simply role playing for the FBI.

Feaga objects to espy reading transcript using his inflection on what was said. Thompson says jury can make final determination

"I think there was an issue of when he was role playing," judge said of Mask.

Espy trying to prove that Mask was working on his own behalf as well as that of the FBI.

Espy: There was no mention of a fundraiser in this conversation before you brought it up, correct?

Espy: Isn’t it a fact Geddie said to you, 'Mr. McGregor asked me to come but here are two of my corporate client’s checks'? Mask: No.

Espy says there wouldn't be a dispute over what was said, had Mask hit the record button. Mask says FBI didn't tell him who to record.

Espy questions Mask about who he chose to record and who he didn't choose to record

While Mask spent hours w/prosecutors and FBI prepping for trial, admitted he wouldn't meet with attorney for defendant Geddie

Judkins says poarch creek casino benefits in Wetumpka if McGregor goes ou tof business? Mask says he doesn’t know that for a fact

Judkins says the money can't be proven it's from Computer Associates and we don't know it's from the Poarch Creek Indians.

Mask was named chairman of house committee that used to handle gaming bills after republicans took control of house

_____
2:30pm-- McGregor to Mask: I got Bob (Geddie) and Ben (Patterson) to go over to your function last night.

Prosecution concludes questioning of Rep. Barry Mask. Joe Espy up first for Milton McGregor and the defense.

Mask on Beason's testimony: I was proud of the stand he took, yes sir.

Espy asks when worked for Thompson engineering did he work for poarch creek indians. Mask says that it was not one of his accounts.

Espy wants to ask Mask about his dealings with the Poarch Creek Indians. Judge excuses jury to hear where Espy wants to go

Espy you are founder of Elmore County economic development authority. Do you receive public funding? Mask: some of money comes from governments

Espy accuses Mask of double dipping, receiving checks from state and from Elmore County Economic Development Authority

Espy wants permission to show mask got referral money from former Lt. Governor Steve Windom who lobbies for poarch creek band of Indians

Mask says he has received between $10K-$50K from a lobbying firm. Mask is explaining it's from work he did before he took office. #bingo

Mask says the work was for helping get the company Computer Associates, who does work for the state.

Mask says he raised money from PAC's for his reelection campaign. Espy reading off names of PACs from his campaign finance form.

Mask says he didn't have an opponent in 2006 but he raised money. Mask says he did it because it's allowed under Alabama law.

Espy to Mask: Did you contribute to 12 unopposed candidates the day before the election, Nov. 1, 2010?

Mask plays poker with friends Feaga objects espy says it's relevant because mask said he was opposed to gambling.

Earlier Mask said he doesn't vote on gambling legislation because, "it's a personal philosophy of mine" & didn't like how casinos took money

Mask says he doesn't have a problem with a constituent calling him and asking him to support an issue because it was important to him.

Espy: Mask called head of the Republican Party the day after his fundraiser in February of 2010

_______________
11:58am-- Mask said that on the same day, lobbyist Bob Geddie came to his fundraiser and handed over an envelope with a contribution

Feaga is showing Mask a copy of the envelope he received on the night of the fundraiser.

Mask: Inside the envelope was two checks, one from MAX Pac for $2,500. The PAC is cotrolled by Geddie's firm.

Mask: Second check was $2,500 from TEL Pac to Mask's campaign, another Geddie-controlled PAC.

Mask, after seeing the two checks later on that night, "Oh crap"

FBI then told Mask to create a different account and deposit the checks. The money is still in the account.

Thompson tells Feaga after jury leaves it's up to jury to decide if it was a bribe not for witness to say it was a bribe. "Don't do it again!"

_____
11:45am-- On tape, Mask is asking McGregor for a dollar amount. Prosecutors asking Mask for his state of mind during conversation

Mc says I need time to work people. I can get significant help foryour campaign. Mask says that means it wouldn't be a little help.

Mask to McGregor: How much help are we talking about? McGregor: I said significant help. These people are players, Barry

Mask ask how much, 500 or a couple of thousand? Mc says no Barry these people are players. All they want is good govt

Lobbyist Bob Geddie, a defendant, delivered two checks totaling $5,000 to a Mask fundraiser that night

McGregor on tape says he likes Benjamin Lewis and Mask tells him he's acting as a mentor to him. Mask says FBI told him to ask about Lewis.

US trying to prove that Mask, Lewis, Beason didn't know the others were also cooperating with FBI. Mask says he didn't know they were.

“I’m going to pay a political price if I vote for it,” Mask tells McGregor

_____
11:27am-- Mask says McGregor assumes he is taking money from Poarch Creek Indians since they operate a casino in his district.

“I can get you support from people. I wouldn’t think you would want support directly from me,” McGregor says to Mask .

Mask says he knew the issue of bingo wasn't popular in his area
McGregor: Anybody that ... will not let their constituents vote on this issue, there will be a price to pay in the June elections.

Mask says that was a political threat.

_____
10:55am-- U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson has not yet ruled on whether McGregor's attorneys can question Mask about getting a referral fee from lobbyist Steve Windom for recommending a non-gambling client to him.

Windom's clients included the Poarch Creek Indians. The tribe has a Wetumpka casino that competes with McGregor's VictoryLand.

_____
10:53am-- Mask: what can we do to satisfy both sides on the bill? Mask says he only did that because he was cooperating with government

Mask: Only reason I am having this conversation is my cooperation with the government. "To see if he is going to try to buy my vote.”

McGregor says on the phone that the people that will decide issue won't be legislature, that it will be and should be voters of Alabama.

McGregor says he's 100% sure the votes are there. Says it's not a
gaming issue. Says it's a fairness issue and the people want to vote on it

Mask replies in the call that it is a fairness issue. McGregor says,
"That's the honest to God truth" and he's happy to hear Mask say that
“No kind of lending institution would lend that kind of money if it was not legal,” McGregor says of millions he borrowed

_____
10:41am-- Mask says he never asked McGregor for contributions and he says he doesn't take any money from gambling interests.

Defense objects and Judge Thompson sustains the objection.
Mask says he does not take money from gambling interest, including McGregor and Indians.

Mask says McGregor knew his position on gambling and wouldn't have returned call if not cooperating with federal government.

McGregor says on call that it wouldn't be appropriate for him to influence who would be on state gaming commission.

Mask said the FBI agents are still in his office as he talks to McGregor. He said he plays a role in conversation

Mask says support generally means, "financial contributions" for his campaign.

Mask: "I don't think I've ever voted in favor of any gambling bill."

_____
10:06am-- Feaga is taking Mask through the legislative process concerning SB380, the bingo bill.

They are talking about what's required for a constitutional amendment to pass. It needs more votes than just a majority. Mask says it’s harder.

Mask met with the FBI on April 15th. They talked about a phone call from Milton McGregor. Mask says he returned Milton McGregor's phone call and the FBI was present on Feb. 15, 2010.

The prosecution about to play tape of Mask conversation with Milton McGregor. Passing out transcripts to jury. The call is 36 minutes long.

Mask to McGregor: Gaming interests should not be able to contribute to people who would appoint gaming commissions’ members.

McGregor says, "I like Barry Mask. I've told people that." Mask says, "I respect you too . . . wish you didn't run those stupid commercials."
Mask believes McGregor supported his opponent in previous election. McGregor denies it.

“I have a lot of respect for you. You remind me a lot of my dad,” Mask said to McGregor.

McGregor: "Our industry is a creation of the Alabama legislature. I don't like it but I accept. I wish we weren't."

McGregor says that he is like anyone else, Alfa, doctors, lawyers when it comes to lobbying lawmakers.

I wish I didn’t have to contribute to anyone else

_____
9:52am--Feaga is taking Mask through the legislative process concerning SB380, the bingo bill.

They are talking about what's required for a constitutional amendment to pass. It needs more votes than just a majority. Mask says it’s harder.

Mask met with the FBI on April 15th. They talked about a phone call from Milton McGregor. Mask says he returned Milton McGregor's phone call and the FBI was present on Feb. 15, 2010.

The prosecution about to play tape of Mask conversation with Milton McGregor. Passing out transcripts to jury. The call is 36 minutes long.

_____
9:40am-- Espy also plans to attack Mask on receiving payment from Steve Windom, who represents Poarch Creek Indians among others.

Espy says Mask draws $93K from economic development office and $43K from legislature and no other private income.

In call, Feaga says McGregor talks about supporting bingo bill and McGregor will talk about giving mask significant support.

Thompson says Mask motives may be questioned. Feaga disagrees.

Thompson says shouldn't motive be question? Feaga says none of issues have to do with gambling, double dipping or getting money from Windom.

Mask describing his position as a state representative to the jury. Says he's paid by the state for that job by the stat

_____
8:51am-- Lawyers are still behind closed doors meeting with Judge Thompson...Court is supposed to start at 9am.
_____
8:40am-- There were objections from the defense last week about Mask testifying about conversations in the State House that don't have transcripts. Judge Thompson said he didn't want any gossip in his courtroom and everything needed to be factual.

The other two witnesses are not expected to testify very long and we do not know who is next for the government.

_____
8:08am-- Alabama's gambling corruption trial is starting its third week with testimony scheduled from one of the three legislators who helped the FBI with the investigation.

Prosecutors say Republican Rep. Barry Mask of Wetumpka is due to
take the witness stand Monday.

Mask must have something on Milton McGregor because McGregor's legal team objected several times. Joe Espy is making sure that Mask walks a straight line while on the stand.

So far, there have been two of three legislators who were listed in the indictment to testify. The only one left is Judge Benjamin Lewis of Dothan. He also wore a wire and recorded multiple call and taped conversations.

Also, this past Saturday, prosecutors, along with the defense teams and the defendants,were in court all day.

Hearings started at 11 AM and were completed after 5 PM today. The hearings were behind closed doors, out of the presence of the jury and public.

The files are sealed as to the subject matter. The files are mostly related to FBI Lead Investigator Keith Baker.

Just before the jury selection began issues were raised concerning Baker. Those issues quickly went behind closed doors.

During the cross examination of Senator Scott Beason, defense attorneys asked for an "in camera" hearing before they proceeded with cross. We do not know the details of the subject matter other than something relating to Agent Baker.

No parties have commented. Court is scheduled to resume on Monday morning.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 16th--Day 9

The government called their second witness.Rep. Barry Mask. The government starts their examination at the 4:50pm mark on Day 9.

4:46pm – What Mask said that he was hearing that votes were there to be bought. He heard that people were offering money and other stuff for votes.

The jury has been dismissed for the day and the attorneys are discussing Mask's testimony about what he heard in the state house is hear-say and not factual evidence.

_____
4:46pm – The defense and the government are done with Senator Scott Beason. The government will now call Rep. Barry Mask of Wetumpka.

January 1st 2010 thru April of 2010...The legislature was in session from February until April. Mask says that 2010 was an election year and Mask was up for election. Mask was reelected that year. On February 14th of 2010, Mask said that he spoke with a man named Robert Lambert. Mask said that Lambert called him a day or so before the 14th. Mask said that McGregor call him on the 14th and left a message.

Fegea, assistant US Attorney, asked Mask if he knew the defendants in the courtroom and he said he knows most of them.

Mask said that he has seen the transcript and has heard the audio recording that the government is about to play.

The audio is a message that Milton McGregor left for Mask. Mask said the message was the first time on more than a year that he had heard from Milton Mcgregor.

The messages said to please give him a call at his earliest convenience.

After the message, Mask called the legal adviser for the Alabama Dept. of Public Safety. Mask said the previous week, he was planning a fundraiser for his campaign to take place the very next week. He was selling tickets and there were only 100 tickets to be sold at $50 each.

A guy from Victoryland, Wayne Bennefield, called Ms. Moore, the ladies name on the flyer, and offered to buy all of the tickets to the dinner. He denied them because that he had never taken any gambling money and was not going to start. Moore told Bennefield that the dinner was sold out and Bennefield that they would be there anyway. Mask reached out to the Dept. of Public Safety because he feared that they would ruin his dinner. Mask also said that he reached out because of what he had been hearing at the Alabama State House.
______
4:50pm – The defense and the government are done with Senator Scott Beason. The government will now call Rep. Barry Mask of Wetumpka.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The government will re-cross examine Senator Scott Beason after the final two attorneys for the defense. The government starts their cross at the 11:30am mark.
_____
4:30– Judge Thompson says that Beason himself interjected race into all of this. He is the one that had the political conversation and made the racial remarks for whatever reason, he is the one that made them.

So as far as the ruling, Judge Thompson deems the racial remarks relevant. He just warns the defense not to interject the race card in everything.
_____
4:25pm – Government prosecutor Justin Shur complains that the defense has introduced "highly predjudicial" evidence of Scott Beason's racial remarks.

Defense attorney Segall responds that Beason's racial remarks are relevant. "We didn't interject race into this."
_____
4:05pm-- Beason said he considered fellow Republicans Jabo Waggoner and Steve French rivals.
____
3:30pm – Beason said that the meeting between him,Gilley, McGregor and Massey, Beason is the one that wanted McGregor. Massey even told Beason that he should meet with him and Gilley before getting McGregor involved but Beason wanted him there anyway.

Beason agrees that Massey never told him that he worked for McGregor and he does not know if McGregor ever paid him a dime.

Beason said that Massey often made comments negatively towards McGregor and that Gilley and Massey had a different approach that McGregor.

Segall trying to close the circle to Beason, Massey, Gilley instead of Milton McGregor

_____
3:20pm – In conversation where "aborigines" was said, Segall asks, "you want the jury to know you didn't understand what was being talked about?"

Segall asks Beason about blacks going to the polls, he said that would not help republican in the election. Beason said that he did not mean what was said. Beason said that to bus the blacks, somebody would have to pay for the bus to transport them. Segall asked him does he think that blacks can't go to the polls by themselves? Beason said that he did not know what a “HUD” bus was.

Beason tells the jury that he was unsure if he was fully engaged in the conversation. But Segall tells him that he knew everything that was going on but was still unsure if he was involved?

Beason said that when he said “aborigine” he was not referring to the blacks in Greene County. Beason said that he was talking about the natives of Australia. Segall asks Beason is he referred to the great people of Green County as being all from Australia. Beason says that he did not know what he meant by saying that.
_____
3:05pm – Bobby Segall asks Beason if he thinks a 500k offer, is a big deal. Beason says that it is. Segall questions him that since it was such a big deal why did he never tell the FBI about the supposed money offer.

Beason says that he does not blame any defendant for not reading his FBI “302” form, which is a summary of his testimony to the FBI.

Segall then asks Beason if he traded text messages with the FBI outside of the messages he forwarded to them and he said no in his prior testimony to the court, the judge, and other attorneys.

Beason then said that he did trade text messages with the FBI and the government objected but they were overruled.

Segall asks Beason if he was fully involved in the conversation when he talked about the blacks and getting them to vote for SB380. Beason responded I don't know if I was or not. I was there but I do not know if I was involved in the conversation.
_____
2:55pm – Bobby Segall is now questioning Scott Beason. Seagll asks him about the “Legislative Reference Service” and asks him if he had told the entire truth about his testimony.

Beason said that he does not know how the “LRS” works and can not say what their rules are.

He asked Beason if Smith ever “offered” him 500k...and he said that she did not offer him the money.

Beason said that he would be offered 500k if he was on their (gambling interests) team. He said that he was unsure if they could raise or just give him the money.

Beason said that he is unsure of what she said.

Segall shows Beason a copy of the court transcript where Beason did in fact say that the gambling interests would help him raise the money and not just give it to him.
_____
1:55pm – Louis Franklin brings up the 500k amount that Smith supposedly said to Beason. In talking Franklin called it a bribe and Jim Parkman objected to his comment. Judge Thompson has stated that the word “bribe” can not be used.

Louis Franklin is pushing the envelope in an effort to retie all of the defendants to Scott Beason and help rebuild his character and show that his testimony is beneficiary to the government.
_____
2:10pm – Louis Franklin going over the times that Milton McGregor and Ronnie Gilley appear to act in tandem or when either uses the word “we”.

Beason said that in the transcripts that are being read right now, he does not see the word “I”. Gilley and McGregor keep using the word “we”.

Gilley and McGregor said that the vote would be coming up on Tuesday...and they both said that they needed Beason's vote and used a few expletive words in saying that.

This whole re-cross by the government is trying to involve McGregor with Beason. In all of the transcripts that are being read are relating to McGregor.

Beason said that he did not keep any recordings of calls or conversations that were taped.
_____
1:55pm – Paul Hubbert mentioned in transcript, that information would be communicated to him and Milton McGregor.

