Today the defence in the Alabama Gambling Corruption trial received some good news when U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson on Monday dropped 12 counts against legislative analyst Ray Crosby and one of the charges against VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor.
The prosecution rested their case last week, but there were holes to the evidence they presented. Those holes have lead definitive rulings by the judge.
Thompson ruled that McGregor was acquitted on a count 3, which charged him and lobbyist Bob Geddie with bribing state Rep. Barry Mask.
Thompson wrote in his order,”As to count 3, the evidence presented by the government under the theory it asserted to the court is insufficient to support a conviction under this count.”
Judge Thompson then dropped the conspiracy charge against Crosby and all 11 of the honest services charges against Crosby. Crosby isn’t completely off the hook, there still remains one count of federal programs bribery and aiding and abetting remaining against Crosby, who was allegedly paid $3,000 monthly by McGregor while he was also being paid to work for the Legislature.
The other defendants in the case are still on the hot seat. Judge Thompson denied motions for acquittal by lobbyist Tom Coker; former state Sense. Jim Preuitt of Talladega and Larry Means of Attalla; current state Sens. Quinton Ross of Montgomery and Harri Anne Smith of Slocomb; and former Country Crossing spokesman Jay Walker who are all charged for their roles in an alleged scheme in which casino interests bribed state lawmakers to vote for gambling legislation.
The defense will no doubt attempt to pick apart every inch of the prosecution’s case and more acquittals could be forthcoming.
