Former bingo trial defendant and retired Legislative Reference Service analyst Ray Crosby was found dead Sunday in his Montgomery home.
Two jurors from the first bingo public corruption trial told the Montgomery Advertiser that evidence kept from them by prosecutors might have lead to an acquittal of defendant Ray Crosby if they had been allowed to hear it. Crosby’s supervisor told authorities that he knew the sponsor of bingo legislation had directed Crosby to work with Milton McGregor on the bill.
Evidence introduced at trial showed that McGregor’s company paid Crosby $3,000 per month. Prosecutors claimed McGregor kept Crosby on the payroll in exchange for special influence and information about gambling legislation.
Crosby died last week of natural causes a day before his retrial on corruption charges was to begin.
A coroner’s investigation into the death of bingo trial co-defendant Joseph “Ray” Crosby has found that the former legislative research analyst died of natural causes, specifically hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
The order said as much: “Because of the notice of the death of defendant Joseph R. Crosby, it is ORDERED that defendant Joseph R. Crosby’s jury selection and trial are canceled.”
Ray Crosby, a defendant in the Alabama bingo corruption case, filed for bankruptcy just four days before his death, the Associated Press reports.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson has ordered that jury selection in the bingo corruption retrial begin on Feb. 6. The one week delay follows the death of one defendant, Ray Crosby.
Former State Sen. Danny Corbett found bingo corruption defendant Ray Crosby dead Sunday. He tells the Montgomery Advertiser that Crosby was lying in bed with a book and appeared to have fallen asleep and never woken. Montgomery police are still investigating.
The retrial of the remaining defendants in the Alabama bingo corruption case has been suspended indefinitely following the death Sunday of defendant Joseph “Ray” Crosby.
Crosby, a former legislative analyst for the Alabama’s Legislative Reference Service, was set to begin a retrial Monday morning.
After seven days of deliberation, the jury could only deliver a partial verdict. Ross, Geddie were acquitted. Judge Thompson declared a mistrial on the undecided counts.
Former legislative analyst Ray Crosby now faces only one count in the bingo corruption trial. Read the Judge’s order by clicking above.
Have you ever tweeted for Jesus? If you’re a potential juror in the bingo corruption trial, Milton McGregor defense lawyer Bobby Segall wants to know.