Brad Unruh in phone call to Beason: McGregor and Paul Hubbert can help get people out of races. Unruh said that he does not want to bring in the “big dude” unless we have to.

Franklin now trying to reconnect McGregor to the alleged conspiracy

The very next day, McGregor went to a meeting with Massey, Beason, and Gilley.

In the meeting McGregor said that he would ask for Beason's support. Also mentions in the conversation that says Gilley said that never asked Harri Anne Smith for anything.

Beason said during his time in the Senate, he never recalled voting along with McGregor on anything that he supported or helped write.

In another reading, McGregor told Beason that now was the time for him to help him because he wanted the people to vote and that he needed his help in helping pass the bill.

Beason mentions asks the men what they were going to do to help him and how it would happen.

Beason again mentions the Harri Anne Smith offered him 500k for his support in helping him run for a higher office. In the recorded conversation Beason recorded, McGregor said that he and Gilley have a habit of supporting people who support them and said that his”butt” is on the line.
_____
1:30pm – The attorneys and the judge had a meeting in chamber after the lunch recess for about 25 minutes.

A juror submitted another question to Judge Thompson asking if a senator should know every bill that is submitted in the legislature.

Louis Franklin and Scott Beason are reading a transcript from a taped recording. Beason is playing himself and Franklin is reading the part spoken by Jarrod Massey.

Segall, for Milton McGregor, objected because the government only read part of a sentence. Then after a little banter, the government read the entire sentence.

That conversation took place on the 16th of February. Beason said that he spoke to Brad Unruh on the 17th , the very next day.
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11:58am – The jury has been excused for lunch and the attorneys are questioning Beason outside the presence of the jury.

During the meetings with Massey, he said that he was offered a million dollars a year for his personal use however he saw fit.

Thompson tells Louis Franklin: "How is his belief [Beason's] any more important than my belief" as to who Massey worked for?

He needs evidence to support this.

Judge Thompson is hearing some arguments from each side about how Beason's understanding of who was bribing him.

A witness view of and if anyone violated the law is up to the jury and not the witness. Thompson said the witness has no idea who people were acting on behalf of. That is up to the jury.

On that, we will take a lunch.
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11:40am – “Did you know Monica Cooper worked for Milton McGregor” prosecutor asks Beason. She worked for Senate Republicans.

Beason said that he talked with Monica Cooper in his car after the meeting with the gambling interests. He said that he talked to for for roughly 30 minutes.

The government wants to play the entire conversation to the jury and says that the defense took the conversation out of context. The judge says to the government that they will take up the matter outside of the jury.

Beason said that there was no benefit to him if the legislation had passed. He said that he did not spend any money on trying to get the bill passed. He said gambling bills do not get out of the tourism committee because it is an anti-gambling committee. He said the bill never even came up in the committee for discussion.

Beason said that he did not tell the FBI anything about Milton McGreogr in his first meeting with them.

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11:30am – Beason said that he has not lied on the stand. Nor has he lied about any of the defendants because he does not like them or because they did not support him.

Beason said that he went to the FBI because of a threat that he got from Jarrod Massey. Not because he was trying to take down Milton McGregor or Ronnie Gilley.

Beason said that all of the people he recorded he still views them as friends. He even said Harri Anne Smith was still a friend of his. Smith said yesterday that she was in no way friends with him after what he said the day before.

The defense objects and says that the government is leading the witness in trying to get the answer that they want.

Louis Franklin asks Beason if he was friends with Monica Cooper and Franklin tells him that she was paid by McGregor. Beason said that he was unaware of that.

Beason said that he mentioned the meeting with Gilley, Massey and McGregor to Monica Cooper.
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10:50am The defense has finished their cross-examination of Beason. The government is up next to help repair his testimony to the jury.

Louis Franklin, when asked how long it will be, he answered: Lengthy you honor"

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10:39am –Ross Atty. pointing out that Beason gets money from pro-business groups he agrees with just like Ross gets money from AEA and other groups he agrees with.

Beason said that he is not a friend of the AEA because they don't support and stand what he stands for.
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9:25am – Englehart going over bills and constitutional amendments Beason sponsored, prosecution questions relevance. Beason said that when you are against a bill, when the bill sponsor speaks at the lectern in the Senate, Beason says that people do not care what they are saying.
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10:07am – Ross was the sponsor of the "Sweet Home Alabama" bill that dictated where electronic bingo was allowed in the state.

Beason had no recordings of Ross, no connection between the two, Ross' attorney is just asking questions that are really not important.

What they are tryin to do is establish the Ross has always been in support of bingo in Alabama. Beason says that does not surprise him that he has always been in favor of bingo.

Ross says that bingo will being in a lot of tax money and will help schools and medicaid for Alabama. Ross supports bingo because if will help the education budget and system in the state.

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9:42am Beason would give metallic box used with the wire he'd used to record conversations to FBI, agents would give him a new one. Basically a storage device.

Beason said that Quinton Ross was not on any of the tapes. Beason said that there was no reason to even record Ross. The FBI did not mention to record Ross either.
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9:35am FBI told Senate leadership about the investigation after the bingo bill passed the Senate.

FBI investigators informed State House leadership about investigation after the bill passed the Senate. It died in House.

Beason said that in 2010 that he wore a wire basically everyday that he went to the Senate. Beason said that he recorded a lot of conversations when he wore the wire in the Senate. Beason said that he was trying to catch the “bad guys”.

Beason recorded some people that the FBI did not tell him to record. He said he did it because he felt that they might talk about gambling. The “on” switch was located around the buckle of his belt. He had to learn different ways to turn it on and off.

Beason is now talking about his rooming with then Rep. Ben Lewis at the Day's Inn on Zelda Road in Montgomery. Lewis gave Beason the contact information for him to contact the FBI.
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9:22am Mark Engelhart, not Lewis Gillis, is questioning Scott Beason for Quinton Ross.

He is mentioning his techniques and how he recorded phone calls and conversations.

Beason said that in his mind Agent Keith Baker was the lead investigator in the case.

Ross' attorney asked Beason if he recorded conversations in the Senate after Senate Bill 380, Beason said he was unsure of when he stopped recording.

The vote took pace on March 30th. Beason said that he knew he had recorded and was recording conversations during the vote and days and weeks leading up to the vote.

Beason said that people are often careful and more reserved when a controversial bill is before the senate. The senators are communicating between themselves then often do not discuss plans with people that they know are not on board with a particular bill.

Beason's role was to get conversations and get people to talk about gambling.

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9:04am The defense has two more attorneys to cross-examine Senator Scott Beason. The attorneys said that they will about 45 minutes each. After the defense is finished, the government will work to repair Beason's image and help restore his testimony.

Jim Parkman, attorney for Harri Anne Smith, said that “God himself could not help him”. Joe Espy for Milton McGregor echoed that statement and said that Beason would probably be on the stand all day.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 15th-- Day 8
The following text down until 1:15pm on Day 7 is testimony from Senator Scott Beason during cross examination

7:30pm The defense finished hammering Scott Beason tonight. The action part of the day was when Jim Parkman had his turn with Beason. The thing Parkman kept asking was when and if Beason said he was offered 500k from Senator Harri Anne Smith.

Parkman was showing that Beason had no evidence of the said conversation.

SO, we will come back again tomorrow and do it all again tomorrow.

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5:08pm--“Most of the time we walked. Ben was not a big jogger” Beason said when asked about jogging with Ben Lewis.
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4:53pm Susan James, attorney for Country Crossing spokesperson Jay Walker, is now addressing Scott Beason. She is asking his questions about the republican and if Beason was wearing a wire in the 2011 legislative session. Beason said that he was not.

She brings up Massey offering him one million dollars a year if he would support the gambling interests. Beason said that the FBI did not direct him to record a conversation with Walker.

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4:39pm--Bob Geddie and Larry Means' attorneys did not have any questions for Scott Beason.
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4:30pmBeason said he did not remember Tom Coker ever talking to him during this time about the so-called bingo bills. He made it clear that Gilley and Massey worked together and never involved Tom Coker.
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4:15pm Bill Baxley is now cross-examining Scott Beason. Baxley asks Beason if his client, Tom Coker, was on any of the tapes that were recorded...BEason says, “No sir”

Beason says that Coker never uttered a word to him about any legislation and trying to get it passed.

Beason said that he could not remember Coker ever saying anything.

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3:25pm – Parkman just introduced into evidence every tape that Smith is on.

Parkman said that Smith ran polls in her district and they showed that a large percentage of the people wanted the right to vote. And at that point, she said she was going to do what the people of her district wanted. She said the only people that could buy her voter were the people's votes themselves.

Parkman asked Beason is he told the FBI his name, birthdate, phone number, and many other questions relating to Garretts and the Congressional Campaign.

Beason said that he was told about finding out about Smith buying or drinking alcohol in Geneva County. Beason told the FBI that. Then Parkman tells Beason that there is no way that is possible because Geneva County is a dry county.

Then Parkman finished his cross examination of Scott Beason.

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3:35pm – During a taped conversation that Beason recorded in Smith's office, Beason mentioned the name Jarrod Massey and Smith did not know who he was.

Parkman then says if Smith was involved in a conspiracy, they she would have had to of know who Jarrod Massey was. So, how is she involved if she doesn't even know who the guy is.

Smith says that she would support Beason's bill if it would have allowed the people the right to vote. Smith said that she was for a vote of the people. In the end, I want a vote. She even voted for the lottery so the people could have the right to vote on issues that would apply to them.

Smith said that she went the Bob Riley and asked him about the bingo situation and what to do about it.. Smith said that it did not do any good and she said that she had to go somewhere else. She asked Riley about jobs and bringing business to her area, and he said “No”. Riley then sent her to then Attorney General Troy King.

Beason said that he doesn't know of Smith ever using foul language. She never talked bad about anyone either.
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3:25pm – Parkman asked Beason if he did not like her because of a loan. He said that he did not recall that. Parkman asked if he asked for help to help pay 70k in credit card bills. Beason said that Friend Bank turned him down for a loan at Friend Bank, owned by Smith's family.

Parkman asked of the 120ish calls that were taped, how many did the government play in court?

Parkman said that 5 were played. Beason agreed. Parkman says that not a single tape had Smith's voice on any of them. Parkman says, “Does 4 out of the 120 sound correct that contain Smith's voice?” Beason says he does not know.

To this point between Parkman and Beason, Beason has said, “I do not recall” a total of 66 times.

Beason said that Smith is not on any of the calls played in court to date and Gilley said in a tape that he has not asked anything of Smith. Gilley says that he never asked Smith to do anything for him. Not money or anything.

Beason agrees that none of the people in the tapes never mentioned money relating to Harri Anne Smith. He said that money from Smith was never mentioned in any of the 120ish calls.
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3:10pm – In back in 2008, Beason understood that Smith wanted a vote by the people on the bingo issue whether local or statewide.

Beason said that he has heard before that she (Smith) wants a vote of the people. One of Beason's bills was to let the people to outlaw gambling.

Both Beason and Roger Bedford's bills were to let the people vote. Beason said that he has never heard Smith say that she did not want the people to vote on the issue.

After Smith lost the race for Congress to Jay Love, she publicly endorsed Democrat Bobby Bright. She supported Bright over Love because she thought she was the best candidate.

Beason said that she was not kicked out of the republican party, she was just not allowed on the ballot as a republican. That's why she had to run as a independent.

Parkman said that if you are not allowed on a ballot after being a republican for many years, that basically means she was kicked out.

Beason that he did not go to the committee meeting to voice support for Smith.

Beason said that the republicans had a candidate in the district that supported the republicans. George Flowers was a good friend and supporter of Benjamin Lewis and he had the support of the republican party. Beason that he did not really care who won the race.

Parkman then asked Beason if he told Lewis that “Smith was stupid”. Beason said that he did not recall ever saying that. Beason said that he has never thought that either but may have made some stupid decisions.
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2:50pm The court is in a brief recess
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2:25pm – Beason said that he does not remember ever telling Ronnie Gilley that he could not help and that they did not want his help.
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2:25pm – Beason says that he never uses words that disgrace people of another race.

Parkman asked him, “Why did you not get up and leave?” Beason: I don't know.

Beason said that the FBI may have not written down what he said but he spoke the truth.

Beason said that not everyone is the Wiregrass was supportive of the Country Crossing project. Parkman says that the project would have created jobs and income for people in the Wiregrass area.

Beason said that he did not dream up the 500k even though he was unsure when he told the FBI that. Beason said he is unsure of how complete the FBI's notes are and at the time he was unsure if it was a big deal or not.

Beason said on Monday, in his testimony, that it was a huge deal and was very serious. He went to the fed after a threat but he said that the threat was not form Senator Smith.

Beason says that Smith never uttered a threat towards him.

Beason said that he nor Harri Anne did not do anything illegal during the campaign when she ran for US Congress. He charged Smith ten thousand dollars for his help. Beason said that Chris Brown worked for his in the campaign.

Smith wrote Beason's group a check for $10,000 and Chris Brown's group got a check for $104,000. Beason said that he got four to five thousand of the $104,000.

Parkman said that in 2008 that a $2,000 check came to Smith's campaign from Ronnie Gilley and she returned it. Beason then told Gilley that they did not want his support.
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2:11pm – During the FBI meeting, the agents of the FBI were taking notes during the meeting, which was the first one with the FBI.

Beason says he was unsure of how long it lasted. Beason said that he had a conversation and told them everything that he knew about the meeting. Beason said that he was never rushed and told them what he knew.

Parkman asks him, did you say this, “Senator Smith told me that these people are really serious about their project and could help them with their campaigns.” Beason said he did.

In the meeting on April 15th with the FBI, Beason never mentioned the words “Lt. Governor, or 500k, or that you have to be a part of the team.”

Beason says that he remembers what Harri Anne Smith said and Parkman questions him about it.

Beason said that he does not have a tape recording of the conversation between him and Smith. Beason said that the conversation happened before he got any recording device.

Beason said that he never talked to Smith after that night about the 500k. Whether on the phone or in face-to-face meetings, Beason said that he never asked Smith about the money.

Beason said that he told the FBI at some point but was unsure of exactly when he told them about the meeting.

Beason said that he actually told the Grand Jury on May 5th of 2010 that Smith had offered him the money and the FBI even had no knowledge of it.

Beason told Parkman to ask the FBI and he said, “No, right now, you are here with me.”

Parkman asks him about his talking of the great people of this state and the voters of this state. He talks about blacks and republicans.

Parkman said that being a republican does not make people a member of Beason's country club group....Beason disagrees.

Beason said that Senator Smith used to be a part of his political party.

Beaosn tells Parkman that he didn't say anything negative about the blacks in Greene County only that he was just there and agreed and that he agrees a lot to things.

Beason said that the word “aborigine” is not slang and that he knows what is means.

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1:52pm – Beason admits that the project will be an economic development.

Beason says that Lewis and Gilley got into a heated discussion because Lewis was not in support of the legislation.

Lewis went down to the other end of the table to talk with Gilley. Beason said that he was talking with Country music stars. He said that Smith never got up to intervene about anything.

Beason said on Monday that he walked out with Smith. Beason said that he probably held the door open for her. He was unsure where she parked. He thinks they parked near each other. He said that the Lt. Governor conversation took place in the parking lot.

Beason says during the roughly 35 yard walk to the car, he was unsure of what they were talking about.

Beason says that Smith said, “If you run for Lt. Gov, these guys can raise half a million dollars if you are on the team.”

Beason said that this conversation has stayed with him over the two year period up to this point.

Beason met with the FBI exactly six weeks to tell the FBI the story. Beason then calls the FBI agent by his first name and Parkman questions his respect for the FBI agents and wonders why he calls them by their first name. The FBI meeting was April 15th.

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1:19pm – Beason said he knew what the meeting was about at the restaurant. He knew it was about Country Crossing.

Beason says that he is anti-bingo and anti-gambling and went only because Smith invited him. Beason said that he went to hear what they wanted to say because he wanted to keep an open mind about the project. Beason said that nothing would change his mind about the project.

Beason went to more than one meeting hosted by pro-bingo people just to hear what they had to say. He said he went to get more facts just in case he was put on the spot about the legislation.

Parkman says that to know about a bill, you need to sit in your lounge chair and read the bill. You don't get the free buffet at home and you aren't seen.

Beason agreed that Harri Anne Smith, Benjamin Lewis, country music stars, lobbyists and Ronnie Gilley were all there.

