Licences for Riverboat Casinos

A four-term state governor was accused of running his own office as a criminal enterprise. Prosecutors said he and a small circle around him squeezed payments out of people applying for riverboat casino licences, trading on his influence over who would get one. The proof included intercepted telephone calls and payments routed through consulting arrangements and family members. He denied extorting anyone, said the payments were fees for lawful work, and argued the government's evidence fell short of proving a crime.