Suspected Felon Filed for Bankruptcy Shortly Before Untimely Death

February 9, 2012

By: John Clark

An Alabama man who was scheduled to stand trial for allegations of gambling and corruption reportedly filed for bankruptcy four days before police found him dead in his bed at home, according to The Republic, an Indiana newspaper.

Records filed in court revealed that Ray Crosby, a 63-year-old resident of Montgomery, Alabama, filed for bankruptcy on January 25, shortly before he was found dead in his home on January 29.

Before his death, Crosby and six other defendants was slated for a retrial on January 30. After Crosby’s death, the presiding judge delayed the retrial for a week. Sources indicate that, at one time, Crosby was earning more than $150,000 a year for his efforts in writing bills for the Alabama Legislature.

But, despite this comfortable salary, he ultimately became so broke that the court had to appoint a public attorney in his second trial. Crosby was forced to retire from his job with the state after being indicted in 2010 on charges of bribery.

State officials accused him of accepting $3,000 a month from Milton McGregor, a local casino owner. In exchange for these bribes, Crosby allegedly advised McGregor about gambling legislation.

According to prosecutors, Crosby eventually made a total of $72,000 from his transactions with McGregor. In his first corruption trial, which ended in August, the judge dismissed most of the charges, and the jury voted 8 to 4 in favor of acquittal on the one bribery charge that still stood against him.

This charge was to be retried this week, but will obviously be dropped after Crosby’s death. A close friend who found Crosby’s body claims that Crosby appears to have died in his sleep, although sources do not indicate if there was any suspicion of foul play.

Apparently, Crosby had been under a great deal of stress due to his own financial troubles, a recent divorce, and the upcoming trial. Crosby’s bankruptcy filing supports his claim of debt woes.

In his bankruptcy petition, Crosby listed assets of $386,000, but claimed to have more than $600,000 in liabilities. Crosby also listed more than $120,000 in credit card debt, as well as debt to an unnamed family member approaching almost $50,000.