Parkman says that the purpose of the meeting was not about the bill, it was about the project. Parkman says that there was no bill in front of the legislature at the time of the meeting. And Beason agreed.

Beason says that the Country Crossing project needed legislation to open up. Beason said that Smith did not give a presentation at the meeting, nor spoke at the meeting. She did not introduce Gilley or anyone else.

During the meeting, Beason says that he does not remember what Smith said.

Parkman says that Gilley got up and talked about the project but Beason says that bingo was not the whole project. Parkman says that the project had a water park, bowling alley, golf courses, neighborhoods, concert area for singers, restaurants, hotels, and other things for families. Beason agreed to half of them.
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1:31pm – Beason said that the meeting was actually the Sunday before. Roughly three to four people were present that night.

Beason said that the FBI did not instruct him what to say. He says that he has had no more than five meetings with the government with go over the tapes and the transcripts. Beason said that he listened to the tapes that the FBI and the government wanted him to listen to.

Parkman asks Beason if he went through tapes and transcripts in every meeting. Beason said he went through some tapes but Parkman tell him that he said under oath a few minutes ago where Beason said that he went through ALL of the tapes and Beason tried to backtrack.

Beason said that he went to the FBI roughly 50 times and Parkman says, “Ok.”

Parkman tells Beason that he recoded over 120 conversations and Beason said that he went to the FBI after every recording and then Parkman says that his math tells him that 120 taped conversations means you will got to the FBI more than 50 times.

Beason said that he met the FBI at the Bass Pro Shop in Prattville and he was not sure if he ate or not or who paid the bill. He said that was the only time outside of the FBI office that they met.

Beason said that he never forwarded any texts outside of the ones sent to him to FBI Agent Keith Baker. Beason then said he often called the feds and tell them what he was hearing form the state legislature. Beason says he has no idea of how many times he called the feds.

Parkman switches gears to talk about the meeting at Garrett's on March 4th, 2009. Garretts was on Atlanta Highway near AUM in Montgomery. Beason said that he was invited by his friends Senator Smith and Claire Austin.

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1:19pm – Mr. Parkman is asking Beason how he has prepared for his testimony and if had met with the government. The government asks Mr. Beason “how he was holding up” and Parkman asks Beason if he is sick and needs some help.

Beason said that he met with the government several times in the days leading up to his testimony. Beason said that the most recent time was on Sunday to go over the tapes and transcripts of his testimony.

Parkman says that this is not like going to Walmart on a Sunday afternoon. Beason said that he met with FBI agents Baker and Machern, Louis Franklin, Justin Shur and several others. The meeting took 15 to 20 minutes according to Beason. The Thursday before the weekend, Beason met with the FBI as well. The meeting Thursday night took a couple of hours according to Beason. Beason then said, that a meeting did not take place that Thursday as he previously stated.

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1:07pm--Jim Parkman is now up to cross examine Beason.
on behalf of Harri Anne Smith.
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1:05pm – Segall asking about any communication McGregor had with Senator Beason.. Beason says none, other than the meeting with Milton McGregor,Massey and Gilley.
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1:05pm – Segall says that he only has a few more questions for Senator Beason. We have also heard that jim Parkman, attorney for Harri Anne Smith, may be up to the mic next.
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12 noon Court is in recess until 1pm.
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11:50am – “They’re aborigines. Not Indians,” Beason said in taped conversation about Greenetrack customers.

Beason said that he does not remember making that comment and he has no memory of that conversation taking place.

Segall: To know the real Scott Beason, if you said those things knowing you were recorded, what must you say when you don’t know you are on tape? More of the same. You would do anything to put people away in prison that are innocent.

Segall adds that people do benefit from the gambling facilities but Beason does not care about anyone other than himself and the republicans and his party.

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11:45am – Beason says support for SB380 would make it difficult for Republicans to take over legislature.

Segall said to Senator Beason that if there was a 2010 statewide bingo vote, did he believe it would bring too many blacks to the polls and hurt Republicans?

Beason says he and his colleagues never mocked black voters who would come out to vote for a bingo amendment.

A conversation between Senator Ben Brooks, Larry Dickson, and Beason that said that “the blacks” would be bussed to the polls. All the blacks, illiterates, and every HUD bus will bus them to the polls.

They made fun of the “blacks” and said the casinos will give them free money, free food, and take them to the polls because then would support the SB 380 vote.

Segall said the the group wanted to take over the Alabama Legislature and would try to eliminate t Milton McGregor and the “blacks” and keep them away from the polls.

Segall said to Beason that you have utter disdain for the customers of gambling operations and for the people who those operations helped.

Beason even called the people of Greentrack and Greene County “aborigines”.

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11:30am – Beason says a lot of Republicans support Indian Gaming. Rep. Barry Mask, from Wetmupka, who wore a wire has an Indian Casino in his district.

Segall said that the republicans supported the Indians and had no problem with keeping them open and wanted to close the Indians.

Segall hints that the Indians put money into the republicans to oppose Senate Bill 380.
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11:25am-- Beason said that the bill that he wrote that would have m
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11:05am – Beason: "I'm just telling you what I know. . . I asked for something and didn't get it back."

Beason said that he does not think that Milton McGregor had anything to do with him receiving the wrong bill.

Riley attacked Beason said that he was trying to all ow an expansion of gambling in Alabama made all forms of gambling in Alabama illegal, including the Indians, that is when Bob Riley got involved.

When Beason tried to close the Indians, Riley got involved and said that Beason's bill was wrong and should be voted down. That makes it seem that Riley did not want the Indian places closed down.
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10:55am – Beason says he got back correct bill on Jan. 19th, the next legislative day. Segall: "You got exactly what you wanted, correct?" Beason answered: "Correct."

Beason said that it was his decision to get a new bill and said he wanted to make it clear, “let's make it clear,' let's make it all illegal."

Segall: "The wrong bill was devastating to VictoryLand. Right?" to Beason. He answers, "Yes."

Beason points out that his intention was to wipe out all gambling in Alabama. That was the bill Crosby wrote and returned it exactly as Beason had requested..

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10:35am – US objects that the defense is saying that Beason is anti-gambling and that Mr. Segall's question are irrelevant, "That's not why we're here." Judge lets defense continue.

The judge just made Segall put on a lav mic so now we can hear him when he walks away from the lectern.
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10:22am – Segall clarifies that bills are assigned in Legislative Reference Service based on subject matter. Beason says he didn't know that.

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10:15am – On January 11th 2010, Beason asked the legislative reference service to draft another bill to outlaw gambling.

Beason said that sometimes he asks for bills that have been previously written to reintroduce in a later session.

The reference service certified a copy of the bill that is was basically the exact same.

Segall outlining some of the "common" bill writing and intake practices in the legislature

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9:45am – Beason authorized at times for Michael Ciamarra to work with Legislative Reference Service on bills. The bill from 2006 was the same bill as the one from 2006.

2009 bill wouldn't have disallowed gambling in full, I guess. Just electronic gaming. Bill wasn't introduced by Beason, but by Hank Erwin. Beason has repeatedly said that he introduced it.

Segall said "You find me about as trustworthy as you do Mr. Massey?" Beason replies "That's one of those questions you don't want me to answer"

Segall moves on to fall of 2009 when Beason apparently requested another anti-gambling bill.

Segall: "Who drafted the legislation that would shut VictoryLand flat out down?" Beason: "The initials say JRC.

Defendant Ray Crosby, who was alleged to be part of the pro-gambling conspiracy, drafted anti-gambling legislation for Beason.

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9:25am Bobby Segall, attorney for Milton McGregor, asked Scott Beason if he had time overnight to review documents related to his testimony. Beason said that he did not review any documents.

Beason said that most of the money that gambling interests donate comes from electronic bingo. Beason said that he does not know how much money that the dog racing brings in but more than likely the bulk of the money come from bingo.

Segall asks Beason if he thinks the dog tracks in the state are going belly-up. He said that he doesn't know the finances of the facilities but he thinks that they are going belly-up.

He said a place like Victoryland could not survive on paper bingo.

Beason said that he has put forth legislation to end all gambling in Alabama. He knew that electronic bingo was being played at Victoryland. He was trying to override all of the existing local amendments that the counties have voted on to allow electronic bingo.

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8:30am-- The attorneys are in the courtroom and are ready for the morning session. The attorneys will handle some matters before the jury comes into the courtroom.

Senator Scott Beason will be on the stand for probably most of the day. Ben Essp, attorney for Milton McGregor, said that Beason will be there all day.

He said that Beason was ignoring the facts of the calls. They will start court at roughly 9am this morning.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 14th---Day 7

The following text down until 1:15pm on Day 7 is testimony from Senator Scott Beason during cross examination

Court has adjourned for the day. Beason will be back on the stand again tomorrow so McGregor's attorneys will finish up their cross-examination of him. They said they still have a few more hours left on their side.

Other attorneys said they will be very short and Jim Parkman, for Harri Anne Smith, said he would be a few hours.

We will be back at 9am for day 8 of the bingo corruption trial.
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4:46pm-- Segall continuing to ask Beason about the motivation behind his involvement in the investigation and why he did everything that he did.

Segall is now asking Beason if the FBI case agent directed him in the investigation. Beason said somewhat. He said that they told him some things to ask but did not provide it in a script format.

Beason said that he thought the FBI was the good guys wanting to do the right thing.

Beason says he doesn't recall having a good deal of text message exchanges with FBI agent Keith Baker.

Beason said he does not remember trading texts with FBI agent. He said he does not. Segall seems to think otherwise

Segall is now attacking the creditability of lobbyist Jarrod Massey. Segall said that everyone that Beason had dealings with said that Massey was a “piece of freaking crap”.

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4:00pm-- The jury, lawyers, and judge are all back in the courtroom. We have no clue what they were meeting about.

Segall continuing to ask Beason about the motivation behind his involvement in the investigation

Again, Beason gets flustered by a question from Segall. He keeps talking while Segall is trying to stop him and move on from the subject.

Beason says that he came to the FBI willingly and did it because it was the right thing to do.

Segall read a transcript from Beason's testimony where Beason said that he came to the FBI and wanted to get things done and he was in full campaign mode.

Beason said that he had an explanation and Segall said that he had no desire to hear it.
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4:00pm-- Beason said on tape, and expresses disgust for the federal government, says he thinks some of them just want to send people to prison.

Segall asks Beason if his views of Milton McGregor made him view him as a threat to the Republican Party and Beason says he does.

Segall asked Beason if Benjamin Lewis' testimony would help him in the eyes of Bob Riley. Segall asked if Lewis ever said that he was doing it for Riley.

Beason recorded conversations with his roommate Benjamin Lewis without his knowing. Segall then asked if him “if we want to know the real Scott Beason, we need all of the recordings of you and Lewis.”

After which, Beason took offense to the questioning and then the attorneys and the judge met in chambers to discuss a matter.

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3:40pm-- Beason says he did not approach the FBI as a way to get rid of Milton McGregor.

Beason said that recorded conversations with people because "I knew I would one day encounter a counsel like you" and wanted to have a recording of conversations.

Seagall is trying to paint Scott Beason as being so eager to advance his political career that he went out and bought recording equipment from Best Buy so that he could use it to get ahead.

Beason: "Benjamin Lewis my friend." Segall: "You weren't lying to him, you weren't playing a role with him like you were everyone else?"

Segall asked Beason about him going out and buying his own recording devices

Segall: "You got very very enthusiastic about the investigation of this matter, did you not?" Beason: "No sir, I was not enthusiastic."

Beason said that his involvement in the investigation had nothing to do with my aspirations of his political career.

Beason again gets defensive and argumentative....Judge Thompson says, "I won't allow a witness to give half-answer or to be misleading." and told Beason to answer the questions.

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3:00pm--The court takes a brief recess.
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2:50pm-- Beason said at one time he pushed for GOP to support Democratic Rep. Yvonne Kennedy of Mobile as House Speaker.

Beason said Rep. Yvonne Kennedy was disorganized and could not raise money from the business community.

Franklin jumps up: "If we knew he was going to inject race into the proceedings we would have let him read it!" James, others jump up.

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2:28pm-- Beason said at one time he pushed for GOP to support Democratic Rep. Yvonne Kennedy of Mobile as House Speaker.

Segall suggests Beason wanted to eliminate McGregor so he could not contribute to Democrats' campaigns.
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2:28pm-- The government is objecting to Segall's questioning of Beason saying that McGregor is on trial and not Beason.

The judge overruled the objection and let Segall continue.
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2:20pm-- Segall: Were you actively encouraging others to dig up dirt on opponents? Beason: Describes it as fact-finding, a normal part of campaign. Everyone does it.

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2:10pm-- Judge says to jury, "We've been in this trial for 3 days. We're family now. . . if you can't hear something, raise your hand.

Segall said Beason went to the FBI five weeks after the dinner at Garrett’s, where he thought something improper happened.

Segall asked Beason if he thought his campaign image or him being offered 500k was more important...Segall stated to the court that according to FBI statement, Beason did not mention the $500,000 figure he told jury Smith had offered him in 2009 meeting.

Beason said that he had thoughts about leaving the Alabama Republican Party and that he was politically ambitious. After the republican take over, Beason was named the chairman of the Rules Committee, which is a very powerful party.

Beason said that he was going to take the position that God puts before him and Segall said that they were there to talk about Beason and not the “Heavenly Father.”

Segall asked Beason to serve his political career, he needed to get certain people booted out of his way to get where he needed to go.

Judge Thompson tells Beason for the third time to calm down and not to get argumentative with the defense attorney.

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1:45pm-- Beason told the court that he went to the FBI a week or so after the meeting at Garrett's and Segall said that he told the press the wrong answer.

Beason said that Mr. Segall is trying to mislead him and that they are arguing out dates of going to the FBI.

Segall has records of the FBI saying that Beason went to the FBI the very next day. Instead of a week or so later.

Beason says that he was worried that the people in his district would have a negative view of him.

Segall asked Beason if he voted for a 61% pay raise and Beason said, “No, I did not...It was 62%.”
Segall asks Beason if his real fear was that Massey would saturate his district about Beason's yes vote on 62% pay raise and run a negative campaign smear. Beason said that the pay raise was well known in his district.

Beason: “I would rather be anywhere than here because this is not helping me politically at all."

Judge Thompson tells Segall and Beason: "You answer the question. You ask the question. That's it." Also explains to Beason how to testify.
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1:25pm-- Beason said that the federal investigators never told him what questions to ask Gilley, McGregor or Massey. They never wrote things down for him.

Bobby Segall, attorney for Milton McGregor, is now doing the cross-examination of Beason.

Beason said that he met with the FBI and went over several tapes that he recorded and was involved in. He said he was asked questions by the FBI and if the government provided him with an FBI 302 which is a copy and summary that the FBI takes down.

Beason told Segall that his memory is probably better over a year ago than it is today as it relates to what is going on in this trial.

Beason said he has done some PR for a national group and has done some residential construction work. He also did some internet business but is no longer doing that. He said that his only job right now is a state legislator.

There is some banter between Segall and Beason about being a state legislator and it being a part time job. Segall said that you only work 100 days a year and how can that be a full time job.

They day that Massey offered you a million dollars, McGregor was not there was he? Beason said “No sir.”

Segall asks, “Did the dinner at Garret's prompt you to go to the FBI?” Beason said, “No sir it did not.”

Segall asked if he gave an interview to media after testifying to the grand jury and Beason said that he did.

______________________________________________________
The following text down until 9:05am on Day 6 and Day 7 is testimony from Senator Scott Beason

1:15pm-- Beason said that the federal investigators never told him what questions to ask Gilley, McGregor or Massey. They never wrote things down for him.
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1:00pm-- Judge Thompson is hearing form the government and the defense attorneys about the note from a juror.

The government wants to know if juror shared his note with other jurors about the entrapment question.

Judge said he does not know.

All of the defense attorneys do not want the juror singled out and to instead speak to the whole panel.

Thompson said that he will not single out a juror and answer their question because all of the jurors will not know what she knows possibly giving her an advantage.

Judge says the issue of entrapment is a legal matter not to be concerned with by the jurors. If it is an issue it will be sorted at end.
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12:05-- Juror 15 wrote a note to the judge asking if the meeting and the call are considered entrapment and if Beason was coached on how to ask questions.

The government asked for an hour to form an answer.
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Court breaks for lunch until 1pm
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12:01pm-- Beason asked Gilley what happens to his deal if the bill passes out of the senate and dies in the house? Would he still get his deal?

Gilley said, “I am committed to you, Period.”

