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The commander of Gov. Bob Riley’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling called out the attorney general’s office and casino operators as he talked about corruption to a Montgomery civic group Tuesday.
John Tyson Jr., who also is the Mobile Country district attorney, also told the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery that the task force is winning.
He said the fight over electronic bingo, or illegal slot machines as he calls them, is not about gambling. He said the fight is about corruption.
Tyson outlined several areas where he believes there is corruption linked to gambling, including headlines about former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford winning dozens of jackpots worth more than $1.5 million at casinos in the state.
VictoryLand officials have vehemently denied the allegations.
Tyson also talked about the office of Attorney General Troy King, who tried to alleviate Tyson of his duties as commander, hiring an attorney to help with gambling litigation who also was a registered lobbyist for VictoryLand.
Records with the Alabama Ethics Commission indicate Kenneth Steely was listed as a
registered lobbyist in 2008 for the Macon County Greyhound Park, better known to many people as VictoryLand.
King, in March 2008, appointed Steely as a deputy attorney general to handle “gaming procedures for Poarch Band Indians Gaming.”
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians operate three casinos in the state and compete with other gaming operations, including VictoryLand.
Steely, according to court documents filed this year, also advised Houston County, where Country Crossing is located, on the legality of electronic bingo there.
Steely worked for years as the “go-to lawyer” in the attorney general’s office for gambling matters, said Chris Bence, chief of staff for King.
Bence said Steely worked for the office for years, was a special assistant attorney general who handled gambling issues, and became the premier attorney in the state on the issue.
As Steely developed his expertise, the private sector tried to lure him away, Bence said.
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