A casino developer who pleaded guilty in Alabama's gambling corruption case is trying to avoid spending more than 20 years in prison.
Country Crossing casino developer Ronnie Gilley has filed court papers asking U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson to sentence him to six months home confinement, three years of supervised released and extensive community service. He's seeking that rather than the long sentence provided by federal guidelines.
Gilley's court papers portray him as someone who was unsophisticated about politics and got drawn into offering bribes by others. The court papers say he's a visionary who can work to turn his BamaJam music festival site in Coffee County into a tourist destination with hotels and a golf course -- if he's not in prison.
Gilley is scheduled for sentencing July 16.