The meeting was at Books-A-Million in Prattville.

The vote for the bill came up the next week and Beason voted “No”.
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11:45am-- Ronnie Gilley said that he was excited for the PR business and that he would help him in any way possible.

Beason asked the feds what he should do when the vote came about. The FBI told him to vote for the bill how he would have voted regardless. Beason said that he would have and will always vote no for any issue as it relates to gambling.

Massey said that he needs to let someone know that he is a yes or no vote. Beason said that he does not know who that person is.

Beason said that the vote did not need to happen as soon as Gilley and Massey wanted it to. Beason said that he never wanted to vote to occur so he was trying to push it away delay a possible vote.

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11:33am-- Massey on another call to Beason said that he had a solid offer for him.

Massey said that the offer was something that he did not want to talk about it on the phone. Beason said the reason he said this is that it was illegal.

Beason said that he had a missed call and he asked if it was Gilley. Massey said he didn't think so.

Massey asked he he was comfortable with the approach that the gambling interest were making.

Beason said after this call from Massey, he had a meeting in Prattville with Ronnie Gilley and Jarrod Massey.

Before the meeting with the two, Beason went to the FBI to make sure that he had the correct recording equipment on so that the meeting could be recorded.
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The court is in a 15 minute recess
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11:00am-- Massey said he needed an answer sometime on early Monday from Beason on whether he would take them up on their offer or not. The legislature was said to have wanted to vote on that Tuesday.

Beason says he met with the FBI after the meeting to give back the FBI it's recording equipment.
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10:53am-- Beason says he is trying to figure out which districts would get gambling location and he's trying to find out who.

Beason starts to ask all kinds of other questions and Massey told him a $1 million-a-year is enough and to "calm down" about asking for other things.

Etowah county is mentioned as being on board and being supportive and thats where indicted Senator Larry Means is from.

Massey says Milton McGregor might be playing games with Sen. Larry Means and might not want a facility in the Etowah County area because that would slow traffic to his other facilities.

Massey: "I have a strong feeling that the Indians would get one of the locations. . . They would have to get something of value."

200 million dollars worth of commitments to the Dothan facility.

Massey said that to do all of the good thing, all he has to do is work with the gambling interests and he can do whatever he wants for the rest of his career.
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10:36am-- Massey is pushing Beason not just on allowing public to vote on gambling constitutional amendment but on legalizing in Legislature.

Massey said that there are a bunch of moving parts to gets this bill passed.

Massey then asked for support on second bill that would have kept Country Crossing and VictoryLand open until referendum was passed.

Massey tells Beason that then-Attorney General Troy King was going to take over the gambling cases in Alabama. This is the first mention of Troy King thus far in the trial.

Massey then told Beason that Riley still had his finger on the justice department. He was unsure of how but he knew that Riley controlled them.

Massey told Beason that if he supported the bingo bill, they would add St. Claire county to the bill to get them money from gambling proceeds.

Beason says the discussion was all about how Beason was the 21st vote. If he was 22 23 or 24 the conversation wouldn't have occurred.

Beason says Jarrod Massey was an "agent" for them (Gilley and McGregor). He was brokering a deal on their behalf.

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10:15am-- Massey said that Gilley and McGregor are good people. They are very big in this but they are good people.

Massey says that McGregor has a whole list of lobbyists. Beason referred to is as “no lobbyist left behind” in reference to “no child left behind”. When a big issue was before the legislature, everyone puts all the lobbyists at the plate.

Massey said that with elections coming up, they need to get this deal done fast.

Massey said that there is a chance for part ownership in one of the gambling facilities.

Beason repeatedly tells Massey he does not want to find out another senator would get a better deal for his vote on top of what he would get.

The million dollars would not be just for political races, it could be used however he wanted to. Beason would make one million annually as long as the gambling facilities were open.

Massey and Beason then talked about getting around the ethics rules. Massey is discussing a “back door”way to get this done.

Massey said that he would not put anything on paper before the vote. He said that they had two bills and Massey knew that Riley would “veto” it.

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9:57am-- During the Feb. 19th meeting with Beason and Massey they talk about a release from Gov. Riley's office.

Tom Coker's name was mentioned in the tape and Beason was trying to find out what lobbyist the gambling interests were using for what senators. Coker was said to be working on Senator Larry Dixon of Montgomery.

Massey said that he has a copy of the bills. Beason said that he had not seen the bill that the gambling interests wanted him to support.

Beason asks Massey what they have in mind about the PR job that they were talking about. Beason said if he was going to be in, he wanted to be in the inner circle. Beason added that is price would not be low.

Massey said that a major PR firm would be opening in Alabama and a lot of work would be done with the legislature. The business would be in Birmingham and you would be affiliated with them. Beason was told that he would and could get whatever he wanted because he was a crucial vote.

Massey told Beason that one million dollars would be available for him to direct as he saw fit. The money would come from Gilley and McGregor.

Massey said that he knows what kind of money is out there to use. The amount of money would make him a player in the election cycle.

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9:40am-- Louis Franklin for the government is back at the lectern addressing Senator Scott Beason. They are talking about a meeting with Beason and Jarrod Massey. The two met on a Friday the day after the meeting with Gilley, Massey, McGregor and Beason. The meeting took place in Homewood, which is just outside of Brimingham.

The meeting was to hammer out the details of the agreement to get Beason to support the bingo bill.
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9:30am-- The lawyers and the judge are still meeting in chambers so we are just waiting on the day to start.
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8:43am-- The trial is about to get underway for the 7th day. Senator Scott Beason will be back on the stand for the second straight day.

The government will play three more tapes that Beason recorded. One of them is an hour, one is 30 minutes and the last tape that they will play is 3 minutes long.

So far, the only people related to the tapes are Ronnie Gilley, Jarrod Massey, Milton McGregor, and Scott Beason. Harri Anne Smith was mentioned only once in the tapes.

The lawyers and the judge are in the library for a meeting to hear on a motion.

Court will start around 9am.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 13th--- DAY 6

The following text down until 9:05am on Day 6 is testimony from Senator Scott Beason
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5:00pm – The taped meeting between the four men has ended. Beason said that he meets with Massey the following day to discuss some details of the previous meeting and to dig deeper into what may be offered in exchange for his support.

Day 6 has ended and in the morning, the taped meeting will be played to the court. In the afternoon, there were no objections from the defense attorneys.

The government has three more tapes to play regarding Senator Beason and one is over an hour long.

After the three tapes are played, the defense will cross-examine Beason then the government will move on to the next witness who is Barry Mask.

Mask is a former representative from the Wetumpka.

Scott Beason is expected to be on the stand for most if not all of the day tomorrow.
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4:38pm – Gilley said that he and McGregor said that support Harri Anne Smith unconditionally. She is a senator who supports the right to vote because thats what her people want.

She was against my project at the beginning but because of the outcry of the people, she changed her stance because and only because her people wanted to to vote for it. So, I will support and will see to it that she does not get beat in the upcoming election.

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4:15pm – McGregor said to Senator Beason, “You need some new friends. We have a bad habit of supporting our friends. We dang sure support those who support us. And if you support us, we will take care of you. And that is a promise.”

Gilley to Beason: If you do not support this bill, the economy in Dothan and Houston County will go down. Those people need jobs. If you support us, we will support you unconditionally. If you oppose us, our attack of your campain is also unconditional.
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4:05pm – McGregor tells Scott Beason on tape, “We need your help. We need your vote of support … The people deserve the right to vote.”

Coker told Beason that McGregor would pay him money as long as Beason did not mention McGregor's name on the House or the Senate floor.

Beason said that he has consistently voted against the right to vote or anything related to this kind of stuff. This will be the first time in my political career that I would have changed my mind on any type of legislation relating to this.

Beason: I am very concerned what my people will think of me. I am concerned how it will affect my in the republican party and this is completely out of my character and I want to know what can you guys do to help and how does it happen. I just do not want to take a step back in my political career.
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4:00pm – McGregor: “Every machine that Ronnie and I own, each one has been certified and every DA, and county commission have all signed off and bonded the machines.”

Gilley said that the Houston County Commission paid 60k for a gaming group to come to Country Crossing to test the machines against the Supreme Court ruling. There were some machines that did not meet or pass the test and we got rid of those machines (roughly 100) and replaced them with new ones.

McGregor's position was that they wanted the bill voted up or down. They wanted a vote of the people.
If the bill fails, the only thing still standing will be the Indians.

Beason said his bill would have outlawed gambling period in Alabama...Gilley and McGregor's bill if paqssed, would expand gambling in Alabama...If failed, they would be back at square one with no resolution to the bingo debate.
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3:35pm -- Gilley said that Alabama has a corrupt governor. Then he references the WTVY “Battle Over Bingo” series that Skylar did.

Gilley is the main speaker in this meeting and he said that he wants to support Beason and his republican party because Gilley is a republican.

Gilley said that his life is on the line. As well as the people of Greene County, Macon County, and Houston County lives are on the line for the bill.

Gilley said he will support someone who supports democracy. He said that the powers that be in Alabama are ignoring economic growth in this state. He says that the facilities will generate over 500 million in tax revenue every year.

McGregor said that one person who got damaged by not supporting him was Joe Carothers form Houston County. McGregor said he has a 200 million dollar note that he has to pay and it has interest.

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3:25pm-- The government is playing the recorded meeting between Massey, Gilley, McGregor and Beason from Feb. 18th, 2010 in Jarrod Massey's Montgomery office.

Gilley said he had to close his facility down because someone would have gotten hurt in the raids because the people there are so passionate about their job and Country Crossing. He added that the people in Green County have declared war on the task force and they would have stood up for their facility.

During the meeting that was recorded, we have the first mentions of John Tyson and David Barber. Barber was the original commander of Gov. Riley's Task Force on Illegal Gambling. He was caught gambling in a Mississippi casino and resigned. Riley then appointed Tyson form Mobile to head the task force.

Then Beason tells the men that he now has an opponent running against him and he ask them what they can do to help them.

Gilley said that his whole life is invested in the project and it is an entertainment venue and the only reason they play bingo is to have an economic catalyst.

Beason says on tape that he would have handled casino raids differently than former Gov. Bob Riley.
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2:49pm-- The government is playing a conversation between McGregor, Gilley,. Massey, and Beason...The meeting took place in Massey's Montgomery office.

This will be the first meeting when McGregor and Gilley are together that we have heard played.

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2:39pm-- Unruh says very emphatically that Milton McGregor hates Jabo Waggoner. He says that Waggoner lies to everyone and then asks McGregor for money to help out his charity.

Unruh tells Beason that he could name his price in all of this. Whatever Beason wants, he can get because he is a decisive vote for the bill.

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2:28pm-- In the call between Unruh and Beason, Unruh said that Paul Hubbert could help with things. This is the first mention of Dr. Paul Hubbert, Exec Director of the Alabama Education Association.

He said that we didn't need to bring the "big dude"in unless we have to so that we can get this passed. The big dude is referred to as Milton McGregor. Unruh said that Massey could get things done more smoothly than anyone else.

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2:11pm Brad Unruh called Beason and asked if he could confide in Beason. Beason agreed that he could.

Unruh said he got the weirdest call just out of the blue. He said the call came from Monica Cooper, the senate minority leader, Jabo Waggoner.

Beason said that some of the people that were trying to do right might have been working on the wrong side.

Unruh took several cheap shots at Jabo Waggoner for several minutes.

Unruh said he wanted to ruin Waggoner and make sure he never run for re-election again.

Unruh even went to the Ethics commission to possibly file complaint against Jabo Waggoner. he even got the paper work.'

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2:05pm Massey was trying to work a runaround so that Beason can be paid for his vote without it coming straight from gambling interests so that it would not look bad.

Massey also said that there is some money in play that can be had that is only going to be available to certain candidates.

Massey wanted Beason to be the 21st and deciding vote in the voting of the bill. If he wasn't the 21st vote, the deal would not be as good for him.
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1:24pm-- The government is now playing a taped conversation from Jarrod Massey with Scott Beason. Massey showed up one day to Beason's office at the Alabama State House.

Massey was the main lobbyist for Ronnie Gilley.

Massey told Beason to say that he was opposed to gambling but was for a vote of the people. In that way, Beason still gets to say that he is against gambling but he supports the will of the people.

Massey then tells how the money at the facilities work and how things are paid out.

He said that Larry Means is on board with the bill because his county is pushing for a gambling facility.

Massey said that "these guys" have put a lot of money into political races.
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1:18-- Gilley first mentions a "drop phone" during the phone conversation. Gilley said that he changes out his phone every two or three days so that nobody can listen to his calls.

Gilley said, “I change this one out every two to three days. This is a prepaid phone. I won’t have this number long"

Beason said that he doesn't do business with people that try to hide their phone conversations.

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1:05pm-- Gilley said in the call that he would support anyone who supported his legislation. He would do what he could to help.

Gilley said he is a republican and he has always voted republican. Gilley has only voted democrat twice and he was sorry that he voted for Riley twice. Gilley said he would help in whatever race that Beason needed.

Gilley said he would put some facts and figures in front of Beason and Beason could make the decision for himself. Beason added that he wanted to look and talk.

Gilley said that he would cover all of Beason's bases in helping with the campaign.

Beason said they he would not be having the conversation with Gilley if he wasn't working for the FBI.

Gilley said that he would be meeting with McGregor and the Indians to draft up a bill.

Gilley wanted to meet Beason outside of Montgomery so that nobody would see them together.

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12:00pm-- The court has recessed for lunch...The government is only half way thru the call between Gilley and Beason.
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11:38am-- Beason said that he had never gotten a bill back with a major mistake like the bill he received.

The government played their first recorded phone call. it was between Gilley and Beason. He was unsure how the call was recorded but knows it was between him and Gilley.

On the call, Gilley took some shots at Bob Riley. Gilley talks to Beason asking him about letting the people vote.

Beason says that he disagreed with how Riley sent hundreds of State Troopers to raid the facility. He asked Beason to come check out the facility. Beason said that he would have sent two or three troopers to close them down.

Gilley refers to Skylar Zwick's "Battle Over Bingo" series and how she slams Riley and proves that he is lying and trying to create a monopoly for the Indians.

Gilley said he was in meeting with the Indians before the call to Beason, and they said that they were expanding because they other places are shut down.

Gilley said on the call that Riley can't get rid of Bingo in Alabama.

Beason said that Riley threw him under the bus with the church people and it made him look bad.

Beason's bill and Gilley's bill were polar opposites. One outlawed bingo and one expanded it.

Gilley said that the project was not bingo. It was an entertainment capital of the south. He asked Beason to get together and it would be just them meeting.

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11:23am-- Beason said he know McGregor pretty well because he is a popular and powerful person in Montgomery and has been for a very long time.

He said he knew Gilley and that he knew that he owned a gambling operation in Houston County.

He knows Tom Coker and that he is a lobbyist for Milton McGregor.

He knows Bob Geddie and that he is a lobbyist.

He knows Larry Means because he served in the Alabama Legislature and did not have a conversation regarding gambling.

He knows Jim Pruett from serving in the legislature and never talked of gambling

He also know Quinton Ross form the Alabama Senate but had no talks of gambling bills

He knows Joe Crosby because he wrote legislation for the Alabama Senate. Crosby helped write a bill for Beason that if the people voted "no" on gambling, it would make it illegal in Alabama. that bill would have been written in late 2009 for submission in 2010.

Beason's bill would have repealed all local amendments and made all gambling illegal in Alabama. I would have required a vote of the people.

Crosby gave Beason a bill back but it was not what Beason asked for. The bill had exemptions in it. The exemptions would have let the existing operations stay open. Beason then sent the bill back asking for that to be removed. He finally got a bill back that was correct.

He said that he thought Crosby worked on the bill.

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11:16am-- The first call that Beason recorded was on April 15th of 2009 between Beason and Brad Unruh. The first recorded call was after Beason sent the text messages to Keith Baker of the FBI.

The FBI would direct Beason who to talk to. They told him who and where to talk to them. He would turn the device on before the conversation and turn it off when the conversation was over.

He never turned it on or off during a conversation that was being recorded.

He learned how to turn the device on and off through his pocket.

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10:58am-- Attorneys have been arguing for 30+ minutes on whether a text message document is a summary or the original.

Judge Thompson says that the original can only come from FBI Agent Keith Baker. The judge did not admit the document as evidence.

Beason said that the text messages said that sender of the messages was going to get up negative ads to run against Beason in his district.

In Beason's recollection of thoughts, the messages relate to Gilley and McGregor.

The message from Brad Unruh asked if Beason said anything negative against Milton McGregor.

Bobby Segall has objected numerous times to Louis Franklin's questioning of Beason. Franklin mentions McGregor's name a lot and every time McGregor's name is mentioned, he objects.

Beason said he would work with the FBI to "get the bad guys". He referred to the bad guys as the gambling interests. He then named McGregor and Gilley and everyone associated with them.

He said that he took the threats of Jarrod Massey very serious.

He said that he would wear a body wire to help the FBI. He wore a wire more than 20 times. He had three different ways of recording a call. All but one occasion, the recording devices came form the FBI.

Beason said that he was paranoid about talking to any gambling people without any type of recording device.

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10:45am-- The Government says checks are paid to Brad Unruh from Feb-April 2010 and the texts are from Spring 09.

The judge rules in favor of the government in saying that Brad Unruh was a co-conspirator and he can be used as a worker/employee of Milton McGregor.

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10:34am-- The court is back in session after a brief recess. the government says that it has evidence of Milton McGregor making payments to Brad Unruh to substantiate he worked for McGregor.

McGregor's attorney and the government are in disagreement of the document containing the text messages. McGregor's attorney said that the document is a summary not the messages themselves and that they are not in any kind of order.

The government said that Beason said that they are from his phone so we should believe him.

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10:08am-- Court takes morning recess.
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9:57am-- After Beason received text messages, he forwarded them to Baker of the FBI. Beason went to see Baker after he sent the text messages. He told him about the comment Massey told him.

Beason is reading over the text messages from Brad Unruh.
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9:50am--The Unruh ruling from Judge Thompson, is the first significant ruling during testimony and a win for the defense. It distances Milton McGregor from an alleged bribe.

Beason said he received text messages from Unruh. After he, received the messages, he got in touch with Lewis about going to law enforcement. Before he went to the feds, Jarrod Massey confronted him and asked if he had changed his mind about gambling and Beason said that Massey threatened him.

Beason knew that Massey was a lobbyist and that he worked for Ronnie Gilley

The text messages said the same thing about threatening Beason in his district. Lewis then gave him a number and told him to go talk to Keith Baker. Baker is an FBI agent.

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9:40-- Beason argues with a lobbyist for Milton McGregor several times about gambling.

The first unindicted co-conspirator has been identified as Brad Unruh. Unruh worked for McGregor in trying to help get people on board to support the gambling legislation.

McGregor's attorneys objected that Unruh did not work for McGregor.

Judge Thompson rules that Beason can't testify that Unruh "said" that he worked for McGregor until the government provides evidence that he did.

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9:30am-- In the spring, Senator Smith was anti-gambling. Gilley and his people never paid me but I know that they paid her.
Gilley told Beason that he was supporting Smith.

After the dinner, Beason and Lewis spoke about what took place. They did not give each other advice the night after the dinner took place. They spoke several times about what was going on in Houston County.

Beason told Lewis that he needed to inform someone about what was taking place. I did not know until several days later that Benjamin Lewis had gone to someone to tell them something fishy was going on.
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9:17-- Beason was paid 10k for his help in the campaign.

Beason, Smith, Austin, Ronnie Gilley, Country Music Stars, and Lewis were all at the meeting.

They were there to hear about a gambling bill (Sweet Home Alabama Bill). The hosts of the dinner pitched what Country Crossing was about and what it would be. Gilley did most of the talking during the presentation.

Beason said that nothing outside of the normal happened before the dinner. During the dinner, Beason said that using gambling to pay for the establishment, in their minds was already illegal.

Beason said that Gilley and Lewis got into a very heated discussion.

Gilley was mad because Lewis didn't support the project and that he was from the Wiregrass area and that he should support local projects.

Gilley said that they had a media machine that could put pressure on elected officials to get their support.

After the dinner, Beason and Smith had conversation outside. Smith said that he needed to consider "being on the team" and support the legislation. She said that Gilley and the gambling interests could give roughly 500k in his next campaign.

Beason stopped her and said that he didn't want to go that route.
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9:08 Louis Franklin for the government is questioning Beason. Beason represents the 17th District with is basically the Birmingham area. He is from Hartselle and lives in Gardendale.

He is in his second term as a senator after serving two terms as a state representative.

He went to Alabama and received a degree in Geology.

He travels to Montgomery during the legislative session. They have to be here for 105 days.

Beason lived with Lewis at one point during the legislative session.

He stayed with someone to save money during the sessions.

In March of 2009, Beason went to Garret's Restaurant after he was invited by Harri Anne Smith. Clarie Austin was also at the dinner. She is a lobbyist. Beason said that Austin was a lobbyist for Smith when she ran for Congress.

Beason helped with Smith's campaign when she was in the run-off with Jay Love.

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9:05am-- The matters have been resolved and the jury is now being brought into the courtroom.

Senator Beason will now be sworn in and will take the stand.
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8:49am-- The lawyers are taking up a motion before the jury is brought in. the government is bringing forth the motion.

The issue is relating to Scott Beason. The government is saying that the defense should not be able to ask questions about the immigration bill that Beason sponsored.

Also, the government is asking to allow Beason to use the word "bribe, buy vote". Louis Franklin, on behalf of the government, is saying that Beason had meetings with McGregor and Gilley and he thinks that he was offered a bribe.

Judge Thommson bars Beason from saying he believed offers from Massey, McGregor were "bribes". The issue is the word "bribe". He can't say he think he was bribed because he is no smarter than the jury and he is not an expert on bribes.

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8:45am-- During Beason's testimony, we should start hearing taped calls and what was said when he wore the wire for the FBI.

Today, it should start to get very interesting.

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8:20am-- All of the defendants and attorneys are in judge Myron Thompson's courtroom waiting for the 9am start time.

Today, the government will call Senator Scott Beason will take at least two days on the stand. He is relevant to Harri Anne Smith because he lived with former representative Benjamin Lewis.

Beason and Lewis lived together when the legislature was in session. Both men were at a dinner hosted by Ronnie Gilley along with Smith and Gilley was telling the men about Country Crossing.

Gilley and Lewis got into a heated argument at the dinner and the next day, Lewis went to the FBI and spoke of possible corruption. Many feel that he got the ball rolling in this whole trial.

Beason is also "Legislator 1" listed in the federal indictment. He wore a wire and taped multiple telephone conversation between lots of people involved.

That is where we are heading into Day 6 of the Bingo Corruption Trial.

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DAY 5

4:45pm The jury is free to go for the day. Court will reconvene on Monday morning when the government will call Senator Scott Beason to the stand.

Judge Thompson asked the government how long Beason would be on the stand and they answered, "for a while".

Beason is a cooperating witness referred to in the indictment as Legislator 2.

Beason is expected to testify that McGregor and Gilley offered money and millions of dollars for support..
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Text down to 3:30pm is from attorney Tommy Goggins, for Ray Crosby

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4:05pm-- Ray Crosby is a legislative analyst. He drafts legislation that is requested of them so that it will work.

There are procedures in place that will work. .Typically what happens, a senator or a representative will come in and say this is what I need.

It could be a cut and paste job, it may be like a previous bill, several options.

Goggans says there was nothing out of the ordinary on the debate of Sen. Bedford's bill (SB380). Same as anywhere he said.

Legislative analysts who draft bills can talk with anyone about the bill if the bill sponsor gives the "OK" to do so.

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Text down to 2:40pm is from attorney Susan James, for Country Crossing Spokesperson Jay Walker

3:30pm-- Susan James said that at the end of the trial they will have so much reasonable doubt that Jay Walker will be and is innocent. The testimony from Jarrod Massey and Ronnie Gilley will show that they are people that can not be trusted for anything. I will give you a laundry list of reasonable doubt.

The currency of freedom for those who plead guilty is to get a lighter sentence.

A call in March from Gilley to Walker to go see Jim Pruett, Walker said he was sitting there with his daughters, and Gilley said while you are up there, you can buy a fleet of trucks while you are up there. There was talk about buying hundreds of vehicles. He also talked about getting him country singers and to help with polling.

The first time he met most of the defendants was after they had been arrested by the FBI and they were in custody of the US Marshall's in Montgomery.

3:45pm-- Jay Walker didn't know anything about Ronnie Gilley or Country Crossing when went to work for builder of the project.

An investor paid Gilley roughly 15 million dollars and they were never paid back. The investors got really worried because of his approach especially with the media and his throwing people under the bus.

Gilley got paid a lot of money by a lot of people but he never paid them back and nearly all of his checks bounced. He was there from August of 2009 and cut all ties with them after BamaJam in 2010.

He was paid roughly $10 thousand a month by his bosses in Lanette.
There is no proof and he was never paid by Ronnie Gilley.

Jay Walker does not have a lavish lifestyle, he has a regular life.

This whole scheme was brought on by Gilley and Massey. Gilley and Massey are the two evil reasons everyone is in this courtroom. Even after the arrests, Gilley and Massey were still plotting their scheme.

Gilley will come in the front door in his thousand dollar suit while Massey will come in in shackles.

Gilley was talking with Massey even after the arrests. Gilley the whole time claimed his innocence. Gilley sat in jail and saw everything that was against him, and that is why he pled guilty. Both Massey and Gilley are facing 30 or so years in this case.

Susan James says that the government worked to put Gilley in jail but when he decided to cooperate and plead guilty, they all of a sudden had no position and allowed him to be released.

Ronnie Gilley asked Jay Walker in court room after they were arrested "what are you doing here"...At that point, Gilley knew he was in trouble.

Gilley beat his chest and said come arrest me. And they did. Both Gilley and Massey are responsible for this whole mess.

James said that her client Jay Walker will testify during the trial.

If you listen to the evidence, you will render a not guilty.

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Text down to 2:07pm is from attorney William White, for Senator Harri Anne Smith.

2:40pm -- All of the money raised that night was documented and done the way it was supposed to be.

Gilley always wanted to be the big dog and wanted to make threats and show that he was a major player.

The big party with country music stars was cleared with the secretary of state before even agreeing to it.

White says, "I want you to make them prove it. They can't get close to a half million dollars" on what was offered Harri Anne Smith.

White says, "Thank God for the tapes, Thank God for them!" "I hope we get to hear them, you will love what they have to say" ..."Thank God for the tapes"

There was no possible that she sold her vote.

She was called a criminal and she was kicked out of her party, she ran as an independent, and won by a landslide.

She is "Not Guilty"

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2:30pm In late July of 2008, she had her first ever meeting with Gilley.

Gilley said in a press conference that he had never supported her but that he would whether she wanted it or not.

After she lost the race against Jay Love, she endorsed Bobby Bright.
In the minds of the republicans, that is unforgivable.

In 2008, she never sponsored, helped, assisted, or voted for the "Sweet Home Alabama Bill".

Soon after, Riley created the gambling task force.

In March of 2009, at a dinner held by a lobbyist working for Ronnie Gilley to explain the Country Crossing Project.

Scott Beason and Benjamin Lewis were asked to come. During the meeting, Beason and Lewis got into a verbal dispute. March 4th, Benjamin Lewis goes to the FBI saying that Gilley tried to bribe him.

A week later, the Samson shooting happened. Rilley and Smith went to Samson and all he wanted to discuss was the bingo bill and if she supported it.

She asked for his help to let the people vote and he asking for help fell on deaf ears. Less than two weeks later, Benjamin Lewis is calling her and taping their conversations and what you will hear is that she has no intent to take any gambling money and in fact, she doesn't.

The first money she took from Ronnie Gilley was in December on 2009 with no legislation pending.

Smith heard that she would have opposition in George Flowers in the upcoming election. He was the very man that encouraged to go meet with the governor. She then contacted 28 mayors and asked them to come to a fundraiser on her behalf.

Gilley heard about it and comes and takes control and hosts the party on some land of his in Enterprise. The weather was npot good and the turnout wasn't very good.

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2:15pm-- I am not the smartest man in the world but I am not going to giver her age to you.

Her husband is not in the courtroom because he may be called to testify if needed. If you are a potential witness, you can not be present in any of the legal proceedings.

He is giving the reason of her name. He compared it to "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash. He called he a "Lady Named Harri".

She ran back in 1998 as a state official because she wanted to run for her people. she was the first female director of the Wiregrass United Way.

She has supported her people her entire career in office.

Senate Bill 572 is relevant to Smith. It was proposed on April 3, 2008, and the government will say that it will outlaw electronic bingo.

Then Country Crossing came into the picture. She got calls and emails from both sides of the issue. She started doing research on the issue. she was told that it was legal based on an amendment form back in 1983.

She met with then Gov Bob Riley around Feb. 2008, the she said that we should let the people vote on the issue and her request fell on deaf ears.

She was then referred to Troy King and she was advised to introduce a bill to let her district decide. And that's what she did

Benjamin Lewis was with her on that visit to Montgomery. Lewis helped draft the bingo bill for Houston County, so there were two bills with one in the house and one in the senate.

Lewis and Smith were not the only ones in the state house that it would affect so all of the area officials had to approve it. All the bill was going to do was allow the people of the Wiregrass to vote.

Locy Baker and Steve Clouse refused to vote the bill out of committee so that bill was dead.

Her campaign managers had to advise her because people were saying that she was trying to kill Country Crossing.

she soon pulled the bill but she has always said that she supported the right of the people to vote on the issue.

Senator Smith never met Ronnie Gilley until a month or so later after she had pulled the bill. She met him at a fundraiser in Enterprise btu she had no clue who he was. All they did that night was shake hands.

After that, she was slammed for taking gambling money which was a complete lie because she had never taken a penny and just met Gilley.

Those ads run on TV cost her the race for Congress

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Text down to 1:39pm is from attorney Lewis Gillis, for Senator Quinton Ross Jr.

2:07pm -- Gillis says Massey did not tell FBI about his parties and campaign contributions and that Massey will say anything ans has done so already to get the heat off of his back.

The guys at the FBI took the words out of context in recorded conversations between Quinton Ross and Milton McGregor to falsely imply bribe solicitation.

Ross lived in the district of McGregor so there was nothing new between the two.

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1:43pm-- In March, my client was going about his daily business as a senator and was doing work for his people.

My client, Mr. Ross, was doing nothing illegal or wrong. He knew the bill in front of him was a huge win for the state. Millions of dollars for education and medicare were his only reasons for supporting the bill. He had a legitimate reason for his support and the evidence will prove that to the fullest.

He has a bright future and has done alot of great things for the state of Alabama

Mr. Ross has always voted in favor of electronic bingo because he knew the money was good for the state and for education.

The attorney said no dealings with Massey, Gilley or McGregor because he already supported the bill and everyone knew that.

Buying Senator Ross' vote was a waste of money because they knew how he was always going to vote.

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Text down to 1:18pm is from attorney Ron Wise, for Jim Pruett

1:39pm-- Preuitt was opposed to the first bingo bill and supported the second one because bill was more fair and included facility for his friend, Larry Means. He was only going to vote for a fair bill.

Jennifer Pouncey's testimony for the government will help my client and he will be found not guilty.

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1:22pm-- Jim Pruett's attorney gives the history for Senator Pruett.

He says the three major players are Ronnie Gilley, Jarrod Massey, and Jennifer Pouncey.

Massey was the lobbyist for Country Crossing. Gilley was Massey's largest client and Pouncey worked for Massey. All three have pled guilty already in the case.

Pouncey said that Massey would have done anything to keep Gilley as a client. Pouncey will testify that one morning before a vote that Massey sent her to Pruett to tell him she was losing a job if he didn't vote for the bill and then proceeded to offer him two million dollars.

Later that day, Senator Pruett voted "no" on the bill.

He said the bill was very complicated and he wasn't happy with the wording of it so that is why he voted "No"

On the taped calls, you will hear people say that they want to go buy a fleet from Pruett's car dealership. They were offering to buy over a million dollars worth of cars and trucks.

In all of the calls that the FBI recorded, Pruett appears only once. He said if the government doesn't play it, I will.

Gilley and McGregor did not give Pruett a single dollar. The only money form anyone related to the case was two thousand dollars from Massey from back in early 2009, which was way before the SB380 was ever an issue.

The government says that Pruett has always been pro-gambling but that is not the case.

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Text down to 1:03pm is from attorney Bill Clark, for Larry Means

1:18pm-- Larry Means voted for SB380 because the people in this district wanted the right to vote. He was elected by the people to serve the people and he voted how his people wanted him to vote.

