Gilley Accused Of Bribery

Alabama federal prosecutors claim that the developer of entertainment complex Country Crossing tried to bribe a former lobbyist, later co-defendant, in a state corruption investigation and are asking a judge to revoke Gilley’s bail.

Court papers filed Jan. 6 claim Ronnie Gilley, who’s been free on $500,000 bail since Oct. 4, made contact with Jarrod Massey and “did knowingly offer money or a thing of value” allegedly to influence Massey’s testimony.

Massey entered a guilty plea Dec. 20 to one count of conspiracy and five counts of bribery stemming from his reported confession that he bribed members of the Alabama Legislature to get favorable votes for electronic bingo.

Gilley’s attorney Doug Jones said the claim isn’t credible.

“Ronnie Gilley has never, ever tried to bribe anyone, much less Jarrod Massey,” Jones said. “That didn’t happen. We will be able to show it didn’t happen.”

A hearing on the prosecution’s motion is reportedly set for Jan. 12.

Gilley, Massey and about 10 others were indicted in October for allegedly buying and selling votes to get a bill legalizing electronic bingo machines passed.

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley’s ongoing quest to ban electronic bingo machines in the state led Gilley and the Houston Economic Development Association to shut down the Country Crossing entertainment complex in Dothan – which has about 1,700 electronic bingo machines – nearly a year ago amid threats of anti-gambling task force raids.