Let's get rid of the middle man

In the good old days, when you wanted to gamble, you had to play through some vehicle run by the mob. Whether it be the number or some back door poker palace, the mob ran it all.

Fast forward to today, where you still have to gamble through the mob but we've added various middle men to the process; namely politicians and lobbyists..............

FBI agents swept across Alabama this morning arresting state lawmakers and lobbyists as part of a federal probe into efforts to pass gambling legislation last spring.

The biggest name arrested so far has been VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor, who was arrested at his Montgomery home this morning.

Also arrested today have been state senators Jim Preuitt, R-Talladega, Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, Larry Means, D-Attalla, Harri Anne Smith, I -- Slocomb and Montgomery lobbyist Jerrod Massey.

McGregor lawyer Joe Espy of Montgomery said he knows of no evidence of wrong doing on McGregor's part.

"We plan to defend vigorously," Espy said.

Federal prosecutors had subpoenaed multiple legislators to come before the grand jury.

The Department of Justice in July began notifying various politicians, reporters, lobbyists and others that their conversations may have been picked up during wire taps. The phone taps occurred during a 38-day period this spring when the Alabama Legislature was considering a gambling bill.

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