As far as a campaign contribution goes, it is not illegal to ask for one. You can ask for anything that you want.
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1:12pm-- Senator Means is a 3 time elected State Senator. He is not a wealthy person, he is just someone who wanted to serve the people.

As evidence, you will hear calls from Massey and Gilley discussing what someone told him. It was not Senator Means.

Bill Clark called Jarrod Massey an evil person.

Attorneys are all speaking against Ronnie Gilley and Jarrod Massey as if they are trying group them together as working together and leaving everyone else out of it.

SB380 was just to let the people vote...Thats it. nothing else.

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<1:04pmLarry Means was running for his fourth term in the Alabama State Senate when he was indicted.

The charges are not evidence. So do not hold them against him.

He pled not guilty and he maintains that to this day.

When you hear the evidence, you will ask yourself where the crime is.

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1:03pm--The attorneys, judge and jury are back in the courtroom for the afternoon session of opening statements.
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The court is in recess until 1pm
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Text down to 11:17am is from Jimmy Judkins, attorney for Bob Geddie

11:41am-- Great Southern Wood and Protective Life Insurance are both clients of Geddie. They trust Mr. Geddie to handle their PAC contributions

Judkins is outlining story behind Geddie's contribution to Barry Mask, which the government has said was illegal. No legislation was discussed so therefore it can not be a bribe.

He is criticizing the government for calling Geddie a 'bagman'. they have no right to call him that.

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11:26am 12-thousand conversations recorded. Not one between Geddie. Only one with McGregor, who is one of his clients taking about strategy.

Everything Mr.Geddie did with respects to his lobbying, he would have done in front of his wife, kids, and mother. They only thing he will be a little embarrassed by is some cussing.

McGregor represents less than 2 percent of the revenue of the Fine and Geddie lobbying firm. Where was the greed? Mr. Geddie did not gain anything from the legislation. They do not talk about any piece of legislation when they deliver contributions...so where is the greed?

You members of the jury will be totally disgusted with Ronnie Gilley at the end of this trial. 100% disgusted.

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11:24am-- We will be here for weeks and you will not hear one negative word about my client.

Thats what his business is based on. Trust, integrity and honesty. That is why he has been so successful.

State legislators are part time employees with full time responsibilities. They have a hard job and often time they need some sort of help.

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Text down to 10:58am is from Bill Baxley, attorney for Thomas Coker

11:17am--I don't believe you will find anybody that does not trust and admire Tom Coker.

He represents a ton of people. He has worked in Washington DC and then moved back to Alabama and opened up a lobbying firm. He represents a ton of people in Alabama and he is a good man.

I don't believe you will find any respected lobbyists who wont say Coker is one of top three lobbyists at statehouse of all time.

Thank God for the jury and end this nightmare and come back with a not guilty verdict for this man
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11:09am--Baxley, we say he is not guilty because he is total innocent of these charges. The charges are false.

Gilley offered country music stars to help pass the bill. Coker said he didn't want them from Gilley because they were all tied to gambling.

The government is implying a lot in the case and not proving anything.

Each and every contribution that Coker handled for McGregor, were all done the same way. They were all given $25 thousand each. No wrong in that.

One person that money was given to was not even a senator at the time the bill was in session. They were all friends form years passed. He had always given them money but the government is trying to tie them to the bingo bill....this is not possible. They were in no way related, at all.

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Attorney Joe Espy is next at the podium so all the text below until 10:03am will be from Milton McGregor's attorney

10:58am-- Ben Lewis most unqualified person ever for a judgeship in Houston County. It smells to the highest heavens

The three amigos all worked together. Lewis and Beason lived together so you cant tell me they didn't talk.

All three amigos, after working with the feds, all three got appointed to great spots by Bob Riley. Lewis got a judgeship, and Mask, with an Indian Casino in his district, got appointed as head of the tourism and travel committee. All bills go through his office.

Ray Crosby worked with McGregor and they all worked together and they only charge them for a few months that they say when bribery happened. They don't have a clue.

They did not tell you that Mr Crosby was authorized by Senator Rodger Bedford to get with McGregor, the Indians, and all parties involved to get a bill passed that everyone would be happy with.

Those are the facts about my client. They are the truth. He didnt not cross the line, nor bribe anyone, he did no wrong.

Thank you
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10:38am-- Reminding jurors burden of proof is on prosecutors and not the defense. The government has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt....Thats alll.

Paul Bryant Jr., son of Bear Bryant, help run and finance Victoryland for a very long time.

Electronic bingo, before it could be played in Macon County, 76% of the people voted yes on a constitutional amendment. The attorney general conducted a six month investigation and said it was legal. Then everything was fine until the raids.

Country Crossing people turned to Victoryland to help setup and run an electronic bingo facility.

Victoryland is owed 14 million dollars and has yet to be paid and one of the checks bounced that Country Crossing wrote.

Only upon the vote of the people will this happen: electronic bingo defined, commission to regulate it, and tax the winnings.

Hundreds of millions of dollars would have come in if the bill had passed. The bill did nothing more than give the people the right to vote. It didn't make a law or any of its nature.

the governments case is built on three things: the taped legislators, the tapes, and the three amigos (Scott Beason, Ben Lewis, Benny Mask) the two crooks (Jarrod Massey and Ronnie Gilley).

The government will offer less than 80 tapes of the 12,000. And a third of them will be shortened

They can't seem to make up their mind to believe Gilley or not.

He has had one of the phone since 1992, and have had it since July of 2009...these are not drop phones. They pay bills every month on them.

They didn't tape the witnesses for some reason. Since taping is the big thing, why didn't they tape the witness of the grand jury.

The FBI has repeatedly dropped the ball on evidence and one of the star players for the feds is missing.

Benjamin Lewis has never had a meeting with Milton McGregor.

Scott Beason had one meeting in 1999 and never had a phone call with him. In 2010, Beason said in a call from Gilley to meet with him and that was the only meeting the two had.

There are no bribes on any of the tapes. All McGregor told him was to let the people vote.

Mask was a chief lobbyist at the state house. He gets tons of money through two public checks.

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10:33am -- Espy says McGregor is 72 years old, been married for 40+ years and has seven grandchildren.

He is from Hartford and went to Geneva County High School. He then went to school at Auburn and Troy. He was called away at both school to serve his country in the US Army. He then went to work in Huntsville and then moved to Fort Rucker.

He and his wife started a store that was basically a small arcade.

He opened Victoryland in 1984. They were open until the raids by the gambling task force.

My client, Mr. McGregor is absolutely "not guilty". The government can bring any charge that they want to but our client is still not guilty.

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Court is in a brief recess
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All of the text below for day 5 until 9:15 is from the US Government
10:03am-- Crosby did not list money from McGregor on the forms he was required to file. This was no oversight. Crosby received $3,000 a month from McGregor.

Bob Geddie provided a false and misleading information to investigators. That is called obstruction of justice. They all lied, traded false documents and thats why they are all here.

Despite all of the efforts hide the bribes and they money, at the end of the day, the law prevailed and caught up to them.

The trial is not about gambling...its about corruption. We will show and you will see that there was in fact corruption

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9:54am-- The Gov. said that Harri Anne Smith was given over $500,000 for her support. Most if not all of the money washer entire campaign contributions.

She took the money to try and get the bill passed. She put the money in several accounts and gave them to PACs.

A call between Smith and Gilley too place where it was said that they were moving money to keep it from being tracked.

The government said that not only did she sell her own vote, she offered bribes to other legislators. One being Senator Prueitt.

Shortly after in March, Senator Pruiett changed his stance on the bill after that meeting took place.

MeGregor told his lobbyist, Coker, to close the deal by offering him two million dollars. They also offered him country music singers to sing at his functions as well as buying a fleet of cars form his dealership. On a call McGregor said, "He's on board".

The next day, after the vote on the bill, Pruiett called McGregor called McGregor trying to collect. He was contacted the very next day by the FBI asking him if he had accepted a bribe, and he said no.

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9:50am-- Senator Larry Means flat out asked Ronnie Gilley for $100,000 dollars just days before the vote.

Senator Ross asked McGregor for help (money) the day before the vote on the bill. In the same conversation, Ross told McGregor that his vote meant alot to McGregor.

The very next day, McGregor told his lobbyist Coker, to pay Ross with a campaign contribution in the name of another person to try and hide the source of the payment.

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9:45am-- The government tells the jury that they will hear hours of wire tapped calls.

They will not hear every phone call that McGregor and Gilley had because they used "drop phones" or numbers that they didn't want people to know they had.

They were very smart and they knew what they were doing. They were not stupid. They never came out and said, "I'm offering you a bribe". They did it in dirty ways and several people in the case tried to hide the bribes.

Time after time, the law was broken to pad their pockets.

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9:40am--Milton McGregor was the money man while Jay Walker, Bob Gerrie and Ray Crosby were the bagmen for him.

Its all about greed and corruption. They broke the law again, and again.

You will see in the trial that McGregor invested millions in Country Crossing and that they were not just business partners, they were partners in crime.

They talked multiple time a day and hundreds of times in the days leading up to the bingo bill vote.

Ronnie Gilley pled guilty because he did knowingly try to bribe state officials.

Under the agreement, Gilley is required to meet, help, testify for the government.

He is also required to tell the truth. If he lies, he gains nothing and loses everything.

Its up to the jury to decide if Gilley is telling the truth.

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9:34-- The Government said that McGregor offered a legislator one million dollars but that was nothing because if the bill would have passed, he would have earned hundreds of millions of dollars.

The corruption doesn't stop here... it's just the tip of the iceberg.

When the legislators were first bribed, they did what they were supposed to do. They went to the law enforcement. Others, were happy to get the money.

The defendants sold their votes by accepting or solicited the offers.

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9:28am-- The US Government is first up for opening statements.

Attorney Feaga is pointing out Ray Crosby. He wrote legislative bills for the state house and senate.

"He made a lot of money, and he was greedy"

He also pointed out that Milton McGregor also payed Crosby a lot of money. He said McGregor is rich and powerful and does whatever he wants to get his way.

He made a fortune but he was still greedy and wanted more.

The first step in gaining more money and wealth, was to get the bill passed.

The first thing McGregor did, was he bribed a legislative analyst, the person responsible for drafting the bingo bill. Crosby with McGregor's drafted Senate Bill 380. He made changes to the bill at the advise of McGregor and he was paid tens of thousands of dollars.

Crosby was not the only person on McGregor's payroll.
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9:15am The judge and jury are in the courtroom. Judge Thompson is addressing the jury.

Thompson is telling the jury the rules and some house cleaning items. He is telling them what words mean such as an objection and sustaining an objection.

He is telling them that they are there to determine guilt or innocence based on evidence and testimony alone.

They will be able to take notes but do not take so many notes that you become distracted. The jury will not have a transcript of the trial available during deliberations.

They are to use their own recollection when forming decisions.

Opening statements are about to begin.

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9:00am -- Jim Parkman, attorney for Harri Anne Smith, told media reporters "Showtime" this morning before walking into the courthouse.

Smith said that she is ready to get started.
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8:22amMost of the attorneys and the defendants are in the courtroom waiting for the trial to begin. Harri Anne Smith looked in good spirits this morning as she was walking up the the courthouse. She smiled and said, "Hello".

Milton McGregor's attorney Joe Espy said that he was looking forward to today so he could show his clients innocence. When asked if the governments accusations were a steep mountain to get over, he said that the government was more like a little mound to step over.

Susan James, attorney for Jay Walker, said she is ready to go. Her client is innocent and is ready to prove that.

Espy added that the government really does not have any evidence his client and everyone will soon see that.
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7:50am --The crowds are starting to grow outside the courthouse. There is supposed to be HUGE crowds today. Several members of the media are already in the room over an hour before the trial starts.
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DAY 4

5:30pm--- What we have heard is that roughly five of the 12 jurors and several alternates reside in Montgomery County.

Lowndes, Pike, Autauga, and Montgomery County will all has representation on the panel.

We will have to wait until late Thursday night or Friday morning for the official release of the entire panel.

Roughly 35 to 40 motion have to be ruled on before the trial can start.

The motions range form Bob Riley's motion to quash having to testify to what can be used as evidence in the trial.

10 of the main jurors are female and only two are male but are unsure of what race.

All of the discussion is going on behind closed doors. The TVs and the audio was cut off inside the media room so we all packed up and left because there was nothing to hear or to see.

Opening arguments will kick-off at 9:00 a.m. Friday.

The government will be up first and will get the ball rolling.

A total of six hours and twenty minutes is what Judge Thompson set aside.
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4:00pm-- One thing to note is that all of the trial is open to the public. Anyone can come and watch it. You can sit in the courtroom or upstairs in the balcony over looking the room.

There is also an overflow room to house additional people. If you do come, you must have an ID, you can not carry a cell phone or any electronic device, once court starts you can not leave the courtroom. If you do, you will not be allowed back in.

No food or drinks are allowed in the courthouse. Come early because it is supposed to be fairly crowded tomorrow for opening statements.
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3:50pm We are hearing that the panel has at least nine women and six of them are African-American but that number is not confirmed. That will not be confirmed until tomorrow.

Opening arguments will begin at 9am Friday morning and the government will call their first witness Monday morning.

Opening statements will take approximately seven hours.
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3:20pm Judge Thompson "That's our jury of 12. Select five alternates."

Thompson wants to meet in the back with the lawyers to go over the names of the jury because of the high media volume, he does not want their names released to anyone.

They are taking another brief recess to go over and confirm the names of the jury and then Judge Thompson will handle several motions that have been filed.

One of the motions we think is the one to allow or disallow former Gov. Bob Riley to testify. He was called to testify by Milton McGregor.

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3:12-- Judge Thompson makes his first appearance today. The attorneys are striking jurors as we speak so a panel should be in place within the hour.

During the calling out of the number of the potential, someone int he media room said "BINGO" and the room erupted in laughter.

Thompson told the government to make sure they know what they are doing because there is no back striking. The court laughed.

The government has 10 total strikes and the defense has a total of 18.

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3:02pm-- We are being told that the lawyers are taking a brief recess.
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3:00pm--The jury is finally coming back into the court room!!! This has taken forever but we are still unsure of a jury.
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12:39pm I guess they are going to lunch...They never told us. We just saw lawyers leaving the room.
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10:22am-- There is absolutely nothing going on in the courtroom right now. I honestly don't know when they will be out of the chamber.

Story from AP
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Attorneys in Alabama's gambling corruption trial expect to have a jury selected on the fourth day of the trial.

Lawyers spent Thursday morning questioning a few more potential
jurors, and then they will begin choosing 12 jurors and four
alternates. They expect to complete that Thursday afternoon.

Attorneys say it's uncertain when opening statements will begin, but most say they hope it will be Friday morning. That would allow the jury to hear both prosecution and defense arguments in one day.

An attorney for VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor, Ben Espy, says that would be less confusing for the jury.

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9:28am-- We are still waiting on the judge and the attorneys to come out of the chamber. As long as they strike a jury today, I'm ok!

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8:14am-- The attorneys are in the back with Judge Myron Thompson going over some more one on one questions with potential jurors.

Jim Parkman, attorney for Harri Anne Smith, said this morning that he thinks they will have a jury at some point today without having to call a fourth panel of jurors.

He said that if the panel is seated, they will handle some motions that are still pending and hopefully will start opening statements on Friday.

He is worried about jury fatigue. If they have to sit on the panel all morning and then have to listen to seven hours of opening statements, the jury will probably get tired and not pay full attention to what is being said.

He said that the opening statements are huge because they practically are the game plan for the defense. In this case, every lawyer wants the jury to be rested and ready to listen.

Today is also the last day of the legislative session. There are several controversial bills still pending. Perhaps the biggest is the abortion bill. The Alabama chapter of the ACLU has already promised lawsuits is the bill is passed and signed into law.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DAY 3

7:30pm-- Normally three strikes means your out....the third time is a charm....but not in this case! Judge Thompson wanted a jury tonight but they will have to call a fourth panel Thursday morning.

Jim Parkman, attorney for Harri Anne Smith, said that he thinks a jury will be in place sometime tomorrow. He said maybe even by lunch.

But the wild card is, will they start opening arrangements tomorrow afternoon?

They have set aside seven hours for those but there are still motions that need to be taken care of before the trial can start.

But that is all for tonight....see ya'll tomorrow!!!
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6:20pm-- (FROM THE AP) The questioning of potential jurors for Alabama's gambling corruption trial is going into the evening in Montgomery.

This has been the third day for prosecuting and defense attorneys to question groups of potential jurors about everything from their church membership to their knowledge about the nine defendants. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson is trying to seat 12 jurors and four alternates to hear the trial that could last most of the summer.

