Since it began six years ago, slot machine-style gambling has weaved a tangled web across Alabama, linking some of the state’s biggest power players with public officials at various levels of state government. Most of these connections lie below the surface. But an ongoing FBI Mobile and Department of Justice investigation threatens to uncover inappropriate relationships and public corruption at the Alabama Statehouse.
Initially media reports linked the federal investigation to a March 30 Alabama Senate vote to legalize and expand gambling. Supporters of the bill did not have enough votes to pass it, but when three senators — Bobby Denton, D-Muscle Shoals; Jim Preuitt, R-Talladega; and Larry Means, D-Attalla — changed their votes, it passed. Lacking the necessary votes, the bill died in the House of Representatives around the same time the investigation was announced April 1. Soon a parade of Republican and Democrat legislators began testifying before a grand jury about their involvement or experience with illegal gambling being called electronic bingo.
Although negotiations made and actions taken during this year’s legislative session may have affected the case, at least one senator believes the investigation is much broader than many think.
“I think it’s a larger thing than just bingo this year,” said Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale. “This whole investigation has to do with how things are run overall. I think it’s a large widespread investigation. I don’t think it’s as pointed and focused as some people believe.”
Beason thinks the investigation goes back to at least 2009, when he told “authorities” about an inappropriate conversation he had with a lobbyist.
“Some other things happened,” Beason added. “All of it together made me uneasy about what might be going on. That’s when I talked to the authorities.”
While he is unsure if the FBI investigation began after he spoke with the authorities or if it was already under way, he said, “They weren’t necessarily surprised when I talked to them.”
The FBI would not comment on the status of the public corruption investigation, but Mobile Media Coordinator Douglas Astralaga said typically when the bureau investigates cases, it turns them in to the U.S. attorney’s office, which determines whether to “further develop cases through the FBI through subpoenas, grand juries or whatever technique is necessary. (Then), if the case is indicted, it goes to court and follows the court’s deadlines.” Astralaga added that the time frame “fluctuates depending on the complexity of the case and attorney and court schedules.”
Nevertheless Beason said he believes indictments will be handed down in this case.
“If there was nothing there, the investigation would have ended a long time ago,” Beason noted.
A source told The Alabama Baptist electronic surveillance was involved in the FBI’s investigations because they informed certain people that some of their conversations concerning gambling had been taped. The source also said letters are normally sent to people targeted in federal investigations but it is uncertain if any of the politicians or lobbyists interviewed by the grand jury has admitted receiving any such letter.
Investigators may have collected further evidence for the case. In July, The Birmingham News reported that “federal prosecutors probing gambling legislation have subpoenaed the state pay stubs for nearly one-fourth of the Alabama Legislature, Attorney General Troy King and other public officials.” The story stated, “The public officials for whom prosecutors have sought pay records are not necessarily targets of the criminal investigation; some are known to be cooperating with investigators, and several already have appeared before a grand jury.”
The Justice Department would not confirm or deny any information about the investigation, including whether it is still pursuing the case.
If any Alabama officials are indicted in this case, then they could face serious charges including bribery, extortion, embezzlement, racketeering, kickbacks and money laundering, according to the FBI’s website.
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