BIRMINGHAM, AL -- The jury in a federal court here on March 7 acquitted all six defendants of charges that they offered or accepted bribes to legalize electronic bingo in Alabama.
Milton McGregor of VictoryLand (Shorter, AL), two former Alabama state senators and a sitting state senator were found not guilty for the second time.
The Department of Justice prosecuted the case after state officials failed to get guilty verdicts against the same defendants on similar charges last year. | SEE STORY
In 2010 and 2011, a plea-bargain agreement led to guilty pleas by a casino developer, two lobbyists and a state representative. They testified against McGregor and the other defendants in the federal trial.
McGregor released a statement accusing the government of prosecutorial misconduct and persecution of himself and his fellow defendants.
Despite the acquittals in 2011 and 2012 trials, efforts by operators to legalize electronic bingo have failed. Electronic bingo remains illegal in Alabama according to the governor and the state's attorney general.