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5:18pm-- The attorneys are with Judge Thompson in the back and who knows how long they will be back there...Stan tuned.

Thanks for following this blog. If you have any comments, suggestions, likes or dislikes...PLEASE drop me an email at jason@wtvy.com

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4:30pm-- Sorry for the delay. I went to another court room for the federal car jacking charge against Melissa McGhee, Josh Gilley, and Wesley Robert Rogers. They are the three responsible for the Amber Alert on Monday morning. They made their first appearance this afternoon in federal court.

The government filed a motion to detain them in jail because they thought they are a flight risk.

Judge Susan Russ Walker set a detention hearing for June 15th at 10am in Montgomery.

Back to Bingo...the court is in a brief recess. All of the attorneys have asked the jury pool their list of questions then they will go in the back for individual questions with the judge and attorneys...so we are about to wait for a while...

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<3:20pm-- Geddie's attorney asked the jury about giving to PAC to PAC transfers.

He went on a rant about what that is and who it involves and the government didn't object to him stating facts but wanted him to ask questions.

Judge Thompson said that the attorneys are trying to score points with the jury pool and they have been all day. Then Geddie's attorney chimed in and said, "Well your honor, it's my turn". The court room erupted in laughter.

He then quizzed the jury pool by asking them if they have ever made a mistake in their checkbook ledger. Several cards went up and said they often make mistakes. He went a step further and asked what do you do when you make the mistake...Do you scribble the check and write over the mistake or do you write a new check?

This topic is important because all legislators are supposed to keep an accurate and detailed account of all monies that they receive through campaign contributions. He is trying to say that mistakes can happen when it comes to campaign finances.
____
3:13pm-- Robert Geddie's attorney is now up. He just asked the panel about making campaign contributions.

Several people raised their hands and he then asks if they know what it means when they donate.
_____
3:10pm-- David McKnight is the attorney for Thomas Coker and he asked the jury pool if they think that the government has ever made a mistake.

When they file an indictment, they may make a mistake and bring forth charges against an innocent person.

He quoted a bible verse from Proverbs 18:17....Can everyone here keep an open mind? Not make a decision halfway through? No one raised their paddle
_____
3:03pm Segall asks the jury pool if they would think less of a person in public dispute with the governor regardless of who's in office.

He went on to say that "Conspiracy is an agreement, and that not every conspiracy is illegal."

He stated that plea agreements are people who broke the law. He added that these are criminals and felons who broke the law, only way to get lighter sentence are plea deals. And do what the government wants them to do and say.
_____
2:45pm-- Segall again mentions the "Salty" language. Some potential jurors said they would be offended by the cussing and the harsh language but they added that they would not hold it against the client meaning that they could be fair and impartial.

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2:30pm-- The jury has come back into the courtroom! McGregor's attorney said he still has about 30 more minutes of questioning to do before he is finished. He took about 45 minutes before the lunch recess.

So far, he hold the trophy for the longest talker to this point in the trial.

A lot of the questions are all similar in nature but each attorney has a different reason for why they ask the question they do.

Also, Judge Thompson is going to hold some Saturday sessions with the first being next Saturday the 17th (Father's Day)

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2:10pm-- Well, here we are at 2:10 still waiting for everyone to come back into the courtroom. This is a hurry up and wait situation today!

We have heard this afternoon that we will be here tonight until they strike a jury. That means we can be here until midnight if that's what it takes to seat a jury.

I however do not want that to happen but I think Judge Thompson is tired of wasting time trying to get a panel together and wants to get on to the trial. If a jury is struck tonight, we will have opening statements at 8am on Thursday morning. Those will last for roughly seven hours and the government will present their case and call their first witness to the stand Friday morning.

Thats when the drama will begin! But until then, we wait....

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12:15pm-- Court is in recess until 1:15ish for lunch.
____
12:10pm-- Below is a brief story from Phillip Rawls of the Associated Press about what is going on as well.

---- A judge is encouraging attorneys to speed up jury selection for the trial of nine people accused of buying and selling votes on pro-gambling legislation in Alabama.

Jury selection is in its third day in Montgomery. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson had defense and prosecuting attorneys question
38 potential jurors Wednesday.

That's a larger group than the first two days.

Attorneys say the judge is hoping to have a jury selected by
Thursday.

Once testimony starts, the jury could hear more than 150
witnesses. Attorneys read the names of potential witnesses
Wednesday to see if the potential jurors knew any of them.

The defense attorney for former state Sen. Jim Preuitt, Ron Wise, says
the list is so long it sounds like everyone in the phone book would
testify.
___
11:50am-- A few jurors raised number cards saying they believe providing a place for others to gamble is a sin.

When asked if the jury had ever gambled, all but five people said they have gambled before. The attorney said it could be card games, poker inside a house, casino, basically any form of a friendly game.

He asked how may played the stock market, and then asked them if they thought that was a gamble.

_____
11:36am-- Bobby Segall now up to question the jury. He said that US Attorney Feaga gave his own version of the case that will soon start. He wants to know jury's feelings of case.

He then asks if anyone on the panel has a problem with a presumption of innocence. His client Milton McGregor, do people feel in their heart can they look at his client and say he is innocent instead of thinking he is guilty just because the government brought charges again him.

He also says that an indictment is just one side. the defense has zero say in the initial charges.

_____
11:22am-- Prosecuting attorney for the government Steven Feaga is up first to question the potential jury.

He said the case is about buying and/or selling votes in the Alabama Legislature. It is not at all about gambling, campaign contributions, PAC to PAC transfers or anything else.

McGregor's legal team objected twice saying that Feaga was basically making an opening statement instead of questioning the jury.

Judge Thompson overruled the objection saying the Mr. Seagall asks the exact same questions with objection.
_____
10:35am--Court is taking a 15 minute recess, then they will return to the judge's chambers to address the issues of a few potential jurors who say they have reason that they can not serve on the jury panel.

They attorneys are also meeting in the judges chamber to address another issue.
_____
10:22am-- Jim Parkman, attorney for Harri Anne Smith, is at the podium addressing the jury panel asking them if they know a variety of names form the Dothan/Houston County area.

Not many responses form the panel. That's one reason that Parkman and Smith have on several occasions asked Judge Thompson to select potential jurors form the southern part of the middle district of Alabama.

The panel is all from the northern part of the middle district which is primarily the Montgomery/ River Region.

_____
10:10am -- Three potential jurors know Senator Quinton Ross. Two are from his time with the Montgomery Public Schools system and he shares the same barber with the other. The juror said that he could be fair and impartial in the case.

Tom Coker's legal counsel was at the podium and one of the potential jurors said that Coker's daughter is his client
______
9:50am-- A juror said that she knows potential witness Greg Calhoun,local businessman. She said that Calhoun is her ex-brother in law. She said that it may sway her decision decision. Segall's reaction was a "Uh oh", which drew a good laugh from the entire courtroom.
_____
9:40am-- Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr., chancellor of Troy University, is a potential witness for Milton McGregor. A current student is on the potential jury panel and she said that she could be fair and impartial if he were to take the stand in the trial.
_____
9:30am--Bobby Segall, attorney for Milton McGregor begins introduction to jury panel.

Generally his questions/witness list lasts longest. He has not stayed under an hour to this point when he addresses the juror panel.

He has the longest list by far of any of the defense teams. He promises that not all of the people on the list will testify but they could depending on how the trial goes and if the need arises.

_____
9:07am--Well, we know one person that will not be on the jury. One lady works for Secretary of State Beth Chapman. Several people gave her the baseball ejection hand motion.
_____
9:00am-- One lucky man in a black shirt is the honorary microphone holder. Because attorneys and the judge ask a variety of questions, the jury members have to answer the questions in open court so everyone can hear.

Two people said that they could not sit on the panel due to other circumstances. One lady has recently had back surgery and has a hard time sitting for long periods of time. Another lady has custody of her grandson and he is bipolar. She has to take him to doctors appointments and other things during the week.

Judge Thompson said he would consider their reasons but it is ultimately his decision because he is the only person that can dismiss a juror.

_____
8:45am-- The jurors are entering the courtroom right now.

Just like the last two days, the exact same questions will be asked and everything will go pretty much the same way. Yesterday's panel was more vocal and interacted with the attorneys more than the previous panel.

Judge Thompson wants 55 total jurors and out of that group, the 16 will be chosen.

It does get pretty comical to hear the potential jurors' answers to the questions that the attorneys ask.

The best one so far was a lady saying that all car dealers were crooks and that she could not be fair or impartial to Jim Pruett because he was a car dealer.

I would be willing to bet my paycheck that she is not longer at the federal courthouse in Montgomery.

_____
8:22am--The attorney counsel has made their way into the courtroom for day three of jury selection.

We are hearing rumors that one panel will be called today and another to be called tomorrow and opening arguments will start on Friday.

However, a U.S. Marshall just informed us that Judge Thompson wants to meet today until a panel is seated. They need 12 jurors and four alternates to be ready to actually start the trial.

If that is the case, we will be here for a LONG time today.

But, on the other hand, if opening statements start on Thursday, the government will call their first witness onFriday and things will be underway.

Many lawyers suggest that the trial could last anywhere from four to six months. One reason is that there are so many defendants.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DAY 2

4:00pm-- We have just been informed that the potential jurors will not be coming back into the courtroom today.

They are in one on one meetings with Judge Thompson and lawyers from both sides.

Another panel will be called in at 8 in the morning.

Hopefully between the three panels, a jury can be seated and opening arguments can begin Thursday and the first witness can be called Friday....I HOPE!!!

That is all for the day!

_____
3:30pm The judge and potential jurors went in the back chambers...This took over two hours yesterday.

He took roughly 6 people back with him and is expected to take another 15 or so after he finishes with the initial group.

We heard that judge Thompson wanted to get through two panels of potential jurors today but there is almost no way that will happen. Unless they call another panel and plan on stayin until late in the night.

I feel that a panel will be called at 8am and we will stay late until a jury is picked and then proceed to opening arguments first thing on Thursday or at the latest, on Friday morning.
_____
2:50pm--Jay Walker's attorney asked if jury would group his as guilty because Ronnie Gilley, Jarrod Massey and Jennifer Pouncey all pled guilty and they all worked together.

Pouncey and Massey were both big lobbyist for Gilley and Country Crossing.
_____
2:40pm--Susan James, attorney for Jay Walker, former spokesperson for Country Crossing, is asking the panel about their views and relationships with police officers.

Do they like police officers? Have good or bad experiences? If their friend was on the witness stand and it was the friends word against another's, would they side with their friend?

James' brings up the "salty" language again and asked if she repeats it in court addressing the witness, would they hold it against her or against her client for the foul language.

She said that his mother was in the courtroom and will want to wash his mouth out with soap like she did when he was a child.

Jay Walker was not an employee of Country Crossing, he worked for other investors and was often a spokesperson for the facility.

_____
2:30pm--Attorney for Harri Anne Smith, Jim Parkman, asks the panel is they think that politicians are crooked and could be dirty as well as being shady. Some jury members say that politicians are and can be very misleading.

The crowd, judge and jury panel all laugh.

He then asks, whats the first thought the panel thought when they looked at Harri Anne Smith, how did she look? Was she shady, nice, pretty, or guilty?

Can you put aside your personal views of a politician and truly judge, based on evidence against Harri Anne Smith?

The government has objected multiple times to Parkman.

Parkman asked about hearing the entire taped phone conversations and Judge Thompson intervened and sai that it was up to him how much of the conversation that he was going to allow in the proceeding.

The government stepped in and said that its not the judges call, that it is based on the law.

Then Parkman was finished.

_____
2:25pm-- The attorney for Quintin Ross is asking the jury panel about Senate Bill 380. He asked them if they knew anything about it.

He says that it would not legalize gambling in Alabama it would have only allowed the people of the state to vote on it. He says that SB380 is one fo the biggest pieces of evidence in this entire case.

He goes on to talk about the wire taps. There are over 12,000 calls that will be used as evidence in court. He says his client is in only two of those calls and ask the jury if they can separate him from the calls.

He says that often times words can be taken out of context.

_____
2:05pm-- The attorney for Jim Pruitt asked if any member on the panel has any ill will towards a state legislator? He then pokes fun at legislators even though he represents one.

He said we do not live in a democracy. He cites the Pledge of Allegiance "To the Republic for which it stands" saying that we elect people to go to Montgomery on our behalf to vote and write bill for us.

He then asks the panel if they ever had a bad experience at a car dealership. If a member raises their hand, then have to explain the situation of why their dealership experience was bad.

The reason behind this question is Pruitt owns a dealership and if they have had bad experiences at car dealerships, they might hold a grudge or have ill feelings to a car dealer. These are the small questions that go deeper than most people realize in how they pick a jury for a trial of this magnitude.

_____
1:50pm --Again today, who do you support...Roll Tide or War Eagle? Have you ever given money to one of the schools? If they play each other, is your mind already made up as to who will win?

That's actually a fair question as it relates to the trial. Everyone knows whats in the indictment and that is only the governments side. That has been public for the last 10 months but now the defense gets to try to show the innocence of their client. If a potential juror's mind is already made up, there is no way that they can be fair and impartial as it relates to this trial.

It is all about showing that a jury member does not have a presumption of guilt or innocence.

The attorney also asked if the jury could return a not guilty vote against only one person. He asked could it be done only for Thomas Coker. If a jury member could not return a solitary not guilty vote, then they could not serve on the panel.

_____
12:30pm Break for Lunch!!!!!!!!!
_____
12:12pm-- Several potential jurors said they have a problem with lobbyists. they feel that they should not have jobs or do what they do to try to influence people for votes.

Some jurors said that people who help write the language in the bills are at fault for helping influence to get what they want.

He is now asking about the people who plead guilty. Can the jury panel trust the cooperation of the guilty party? Will the testimony be more truthful to the party because he or she is working with the government? Is there a chance of you believing the guilty testimony because they are doing what the government wants?

The government objected saying that McGregor's attorney was leading the jury saying that the government was trying to persuade a jury because the guilty party is working for the government.

Those people will not make the jury!

_____
12 Noon McGregor's attorney is talking about campaign contributions . He is asking the potential jurors if they feel that a person gives money to candidate, they are in support of what they support.

He asked the panel, if you give money to a PAC, it means you support a candidate that supports your agenda. One lady disagrees that PAC's do not do what they say they do.

This is one thing that is at the heart of the trial. PAC to PAC transfers. The money gets lost in transition and it basically leaves no paper trail.

PAC to PAC transfers were banned in the 2011 legislative session.

Several potential jurors have problems with PAC to PAC transfers because they give to the PAC and the PAC gives it to whomever they want to.

_____
11:38am-- In the questions regarding gambling only, one has never gambled. 13 have gone to Indian casinos.

One person is offended by the use of the word "Indian" instead of "Native American".

Again Segall asked the panel if they could handle hearing "Salty" language. He told the panel to think of the worst language they could and then double it. thats what they would hear in the taped conversations. He said the wording could be very offensive to some.

______
11:27am-- McGregor's attorney is now questioning the panel about his client having a lot of money. Do they think he is credible because he may travel with a lot of money.

He asked if the way McGregor earned his money, would that raise a question in the mind of the jury to judge him guilty?

Several jurors are speaking up about the way money is earned and how much money a person has. They say that if it is gained through illegal practices, they they are wrong.

All that tells EVERY defense lawyer, strike that lawyer because their clients are already presumed guilty by that person.

_____
11:10am The attorneys are FINALLY back inside the courtroom. The jury is also filing into the room.

McGregor's attorney and well as every other attorney will now start firing questions at the potential jury.

They will ask everything from football, presumption of guilt or innocence, church, and EVERYTHING in between.

Yesterday he asked who would win the Alabama-Auburn football game and asked if that would hinder their decision of this case.

One thing that the lawyers pound into the jurors is the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If there is any thought or gut feeling of innocence, then can they render a not guilty verdict.

There are no right or wrong answers to the questions posed by the defense lawyers but they just want to know their feelings about certain situations so that they can meet and strike or seat a jury that they feel gives them the best chance of being fair and impartial.

The attorneys say that this case is not about gambling itself but it has numerous ties to it.

The case centers around it.

Several of the media are thinking that this may be the only panel today because the process take a long time. The judge wanted to get through two panels today. Even if the second panel was summoned today, it would take until at least 10pm to get through them.

One thing that we do not know is how many from yesterdays panel were kept and not removed.

