This timeline looks at how the investigation unfolded over the past five months since it became public April 1.
This timeline looks at how the investigation unfolded over the past five months since it became public April 1.
[See parallel timelines involving Alabama state senators, according to the indictment, here:
April 1: Federal investigators inform lawmakers that they are investigating corruption centering on the electronic gambling bill.
April 2: The FBI confirms that federal prosecutors in Washington, not in Alabama, are in charge of the corruption investigation.
April 6: State Sen. Paul Sanford, R-Huntsville, confirms to The Birmingham News that lobbyist Jarrod Massey, representing Country Crossing bingo casino near Dothan, had approached him in mid-2009 and offered $250,000 if he would commit to voting yes on any bingo bill in the 2010 legislative session. Sanford rejected the offer and went to the FBI. Attorneys for Massey denied the allegation.
April 10: Two lawmakers confirm that they wore listening devices, commonly called wires, to allow law enforcement officials to eavesdrop on their conversations with lawmakers, lobbyists and others interested in passing gambling legislation.
April 21: Amid controversy over the investigation, the electronic bingo bill quietly dies in the Legislature.
April 22-23: Lawmakers and others begin receiving subpoenaes ordering them to appear before a federal grand jury in May.
April 25: State Sen. Steve French, R-Mountain Brook, tells The News he was cooperating in the probe after being made "certain offers" that he considered inappropriate to support the bingo legislation. He was among the "no" votes.
May 4: Grand jury convenes in Montgomery.
May 6: Grand jury hears wiretap of a conversation between gambling magnate Milton McGregor and Montgomery lobbyist Robert Geddie.
May 25: Lobbyists representing gambling interests report to the federal courthouse to deliver records subpoenaed by the grand jury.
Sept. 28: Montgomery lobbyist Jennifer Pouncey, a partner of Massey, pleads guilty to one count of conspiracy.
Oct. 1: Grand jury issues sealed indictments against 11.
Oct. 4: Indictments are unsealed and arrests are made: Milton McGregor; Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley; lobbyists Robert Geddie, Thomas Coker and Jarrod Massey; state senators Harri Anne Smith, Larry Means, James Preuitt and Quinton Ross; Country Crossing employee Jarrell Walker; and Joseph Crosby, a staffer for the Legislative Reference Service.
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