Prosecutor Woods rounded out the morning with her questioning of witness Jarrod Massey. They continued discussing Sen. Harri Anne Smith and Massey admitting to using "conduit individuals" to funnel money to Sen. Smith's campaign to circumvent federal campaign finance laws. He also says he did not give Smith the full $40,000 Gilley gave him because he held some out for taxes. Massey explained that Smith would come to him and ask him if she should talk to other law makers about their stance on SB 380, she even asked Massey for tips in doing so. Massey had a conversation with Sen. Smith the day of the vote immediately after she placed her yes vote...she told Massey she needed him to follow up with Gilley about $200,000 that she understood was pledged to her campaign. Massey says he wasn't aware of the $200k pledge at the time.
Woods then asked Massey about his opinion on donations to Rep. Barry Mask. Money was given to Massey from Rick Heartsill for Mask's campaign. The money was to "dedicate resources for phone banking and media buys." Woods also tried to link Bob Geddie into Massey's testimony to suggest Geddie had an involvement. Woods asked, "What is your understanding of Robert Geddie's involvement in the decision to spend money on Rep. Mask?" Objections were raised to that question and Woods was forced to move on. Massey said he took issue with Rep. Mask being on the list of votes they were trying to change He believed Mask to be 120% opposed to the issue of electronic bingo.
Massey then explained his experience when the FBI came to his home to question him about the investigation the day after the vote. He says he talked to authorities for a grand total of 10 minutes before asking to have counsel present. He admitted lying to the authorities to the court, when asked why he lied, Massey replied, "A couple reasons. One, I did not want to admit my guilt to anyone I talked to as to jeopardize myself...I thought I could ride it out. I thought it would take care of itself but that's not true. I was as embarrassed as h***." He also said in plain words that he bribed Sen. Smith, Sen. Beason and Sen. Ross as well as others.
After the morning break Massey explained that he spoke with Gilley after the initial investigation was revealed. He said that Gilley "immediately jumped to coming up with a story of sorts." Gilley told Massey "What happened to you yesterday is going to be the best d*** thing that ever happened to you in your life."
Massey responded, "I'm all for coming out and busting their a**."
Massey then had to explain the terms on which Jennifer Pouncey was terminated from his company, Mantra Governmental. Massey told the court that Pouncey was visibly "taken back" by news of the investigation. He said after she met with agents she became tearful, nervous, and not herself. She started calling in sick to work among other things. He put her on two 30 day periods of administrative leave then terminated her. Massey also explained that he was concerned about what Jennifer had said to the 'feds' and what she continued to say. He became paranoid that she was wearing a wire for the government. Massey thought Pouncey was a weaker target and, "I knew they would put more pressure on her and that she would fold. And that meant trouble...at that time I was more concerned for myself. Trouble for me." It was later that Massey found out why she was nervous, she had previously entered into a plea agreement with the government.
Massey was then questioned on his plea agreement and his time behind bars. Massey explained that he's spent time at two correctional facilities. Each time he met with the government to discuss his plea agreement and testimony Massey was escorted to a small FBI office and chained to a rail for the duration of the meeting. Massey says he also discussed crimes that weren't charged against him or other individuals, with the FBI and he is continuing to work with the government to provide information on those crimes. Under the details of his plea agreement, as long as he admitted to the crime at the time of the agreement he cannot be prosecuted for those crimes. Massey admitted to the court that he bribed Rep. Terry Spicer as well as others during his time as a lobbyist. Massey became extremely emotional, sobbing into closed hands, when he was asked why he was already in jail. After a 10 minute break to compose himself he explained that he turned himself in to begin serving the time he deserved because of his guilt. He also says he always taught his sons to take responsibility for the actions and by turning himself in early he believed he was doing just that. He told the court, "I've learned that I don't like solitary confinement." Massey is due to be sentenced in November. He faces a maximum of 55 years in prison. He could see a reduced sentence but that decision is up to Judge Thompson.
Bobby Segall, attorney for Milton McGregor spent the afternoon questioning Massey. Segall tends to have the same aim in questioning every witness...he attempts to get under their skin, make them uncomfortable and get them to admit flaws. Segall questioned Massey on his plea agreement and accused him multiple times (for more than an hour, I might add) of working as an advocate for the government. The question and answer rounds between the two became heated. Segall stood on the stairs to the lectern and drilled Massey. Segall accused Massey of not providing yes or no answers, Massey snapped back at Segall "I'm trying to be as specific as I can when I answer your question because as I've learned with you lawyers what I say can come back and haunt me later if I don't answer your exact question specifically." Segall called Massey a criminal and said he had been engaging in criminal activity for years. Massey agreed with that statement, he even agreed to being involved in criminal activity long before he knew Milton McGregor. Segall said Massey didn't know McGregor well, Massey replied "When you offer bribes to people in the same room I think you know them pretty well." In a humorous point of the afternoon Massey told Segall he didn't like him and was purposely trying to aggravate him with his answers. Segall replied "The witness hurt my feelings, judge. I want to know what I did." Susan James objected to the questioning calling the exchange disrespectful. Thompson had to tell the court to get back to questioning.
Segall referenced a phone call Massey made to his wife while in prison, during the call he gave her an approximation of time he estimated he would spend in jail (a year and a half). Segall questioned Massey if he had already made that deal with the government, Massey said no. Massey also at one point told his wife in regards to the government, "They want Milton."
Massey went on to explain that he did not know at the time that it was illegal for him to make campaign donations on the behalf of others as he did with Sen. Smith and Ronnie Gilley. Massey explained to Segall and the court that he did not work for McGregor because he did not have a contract with him. Massey said in several transcripts that McGregor was an unsuccessful lobbyist and Massey wished McGregor would " get his a** out of the state." Massey told that to Beason and also added that he and Gilley had a different way of doing business.
Segall circled back around to the honesty approach and accused Massey for being dishonest for quite a long time. Massey said that was true. Segall was met with objections when he asked "Then why should the jury believe a word you tell them?" Massey also admitted at one point to lobbying against McGregor and his interests. He even called McGregor his worst enemy in the transcripts. Segall ended the day by clarifying a part of Massey's earlier testimony, McGregor never visited Sen. Preuitt in Talladega and he had previously testified.
Segall estimates he will spend another two to three hours with Massey on the stand tomorrow. Tom Coker's attorney (McKnight) will follow, then Susan James.
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