Son says he never had any role in video poker business

Tuesday, May 20, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Prosecutors used a conversation between Fred Goodson, who faces a variety of federal charges, and Alex Goodson in an attempt to bolster their contention that Truck Stop Gaming Ltd. was actually controlled by Fred Goodson and New Orleans attorney Carl Cleveland.

The company is at the heart of federal allegations that Fred Goodson bribed or agreed to bribe two former state senators, Larry Bankston and B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn, to protect video poker truck stops from unfavorable legislation.

Also on trial are Goodson's daughter, Maria Goodson; the two ex-lawmakers; Cleveland; and Goodson's accountant, Joe Morgan. Alex Goodson was not charged.

Other parts of the multi-faceted case allege that Fred Goodson and Cleveland hid behind the younger Goodsons' listed ownership because they could not qualify for a video poker license because of financial problems; and that the Goodsons dodged income taxes on their video poker profits.

The taped conversation between Goodson and his son was made shortly after state police shut down the Oasis video poker truck stop in Slidell in July 1995. In it, Fred Goodson asked his son to meet with lawyers the next day about fighting the closure.

Twice during the conversation, Alex Goodson referred to Cleveland as a half-owner of Truck Stop Gaming Ltd., without any challenge to the contrary from his father. Alex Goodson said he had never had any active role in the video poker business.

"It mean, it's the first meeting I've ever been to," Alex Goodson said.

During the conversation, which indicated deep divisions between father and son over the video poker business, Alex Goodson said: "I could wind up in jail, too."

Fred Goodson said his son could help by "not being a doubting Thomas."

"I'm putting up the money and taking the risk ... You, as a son, didn't have to put up a dime, and you've got half of it," Fred Goodson said.

"I don't want to have anything to do with video poker," Alex Goodson responded.

At one point, after Alex Goodson repeated his desire not to be involved with video poker, Fred Goodson said: "That's fine. We can take your name off of it (ownership papers) tomorrow."

In another taped conversation between Maria Goodson and Kitty Cleveland Rogers, the daughter of Carl Cleveland and an attorney in his firm, Ms. Goodson suggested not even inviting her brother to the meeting.

"There are a lot of problems between him and my father," Ms. Goodson said.

Earlier, an FBI agent testified that an examination of documents seized in August 1995 from Cleveland's law office turned up none that revealed any declared interest in Truck Stop Gaming Ltd. on the part of Cleveland and Fred Goodson.

However, in a letter from Goodson to a bank, Goodson said he estimated his "equity share" of Truck Stop Gaming Ltd. to be valued at $2.5 million.

On Monday, a banker testified that Goodson told him that Goodson owned 51 percent of the video poker business, while his two children held the other 49 percent. State police regulatory documents show that the younger Goodsons were 50-50 owners of Truck Stop Gaming Ltd.