Apr 22, 2011

http://www.wncftv.com/localnews/Gilley-Pleads-Guilty-McGregors-Lawyer-Reacts-120517749.html

Ronnie Gilley is guilty.

The Country Crossing developer changed his plea Friday morning in a federal courtroom.

Gilley admitted to 11 counts in total: 1 count of conspiracy, 4 counts of money laundering and 6 counts of bribery.

As a part of his plea deal, federal prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining 11 counts against him.

Gilley said in court, when he first opened Country Crossing, he was naive and didn't know about the corruption in state politics.

“Mr. Gilley's statements were that he had good intentions when he began, his intentions were to be lawful and forthright, the more he got involved, it consumed him, and according to what he said to the judge today, it was a part of the game you had to play in Alabama politics,” said his lawyer David Harrison.

There is a hearing Monday to determine if Gilley can go free until his sentencing.

For now, Gilley was given a 24-hour pass to go to Birmingham because his son had surgery Friday morning.

He has to return to the Montgomery City Jail by 8 am Saturday.

Meanwhile, Joe Espy, the lawyer for Victoryland owner Milton McGregor says he isn't worried Gilley plead guilty.

McGregor was indicted in October on similar charges as Ronnie Gilley but Espy says McGregor is innocent.

Gilley says otherwise.

In court Friday, federal prosecutors said Gilley admitted to working with McGregor to pass legislation protecting their bingo halls.

Espy blames the federal government for Gilley's change of plea and plans to prove his client’s innocence at the June trial.

"All of a sudden the light went off and now he can walk out of the courtroom, and he’s (Gilley) not dangerous anymore - does that makes sense to you? It doesn’t to us. He got caught in a difficult situation, the government took advantage of that and squeezed him. It's consistent with how they've conducted themselves the whole time so it does absolutely not surprise us at all. It doesn’t concern us at all. We haven't blinked, we haven't hiccuped and we are ready to go,” explains Espy.

McGregor’s trial, along with nine others defendants is June 6th.