Specific Charges from the DoJ

Specific charges from the DoJ:

The defendants named in the indictment unsealed today were charged with the following crimes:

  • Milton E. McGregor, 71, of Montgomery, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, six counts of federal program bribery, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud;
  • Ronald E. Gilley, 45, of Enterprise, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, six counts of federal program bribery, 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud, and four counts of money laundering;
  • Jarrod D. Massey, 39, of Montgomery, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, five counts of federal program bribery, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud;
  • Thomas E. Coker, 70, of Lowndesboro, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of federal program bribery, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud;
  • Robert B. Geddie Jr., 60, of Montgomery, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of federal program bribery, 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud, and one count of obstruction of justice;
  • Jarrell W. Walker Jr., 36, of Lanett, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of federal program bribery, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud;
  • Harri Anne H. Smith, 48, of Slocomb, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of federal program bribery, one count of extortion, 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud, and four counts of money laundering;
  • Larry P. Means, 63, of Attalla, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of federal program bribery, two counts of attempted extortion, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud;
  • James E. Preuitt, 75, of Talladega, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of federal program bribery, one count of attempted extortion, 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud, and one count of making a false statement;
  • Quinton T. Ross Jr., 41, of Montgomery, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of federal program bribery, two counts of attempted extortion, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud; and
  • Joseph R. Crosby, 61, of Montgomery, Ala., was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of federal program bribery, and 11 counts of honest services mail and wire fraud.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The federal program bribery charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of extortion, honest services mail and wire fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The false statement charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The indictment also contains a notice of forfeiture as to defendants Smith and Gilley.

An indictment is merely an allegation and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Indictment Details

Indictment details. (Thanks to Kyle Whitmire of Second Front.)

Defendants:

Milton McGregor, gambling interest
Ronnie Gilley, gambling interest
Thomas Coker, lobbyist
Bob Geddie, lobbyist
Jarrod Massey, lobbyist
Larry Means, state Senator (D – Attalla)
Jim Preuitt, state Senator (R – Talladega)
Quinton Ross, state Senator (D – Montgomery)
Harri Anne Smith, state Senator (I – Slocomb)
Jarrell Walker, Jr., Gilley employee
Ray Crosby, Legislative Reference Service employee

Also, unnamed but described as “relevant individuals” in the indictment are two state Representatives and one state Senator, all up for re-election. Presumably they are cooperating with the investigation.

One lobbyist unnamed as a “relevant individual” worked for Jarrod Massey. According to the DoJ press conference, Jennifer Pouncy who works for Massey has pleaded guilty on one count. Mary Orndorff of the Birmingham News has more, saying that Pouncy “offered $2 million to state Sen. Jim Preuitt for his vote on pro-gambling legislation.”

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