Lawyers say that they think opening arguments will start Thursday and will last most of the day but potentially at this pace, they may start Friday if a jury can not be struck.

Judge Thompson has set aside nearly 7 hours for opening statements form the defense teams as well as the government then the fun will really begin.

_____
10:52am Still in Recess!
_____
10:34am Thanks to the GREAT quality of sound in the overflow/media room, I missed two pretty important things that Lance
Griffin of the Dothan Eagle pointed out.

One member of the current jury panel lives in Ariton, apparently in Barbour County. The jury summons was not supposed to extend to Dale Co. and Judge Myron Thompson said substantive court motions will be heard on Saturdays in order to keep the trial flowing
_____
10:15am Court is taking a 15 minute recess. Questioning of the jury to begin around 10:40
_____
10:07am All of the attorneys have introduced their clients and their legal teams and read over their potential witness list and several members said they know some names on the list.

They all said that there would be no conflict of interest.

Susan James, attorney for former Country Crossing spokesman Jay Walker said that her client was not an employee of the entertainment complex.

Some media outlets referenced that he was and she made it very clear that he was not.

This case is and will continue to be a high profile media case and all attorneys want the information to be correct about their clients.
_____
9:22am--Segall, attorney for Milton McGregor is questioning the jury if then know anything about his client, his family, or anything relating to McGregor.

Some jurors raised their hands because Mcgregor is on the board of trustees at Troy University and they are employees of the school.

None of the people said that knowing McGregor in this capacity would affect their decision as it relates to the trial.

_____
9:05am The US attorney is asking the panel about their feelings and beliefs about PAC to PAC money transfers.

Do they feel that they are legal, wrong, should be allowed?

_____
8:55am The US Attorneys just introduced themselves and they have a total of 9 attorneys that are working on this case. The lead attorney from the Public Integrity Division from Washington D.C. is explaining why they are there and what the charges are in the indictment.

He is not presenting his arguments just merely explaining what the conspiracy was and what the defendants tried to accomplish by allegedly bribing state legislators.

What the US wants to know from the jury is if they know anything about the indictment and can they be fair and impartial in the case.

The government is trying to lead into the charges but there have been several objections from defense attorneys.

Judge Thompson told him "wind it up" and "get to the point" because he was taking entirely to long and getting off track.
______
8:48am The second wave of potential jurors have entered Judge Myron Thompson's court room. He is asking the panel a series of questions.

Are you over 18 and under 70? US citizen? Any reason you can't serve? Felon? Any charges pending against you? Have you ever served on a grand jury be it state or federal?

Roughly 5 people said they have a conflict about serving on the jury panel so Judge Thompson will meet with that group of people later on in his chamber. Yesterday 6 people originally said that they had a problem but when Thompson re-asked that question later in the day, that number grew by 10.

This particular panel is also from the northern part of the middle district of Alabama. Most of the people are form Montgomery, Prattville, and Millbrook. There have been several form Troy, Andalusia and Ariton.

The jobs range from teachers to doctors to city workers. The panel is similar to yesterdays with a good mixture and males and females.

_____
8:05am
Lawyers and defendants are inside the courtroom at this time. "Team Espy" who represents Milton McGregor said this morning that he thinks a jury will be seated sometime on Wednesday.

McGregors lawyers asked several church related questions to the potential jurors and this morning said the questions were not trying to single out church people.

"My daddy was a baptist preacher," Joe Espy said. "We are not trying to single out anyone related to church. All we want is a fair and impartial jury. Thats all."

Jim Parkman, lawyer for Senator Harri Anne Smith, said that he thinks not having jurors from Macon County (Victoryland) and Houston County (Country Crossing/Center Stage Alabama) will possibly hurt them a little because there is a lot of interest in the case from people in the two areas.

Parkman went on to say that he is ready to go to trial and alot of things would come out.

When asked why he called several major faces from Dothan and Houston County, he said that they would be for character purposes for Smith.

As for what is going on inside the courtroom, they are taking a brief recess because several potential jurors are late to court this morning.

Today will be very very similar to what happened yesterday. The jurors will be asked a number of questions by Judge Thompson, the government and all attorneys for the defendants.

The witness list will be read by each attorney and the potential jurors will say if they know the person in any way. Then they will be asked questions to test their character, their knowledge of the case, and just reasons why or why not they should be on the jury panel.

Stay tuned!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Day 1
5:57pm Court has adjourned for day 1. Judge Thompson said jury selection could take the next two days. He said the jury selection process should move a little faster after today.
_____
5:53pm-- The jury just came back into the courtroom...
_____
4:45pm--The judge called counsel to the back and they have been there for over an hour...It seems as if the day is winding down.

The court wanted to call two panels of potential jurors but they haven't even finished with one to this point.

Roughly eight people said that they had a conflict and could not sit on the jury and be fair. judge Thompson called those people into his chamber and met privately with them because he is the only person who can dismiss someone.

Tomorrow they will hopefully get through two more panels of potential of jurors but I am afraid it will be very similar to what happened today.

The need 12 jurors and four alternates to start the trial.

But we are still waiting for the final decision today....
_____
3:40pm-- Susan James, attorney for Jay Walker asked a very very very very random question. She asked the potential jury if they would look back on her or her client if she asked certain people very specifically about extramarital affairs. she said other attorneys may ask it but they she definitely would during the trial and wanted to make the jury aware so that they would not be caught off guard and think unfavorably of her.

3:01pm-- Parkman asked the jury if they feel or believe that a woman should run for political office. He asked if the jury prejudged her because she was a female.

He stated that she was in her position to represent the people of her district and that exactly what she was doing. She was doing what the people in her district wanted.
_____
2:59pm--Quinton T. Ross Jr.'s attorney asked about if a person donates to a person's political campaign do they automatically expect something in return.

If you donate to a candidate, you feel that by donating, they person will listen to your desires for your area. Not a bribe, but the candidate is a voice for the people of his or her district.

The elected official is an extension of the people in place to represent them. Candidates raise money for their campaign so people have to donate.

That was his main point in his address to the potential jury
_____
2:24pm-- James. E. Preuitt owns a car dealership in his hometown. In the indictment, Gilley and McGregor were said that they were going to buy numerous vehicles from the dealership for his support of the bingo legislation.

Two potential jurors said they had bad dealings in the past with a car dealer but that would not hinder them for being fair during the trial
_____
2:36pm The next attorney for Robert P. Geddie Jr.brought up the Iron Bowl. He asked if your mind was already made up as to who you were cheering for.
_____
2:30pm--McKnight, attorney for Coker asked the potential jury, if anyone had negative personal experience with a lobbyist. He went on to explain what a lobbyist is and what they did.

_____
2:12pm-- McGregor's attorney, Segall, asked the potential jurors if the "salty" language in the wire tapped calls would leave a bad impression on the panel. he is referring to the cussing and the foul language in the calls between McGregor and Gilley along with others.

He spoke for right at an hour.
_____
1:55pm-- When the jury was asked by McGregor lawyer Bobby Segall if they had gambled at facilities in Alabama, roughly 8 people raised their hands.
_____
1:45pm-- Here are some of the questions that McGregor's attorney is asking:

McGregor's attorney is now addressing the potential jury. He is asking them if they think that gambling is a sin. Does gambling go against their personal or religious beliefs? Does gambling personally bother them in any way? He asked the potential jurors of they are active in their church. Do they teach in the church? Do they attend regularly? What are their roles in the church? How many are members of a church? What denomination?

He also told them that in an indictment, there is only one side present. It is the governments responsibility to prove fact by fact every charge in the indictment. If any charge is not proven beyond a reasonable doubt, will a juror have any problem standing up and saying “Not Guilty”? He then states that it is the government's job to prove everything beyond a reasonable doubt. If that does not happen, then “Not Guilty” is the answer.

Do you have a laptop? I-Pad? Computer? Does your computer have anti-virus software?

He then asks about Twitter. He asks the potential jurors if they send tweets and follow people or have any followers.

He asks if the people have more than one email address. Are they personal or business related?

Have you gambled in any form? Computer? Card games? With a friend at someones house?

Have you ever been to a gambling facility? Victoryland? Indian casino? Whitehall? Did you win?

Have you ever heard of wiretaps?

Any family member work on a political campaign?
_____
1:12pm-- The potential jury is back inside the courtroom. the government is telling the jury about the indict and what things mean.

He is asking them questions about a questioner that they filled out.
_____
12:00pm Before McGregor's attorneys can question the jury the court will recess for lunch until 1pm.
_____
11:57am-- Now comes the questions...anyone member of Eagle Forum, Christian Coalition, Business Council of Alabama, Alabama Farmers Federation...

Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue will take stand
______
11:50am-- Harri Anne Smith's witness list includes: Steve Clouse, Jack Campbell, Chris Campbell, John Watson, George Flowers, Ricky Starling, David Parsons, Tracy Knowles, Troy King, Tim Benefield, Doug Rainer, Mark Culver, Stephanie Blakenship, Laura Watford, Jimmy Holley, Johnny Adams, Del Marsh, Jabo Wagner, John Downs, Locy Baker, Matt Parker, Atty. Doug Jones, Marcy Knight, Atty. David Harrison, Nancy Jones, Lorrie Morgan, James Stroud, Tom Vickers, Benny Griffin, Jerry Bedsole, Steve Windom, Clay King, Gayla White, Judge Charlie Fleming, Rhonda Yeomans, Mayor Mike Schmitz, Johnny Register, Amanda Mathis, Timothy Hawkins, Stephen Evans, John White, Sheriff Andy Hughes,
_____
11:05am The first 25 jurors are from the following locations and have all sorts of jobs such as: Hope Hull, Prattville, Andalusia, Montgomery, Pike Road, Deatsville, Union Springs, Titus, Clanton, Banks

Jurors have been lawyers, teachers, city workers, consultants, fireman, insurance agent, engineers, state employee, Walmart, postal worker, Dept. of Defense, Air Force, cosmetologist.

The government is not reading over defendants and other names that jurors may know have are related to.

Some names on the governments list are Jimmy Raine, Terry Spicer, Benjamin Lewis, Benjamin Lewis, Scott Beason, Barry Mask, R Gilley
J Massey, J Pouncy, FBI, George Glaser FBI, Keith Baker, John McCarron, Eric Doell, Benjamin Patterson, Debra Long, Jimmy Raine,
Kirk Fulford, Gaylr Traylor, Gary Hudson, Rick Hartsill, David Mowery
Jerry Bassett, Lynn Burr
 
Jim Sumner
Steve French
Paul Sanford
McCutcheon
 
SHadrick McGill
Larry Dixon
Farrell Patrick
Terry Spicer
 
Heen Hamby
 
Linda Pippin
Roger Bedford
Lowell Barron
Robert Lambert
Seth Hammett
Johnny Crawford
 
Paul Hubbert
Burt Danner
Dan Martin
Steve Raby
Debra Moore
 
Joseph Herman ABI
Debbie Shaw
Frank Williams
.

Here are a few names from McGregor's witness list:
McGregor--- Marcel Black, Kelly Benefield, Sen. Roger Bedford, Tim Byrd fmr. Sheriff of Enterprise, Greg Calhoun, Jim Canary, Laura Canary, Bobby Denton fmr. senator, Larry Dickerson senator, Steve Flowers, Johnny Ford, fmr. mayor of Tuskegee, Rep. David Grimes, Joe Hermon(ABI), Lamar Higgins, Jimmy Holley, Joe Howell, Mike Hubbard, Dr. Paul Hubbard, Charles Huggins, Bill Hughes, Mallory Johnson, Jimmy Lunsford, mayor of Troy, Sen John Marsh, Coffee County DA Gary McAliley, Del Marsh, Joe Fine, Wendall Mitchell, Chris Murphy, Joe Perkins, Dana Rice, Bob Riley, Montey Russell, Sen. Paul Sanford, Suzanne Webb (AG office),
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10:52am-- Judge Thompson told the jurors that they were there for the USA vs. McGregor trial and told each attorney to introduce themselves and their legal teams as well as who the represent.

The jury has been asked to stand and swear an oath to be honest. If they are dismissed, they are asked to give their number instead of their name. The trial is very public and to keep their names private, they are known by number.

Judge Thompson is asking a variety of questions such as age, location, past charges, can they read or write, citizenship, served on grand jury in last two years.

The jury is now having to say where they are from, if they are married, retired or working, and what they do on a daily basis.

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10:45am-- The first panel of potential jurors have been brought into the courtroom.

The first 25 were pretty mixed. Several males and females, black and white. The numbers seemed pretty even at first glance. I am not inside the court room so I am not 100% sure.

The only down side to being in this room is that we will not be able to hear the jurors answers to the questions of the attorneys. BUT, I will do my best to hear and put the information on here.
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10:35am--The Court passed out some kind of juror information to the attorneys in the room.

Maybe this means that the juror selection process about ready to start...
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10:17am-- Just as I wrote the last update, attorneys filed back into the courtroom.

The jurors will be brought in 25 at a time and will be asked a list of questions from EACH attorney as well as a list from the government.

That's one reason that they are estimating that seating a jury could take up to three days.

There are roughly 400 potential jurors on the list!
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10:15am-- No activity in the courtroom in the last 30 minutes.
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9:48am-- Court is currently in recess and Judge Thompson is taking up issues with counsel members outside of the courtroom.

The first panel of potential jurors preparing to be brought in for questioning.
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9:16am-- During the break, all media are inside of the US Bankruptcy Courtroom. there are roughly 25 members inside of the room and another 15 or so outside of the front entrance with cameras trying to get interviews.

This room is the only room inside of the federal courthouse where outside people can bring in electronic devices such as laptops and cell phones.

We have three televisions that we are watching where we can see Judge Thompson, the podium in the center of the room where the attorneys stand and we can see the witness stand.

John Laberge is inside the courtroom for the proceedings.
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9:15am-- Judge Thompson is taking up a motion regarding FBI Agent Keith Bakers actions in the Grand Jury. He is discussing the matter outside of courtroom.
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9:11am-- Judge Thompson said there is an issue about qualifying the jury as to unindicted co-conspirators.

Judge Thompson said the unindicted co-conspirators need to be identified if the persons are being used for testimony.

Jay Walker’s Attorney said the problem with the government’s unindicted co-conspirators list is that some people might be potential witnesses for the defense and that the names are needed in order for the defense to be ready.

He as also asked that council identify to him as well as the jury the identities of the people. These are people who were named in the indictment but not charged such as "Lobbyist 1" and others.

Judge Thompson told the government to have a complete list by Tuesday morning.

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8:55am--Judge Thompson asked that all defendants be present at all times during the trial even for jury selection. He said that since they are on trial, they should be there.

He said that if there is a conviction in the case for a defendant, the government should be ready for a probation sentence and have it ready by the sentencing date.

He also made it known that only he can dismiss a defendant from the proceeding.
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8:50am--The government and Harri Anne Smith's attorneys are discussing a forfeiture hearing.

The forfeiture matter is only against Harri Anne Smith. The Judge ask if this matter is a jury matter and attorney’s say it is a jury matter.

Harri Anne Smith's full legal teal for the trial: Jim Parkman, William White, Martin Adams, Josh McKeown
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8:40am-- It seems as if there are 50 attorneys in the courtroom. All of the defendants are present. Judge Thompson just entered the courtroom and is beginning.

The government is introducing their attorneys who will be present during the duration of the trial.

Potential jurors are expected to be brought in for questioning beginning at 9:30 a.m.
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On Monday morning at 8:30 AM the trials in the case of 9 people will get underway in Montgomery Alabama.

The case will be tried before Federal Judge Myron Thompson.

400 potential jurors have been ordered to Montgomery for the trial.

None of the potential jurors are from our area.

More than likely, the first three days, we will see the attorneys working to get a panel of jurors that can hear the evidence in these cases for what could be anywhere from 4 to 6 months.

Following the selection of the jurors, there will be opening statements.
Six hours have been set aside for opening arguments.

Following the opening statements, the government will present their case against the nine persons charged.

Following the prosecution case, the defense will present their case.

Remember, nine defendants, all with different attorney’s, this could take a while.

The first thing on Monday will be motions that Judge Myron Thompson has yet to rule on.

One of the motions is to dismiss the charges. He also has yet to rule on whether former Governor Bob Riley will be required to testify.

Jim Parkman, lawyer for state senator Harri Anne Smith spoke to the media this morning before walking in the courthouse.

He said he was looking forward to the trial and that he hopes that the government plays the entire recording of the wiretaps.

He said that would prove his client is innocent of all of the charges.