Floyd Tally, Alleged Blackmailer, Says He Thought Sex Sting Of NJ Councilman Was FBI Probe
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Floyd Tally said he was doing his patriotic duty when he helped find a prostitute for an Atlantic City Councilman.
Tally stands accused of helping to lure Councilman Eugene Robinson to a motel room where a tryst with a topless hooker was secretly recorded. He testified at his trial Tuesday that he thought he was helping his friend, former Council President Craig Callaway, investigate Robinson for the FBI.
Callaway had admitted taking bribes while on council and was on his way to prison in 2006 when he decided to punish Robinson for switching political allegiances, authorities say.
"He confided in me and told me he was working for the FBI," Tally testified Tuesday. "He said, `Before you hear it from anyone else, you need to hear it from me; I got into a little trouble and I'm working for the FBI.'"
Tally said Callaway asked his help in procuring a prostitute.
"He said there was a city official misusing his vehicle picking up prostitutes," Tally testified. "He wanted to catch him in the act, picking up hookers in a city vehicle. It was part of him helping out with the feds."
In previous court hearings, FBI agents offered no evidence of an investigation into Robinson. Prosecutors allege the plot was payback for Robinson breaking with Callaway and throwing his support to a bitter political rival.
Tally said he asked a friend to help find a prostitute, but said that's as far as his involvement went. His testimony contradicted that of virtually all the prosecution's witnesses, including the prostitute who was eventually paid for entrapping Robinson.
Tally said he had never met the prostitute, Kristyn Haino, before he saw her in court at his trial. He said he did not know the encounter was to be videotaped, denied he was in an adjoining room at the Bayview Motel watching on a video monitor, and said he had nothing to do with editing the video or using it to try to force Robinson to resign.
"Absolutely not," he testified.
Callaway is serving a federal prison term for an unrelated bribery case involving his tenure on the City Council. He admitted masterminding the sex-sting operation, and was sentenced to three years in prison, to be served at the same time as his federal sentence.
Tally and two of Callaway's brothers, Ronald and David, are on trial for their alleged roles in the blackmail scheme, which fizzled when Robinson refused to resign and instead contacted authorities.
The three defendants face charges of conspiracy, criminal coercion and invasion of privacy.
The jury deliberated for about 30 minutes before adjourning for the day, and will resume Wednesday morning.
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WAYNE PARRY | 10/20/09 04:48 PM |