Ronnie Gilley pleads guilty to conspiracy, bribery

The developer of Country Crossing said Friday he became engulfed in the flames of government corruption and participated in what he hated most.

Ronnie Gilley pleaded guilty Friday to one count of conspiracy, five counts of bribery, one count of aiding and abetting and four counts of money laundering, admitting to his involvement in an alleged scheme concocted to buy votes for pro gambling legislation that would have benefitted Country Crossing.

Gilley, still dressed in prison orange, apologized to the court before making his plea Friday.

“I am sorry. I am wrong and I plead guilty,” Gilley said.

Gilley also told the court his initial involvement in politics awakened him to “nasty corruption associated with politics.”

“Everyone was out for personal gain,” he said.

Gilley said he initially sought to change the process.

“The closer I got to the flames, I became engulfed by that fire instead of putting it out,” he said.

Four of the counts carry a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count. Six carry a maximum of 10 years. The conspiracy count carries a maximum of five years. Gilley also faces fines, penalties and the forfeiture of property. He agreed to forfeit $200,000 as part of the money laundering plea. It is believed the 11 counts of honest services fraud Gilley was charged with in the indictment will be dropped as part of the agreement. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to the plea agreement, the government recommends a sentence of between 21.8 and 27.25 years for Gilley, but said the sentence could be subject to reduction based on his cooperation with the government.

“Ronald Gilley thought votes could be bought and sold in Alabama,” Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said in a written statement. “He participated in a wide-ranging scheme to bribe state legislators into supporting a law that would fatten his wallet. But he, like his co-conspirators, was stopped in his tracks. Now, Mr. Gilley must face the consequences of his corruption.”

When asked if Gilley would testify for the government at the June corruption trial of the nine remaining bingo defendants, Gilley attorney David Harrison of Geneva said “Mr. Gilley intends to speak the truth.”

Admissions made by Gilley as part of the plea agreement include:

» That he gave, offered, or agreed to offer things of value worth millions of dollars to members of the Alabama Legislature for their support of pro gambling legislation.

» That he gave, offered or agreed to offer money, campaign contributions, appearances at events by country music stars, political polls and fundraising assistance to legislators for their support of the legislation, SB380.

» That he sought to hide the contributions through political action committees, conduit contributors or other means.

When the hearing ended, Gilley, seated, exhaled and bowed his head.

A hearing is set for Monday at 10 a.m. concerning the conditions of his release from the Montgomery Municipal Jail. Gilley was given a 24-hour release Friday to attend a medical procedure involving a family member.

Harrison negotiated the terms of Gilley’s plea. Gilley’s other criminal defense attorneys, Doug Jones, Tom Butler and Amil Mumjadar of the firm Haskell and Slaughter will still be retained “for now”, according to Harrison.

The hearing was delayed more than 90 minutes due to a potential conflict of interest because Haskell and Slaughter represents co-defendant Milton McGregor in a civil suit involving McGregor’s gambling development in Macon County. U.S. Magistrate Judge Wallace Capel said that represents a potential conflict of interest and asked Gilley to understand the potential risks associated with retaining a lawyer whose firm represents other defendants in a conspiracy case. Gilley said he was aware of the conflict and is still retaining the firm.

Gilley is the second of the original 11 defendants indicted in October on conspiracy and bribery charges to plead guilty. Gilley’s former lobbyist, Jarrod Massey, pleaded guilty in December and is currently serving time in federal prison. Massey’s former employee, Jennifer Pouncy, pleaded guilty in September of last year and will be sentenced in August.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, the presiding judge in the case, can either accept or reject the recommendation of Capel to accept the plea agreement.