Casino owner Milton McGregor, right, and his attorney Joe Espy arrive at the Federal Building in Montgomery, Ala. Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. The jury in the case is now in its fourth day of deliberations. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Updated: Thursday, 09 Feb 2012, 2:16 PM CST
Published : Thursday, 09 Feb 2012, 7:42 AM CST
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Defense attorneys in Alabama's gambling corruption retrial say there couldn't have been a conspiracy between the six defendants because some of them didn't meet until they were arrested and taken to the FBI office in Montgomery.
Attorneys spent much of Thursday giving opening statements in federal court in Montgomery.
The six defendants are on trial in federal court in Montgomery on charges accusing them of buying and selling votes for pro-gambling legislation.
An attorney for indicted casino owner Milton McGregor, Joe Espy, said the only crooks are the three who have pleaded guilty and will testify for the prosecution - casino developer Ronnie Gilley and his lobbyists, Jarrod Massey and Jennifer Pouncy.
Espy also told jurors they won't hear the word "bribe" on any of McGregor's phone calls wire tapped by the FBI, because he didn't offer any bribes.
An attorney for former Sen. Larry Means, Bill Clark, told jurors the person offering bribes can be guilty and the other person not guilty.
An attorney for former Sen. Jim Preuitt, Ron Wise, said Preuitt never sought anything from gambling interests.
The jury for the trial is largely female like the jury was for the original gambling corruption trial last summer. That jury could not resolve 32 counts against the six defendants.
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