http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/milton_mcgregor_my_detective_f.htmlMilton McGregor: My detective found antigambling task force commander in casino
By George Talbot
January 22, 2010, 9:00AM
David Barber, commander of the Governor's Task Force on Illegal Gambling, talks to the media about the gaming machines confiscated from White Hall Entertainment in White Hall, Ala. on March 20, 2009. Barber stepped down last week saying he recently won $2,300 at a Mississippi casino. Victoryland owner Milton McGregor says a private detective working on his behalf found Barber at a slot machine in the facility.
VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor said Thursday that a private detective working on his behalf caught David Barber, the head of Gov. Bob Riley's antigambling task force, playing a slot machine at a Mississippi casino.
McGregor said he hired an investigator to follow Barber to the Golden Moon casino in Philadelphia, Miss., where Barber won a $2,300 jackpot in late December.
"I knew he was going there. I knew what took place in Mississippi," McGregor told the Press-Register. "I wasn't out to destroy David Barber. He destroyed himself."
McGregor and other Alabama casino owners are waging a high-stakes battle with the Riley administration over the legality of electronic bingo machines, which have been seized in raids led by Barber's task force.
Barber, a former Jefferson County District Attorney, resigned his position as commander of the Task Force on Illegal Gambling on Jan. 13.
"On a recent visit to Mississippi, I visited a legal casino and won $2,300 playing a legal game," Barber wrote in a letter to Riley. "While my actions were in full compliance with the law, I am convinced that the forces that operate illegal casinos in Alabama will focus on my actions as part of their continuing effort to smear you and your Task Force."
Riley accepted his resignation in a letter the next day. Barber, appointed in December 2008, agreed to stay on the job until a replacement is appointed.
McGregor claimed that he put that chain of events into motion by getting word to Riley through an intermediary that he had proof that Barber was gambling. He said he gave Riley a Jan. 15 deadline to disclose Barber's activity or else he would disclose it himself.
Riley announced Barber's resignation on Jan. 15. The news sent shock waves across the Alabama political landscape, and earned national headlines.
"I found it amusing but disgusting. I detest hypocrisy," McGregor said. "You'd be surprised what you can find out by monitoring somebody. It doesn't take long."
Riley's office vehemently denied McGregor's account.
"Milton McGregor is a liar," said Jeff Emerson, communications director for Riley.
A second spokesman for the governor said Riley learned about Barber's activity from a member of his legal staff on Jan. 13.
"Barber told (deputy legal adviser) Sonny Reagan that he had been to a casino recently and that he won some money. Sonny then immediately told the governor about the situation. I was with the governor when this happened," said Riley spokesman Todd Stacy.
McGregor's VictoryLand entertainment complex in Shorter features electronic bingo games, greyhound racing and other forms of gambling.
The bingo games resemble slot machines, which are illegal in Alabama. McGregor and other casino owners argue that the bingo machines comply with Alabama law.
"You can't get any more legal than VictoryLand," he said.
Riley disagrees, using a Nov. 13 ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court as a springboard to conduct raids on bingo halls across the state.
McGregor's VictoryLand is one of the biggest in Alabama. The $200 million complex features a hotel, six restaurants and more than 6,000 electronic bingo machines.
McGregor said he modified all of his machines to comply with the court's ruling, which laid out a series of definitions that could be used to distinguish bingo machines from slots. The changes, McGregor said, detract from the playing experience and put him at a disadvantage to Indian casinos that are exempt from the ruling.
He said business at Victoryland has fallen more than 50 percent since he altered his machines to meet the Supreme Court's definition. Most of that business, he said, has shifted to Indian casinos.
VictoryLand employs more than 2,000 workers in Macon County, but McGregor said it could be forced to make layoffs if business doesn't rebound.
The court's 6-3 ruling "is very much an economic hardship for us. It's totally unfair and wrong that six people on Dexter Avenue could do anybody like that," he said. "The good news is, I'm in compliance. The bad news is, it's destroying my business."
McGregor said the Birmingham-based law firm hired to advise Riley's task force had itself concluded that VictoryLand's machines were legal.
"You have Bradley Arant, one of the biggest law firms in Alabama, saying we're legal. And that's not my lawyers -- that's the governor's," he said.
McGregor said he supports a proposed constitutional amendment that would settle the dispute by regulating and taxing bingo operations. The proposal would have to be approved in a statewide vote.
He said the amendment would create 25,000 to 30,000 jobs statewide and generate $400 million to $500 million annually for the state budget. McGregor said he'd seen polling that showed 89 percent of Alabamians favored an up-or-down vote on gambling and 79 percent said they would vote to approve it.
"Let the people decide," he said. "I think I know what they'll say. I'm willing to bet on it."
"Milton McGregor is a liar," said Jeff Emerson, communications director for Riley.
Fuck you, Jeff. What kind of idiot statement is that in an article like this where it was proven, and admitted that this asshole was gambling?
I just watched a news clip on WSFA.
Riley said "When you get to the point that law enforcement agents are being monitored, then you have a real problem."
You mean, holding people accountable for their own actions?
He then said on camera as a warning, "Don't get too close. And don't you get too close to the families. Cause that's when everything changes." When asked if he would explain that comment, he shook his head no.
WTF?
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