Tape: Senator viewed job as keeping anti-gambling legislation bottled

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

Federal prosecutors are trying to show that Bankston, one-time head of the Senate's gambling oversight committee, and former Sen. B.B. "Sixty" Rayburn took or agreed to take bribes from Fred Goodson, who operated a mini-casino in Slidell.

Also on trial are Goodson, Goodson's daughter, Maria Goodson; Goodson's attorney, Carl Cleveland; and Goodson's accountant, Joe Morgan.

Goodson was particularly concerned about legislation in 1995 that could have allowed parishes to vote out video poker, prosecutors allege.

That measure failed, but a referendum bill passed the following year after the FBI filed affidavits outlining allegations of bribery involving legislators, gambling interests and lawmakers in August 1995. Bankston did not seek re-election, while Rayburn was voted out.

The FBI placed a concealed microphone in Bankston's law office and picked up a conversation between the lawmaker and Goodson in December 1994, said FBI agent Ken Gross.

In the recorded conversation, Bankston said it would be necessary to keep anti-gambling legislation stuck in his committee "because it will be tough not to vote for local option" on the Senate floor.

Goodson also referred to his plans to build additional mini-casinos and said it might be possible to get authorities not to enforce fuel-sales requirements for truck stops with video poker by "making a contribution and maybe getting a wink and a nod."

Prosecutors also played several wiretapped telephone conversations in July 1995 between Fred Goodson and Rayburn after state police shut down Goodson's Oasis video poker lounge. Rayburn said he had called Col. Paul Fontenot, then state police head, and had been referred to a state police attorney.

Upon calling the Oasis afterward, Rayburn was greeted by an elated Maria Goodson and said: "I got them (video poker machines) on. I got them going."

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

The taped conversation between Goodson and his son also was made shortly after state police shut down the Oasis. In it, Fred Goodson asked his son to meet with lawyers the next day about fighting the closure.

But Alex Goodson, who was involved with running a fast-food restaurant the family owned in Picayune, Miss., said he never had anything to do with the gambling operation and wanted out.

Twice during the conversation, Alex Goodson referred to Cleveland as a half-owner of Truck Stop Gaming Ltd., without any challenge from his father. Alex Goodson, who was not charged, said he had never had any active role in the video poker business.

"I mean, it's the first meeting I've ever been to," Alex Goodson said of the planned meeting over the state police closure.

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."

Prosecutors also introduced additional seized tapes and documents indicating that Goodson paid $57,000 in video poker profits from Truck Stop Gaming Ltd. to a partnership consisting of Rayburn's three grown children. The government contends the payments were a bribe for Rayburn's services.

The defense has said that Rayburn's son, former Washington Parish Sheriff Benny Rayburn, bought the 4.99 percent share from Goodson for a $25,000 note. However, the FBI's Gross said no evidence ever surfaced that any payment was made on the note. Gross also said no documents turned up showing that Benny Rayburn had transferred his share of Truck Stop Gambing Ltd. into the partnership with his sisters, known as BAJ.

In the law office conversation with Bankston, Goodson said Rayburn "wanted it for his kids." Goodson quoted Rayburn as saying: "I'm 77 years old and won't be here forever."

Without the jury present, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rand Miller told U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance that Benny Rayburn would not be called as a witness because he indicated he would take the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination.