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MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Lobbyist Jarrod Massey acknowledged this afternoon during bingo trial testimony that he worked counter to VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor at times during efforts to pass a pro-gambling bill in the state Legislature.

The bill, which passed the state Senate of died in the House of Representatives, would have allowed voters to decide whether to legalize electronic bingo machines in Alabama.

Four politicians stand accused of accepting bribes in exchange for “yes” votes on the legislation. McGregor also stands accused of conspiracy charges along with a pair of lobbyists he employed, a spokesman for a different casino and an employee for the Legislative Reference Service, which helps lawmakers draft bills.

Massey admitted that at one point, he felt McGregor lacked “urgency” to pass the bill and that he felt he would be fine financially even if his business shut down. Massey said that he and McGregor also disagreed over strategy: Massey wanted to make sure that the gambling bill gave Etowah County a fair chance to land a casino.

That, Massey said, would have greatly improved the chances of winning support from the area’s state senator, Larry Means, who is a defendant in the case.

“I was concerned that Mr. McGregor had the opinion he could obtain Sen. Means’ vote without being fair to Etowah.”

In response, Massey acknowledged, he formed an alliance with Etowah County behind McGregor’s back. In a phone conversation with an attorney for Massey’s client, Country Crossing owner Ronnie Gilley, Massey discussed protecting Etowah’s interests.

And if McGregor didn’t like it?

“F— Milton,” Massey said in the phone call.

Defense attorney Bobby Segall brought up the phone call in a continuing effort to convince the juror that McGregor did not conspire with Gilley and Massey to bribe legislators. At the same time, Massey testified, “We were working jointly with Mr. McGregor to pass the bill.”

Segall also spent a great deal of time revisiting Massey’s earlier testimony about Gilley’s attempts to buy his lobbyists’ cooperation in the light of a criminal investigation.

That includes an offer Massey says Gilley made 2 days after discussing the possibility that state Sen. Scott Beason was working with law enforcement investigators. Massey offered Beason a substantial bribe on Gilley’s behalf.

“He (Gilley) indicated he would take care of my family if I went down,” Massey testified.

Massey also reiterated that Gilley on another occasion that Gilley offered him an equity stake in Country Crossing and Mississippi venture if the lobbyist lied to protect casino owner. Massey said that was above and beyond the deal he previously had and that Gilley later estimated the value of the additional compensation at about $1 million a year. Massey testified that Gilley also pledged to pay is legal fees.

The questions on that topic seemed designed to hammer home once again another defense theme: That Massey and Gilley are dishonest and cannot be trusted when they tie McGregor to the conspiracy.

“Both of you would like in order to avoid either of you going to jail,” Segall said.

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To follow all of the bingo trial see:
Bingo news at al.com or @ALBingoTrial on Twitter

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