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Kimberly mayor wore wires in latest FBI bingo bribery investigation
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Kimberly's mayor wore FBI wires in the latest bingo bribery conspiracy to help gather evidence against at least ten people who tried to pay for his silence. Mayor Craig Harris says it was hard to keep the investigation a secret. There were at least five facilities operating out of houses within a few miles of city hall and the police station. It caused traffic jams and resulted in a lot of questions directed to the mayor's office. Cars don't often pass down Hamby Road. But a year and half ago, they would come to a stop outside the Stone's house. "Things pop up and you cannot properly defend yoursYlf. yes, you can tell them it's being handled. Yes, there is an investigation but you can't give them much information," said Harris about the questions that were brought to his attention about possible illegal electronic bingo operations. The Hamby Road house was one of five Kimberly houses on the FBI's radar for illegal electronic bingo operations. Harris knew about it because he was wearing wires for the FBI. "Me personally, it was the right thing to do. I can't be bought," he said. But according to court documents, Daniel Stone of Morris and nine others, including Stone's father, entered into an agreement November 2010 to open electronic bingo facilities at the father's house, on Route 31, Bill Jones Road and other locations. The mayor would be paid from the profits for his silence. Harris says he was paid thousands. "Part of the agreement with the individuals involved were for the those payments for information- if there was a pending investigation or police department was on the way, I'd make a call to give them information and keep my police department out of it," he explained. Stone entered into a plea deal on Thursday in exchange for a lesser sentence. His attorney Scott Morro said in a statement, "he is regretful and remorseful" and is stepping up to the plate to be held accountable. But sources say Stone's plea is just the beginning. "Hopefully there will be ten people who realize that's not the way politics is supposed to work," said Harris. Stone's first court appearance will be at the federal courthouse in Birmingham on Thursday. The other nine co-conspirators have not been charged
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Keywords: FBI, bingo bribery investigation, Kimberly, mayor,
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