Alabama Casino Lobbyist, Legislator Head to Prison for Gambling Vote Selling Scheme

MONTGOMERY, Ala. —  (Associated Press) - A casino lobbyist and a former legislator who pleaded guilty in Alabama's gambling corruption case are now in federal prison.

A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons said lobbyist Jarrod Massey reported Monday to the minimum-security prison camp at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. Former state Rep. Terry Spicer of Elba reported to the minimum-security prison camp in Marion, Ill.

Massey declined an interview with The Associated Press before heading to prison, but he said in a Facebook posting that he was grateful to be serving his sentence close to his family in Montgomery.

Massey has a sentence of five years and five months for offering bribes to legislators. Spicer has a sentence of four years and nine months for accepting bribes.

Country Crossing casino developer Ronnie Gilley of Enterprise and casino lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy also pleaded guilty in the case. Gilley was originally supposed to report to prison Monday to begin a sentence of six years and eight months for offering bribes to legislators, but U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson delayed his reporting date until Sept. 24 to allow him to have surgery at his expense rather than the government's expense.

Pouncy will be sentenced Sept. 26.

Massey, Gilley and Pouncy admitted offering bribes to legislators to support pro-gambling legislation. Spicer admitted taking bribes from Massey and Gilley. All four cooperated with prosecutors, who were unable to get convictions against any of the other defendants in the case.