There are 11 indictments against lobbyists, legislators and, of course, bingo casino owners, in a vote buying scheme here in the only state I’ve ever called home.

We all knew it was going on, but this time the United States Justice Department finally got who they were after.

Much of the legwork came from three legislators who were brave enough to wear a wire and record their encounters with bingo casino owners Milton McGregor, Ronnie Gilley and the other cast of characters in this whole mess.

I was visiting the Pell City police station Monday morning, just after the news broke about the vote-buying busts. I was there for information about another bust, bootlegging, a practice not nearly as old as political corruption.

While chatting with the officers I noticed a plastic box about half the size of a pack of playing cards with a six-inch wire sticking out.

It was the type of wire used in undercover operations. I stared at it for some time while an officer was on the phone with someone else during my visit.

I could only think of the three undercover, unnamed, legislators—one of whose identity I knew at that point. Another I suspected and had already left a message with their secretary.

Those legislators had guts, I thought. To go up against a known corrupt group of individuals, act interested in their schemes, have your actions recorded and put your neck on the line is commendable.

I had placed a call to two of the suspected three undercover legislators by the time I was finished with lunch, which I ate at my desk to not avoid being away from the phone too long.

It wasn’t that I was interested in printing the names of the three unnamed legislators, and I wouldn’t unless it was necessary; it’s just I had to know all the players in this thing.

As a reporter, I often know things that I can’t report. In journalism, it’s called on-background: someone can tell you something, but it’s not for public knowledge.

I wasn’t surprised when I saw that the Birmingham News outed State Sen. Scott Beason, Former Ala. House Rep. Ben Lewis and Rep. Barry Mask as the legislators who wore wires to collect information on the accused.

I’ve met Beason on several occasions and he always seems like he’s headed for big time politics.

I now know that he’s the real deal, a true man of the people, willing to out corruption by getting his hands dirty. But I’m afraid the three men now have a bull’s eye painted on their backs.

The 65-page indictment reads like the script for a crime movie at points, especially when it comes to Beason and how he played both sides while the investigation took place.

Milton McGregor has made powerful friends and enemies in his rise to the top of the electronic bingo casino kingdom. This is Alabama, so the kingdom is small, but it’s a kingdom nonetheless.

Would McGregor try something to harm one of the three undercover legislators? The judge ordered him to wear an electronic ankle bracelet and ordered him to have no contact with legislators. I’m sure he has a few political IOUs out there.

McGregor allegedly told one of the federal officers, “You’ve made the worst mistake of your life.”

Roger Bedford was cited in the indictment as having gone to Milton McGregor for permission to bully legislators who didn’t support his bill that would call for a statewide vote on electronic bingo. If you’re interested in downloading the indictment, their exchange is included on page 15. But, since it contains language White House staffers are used to hearing out of Rahm Emanuel, we’re not printing any of it here in the Aegis.

Swear words are nothing compared to what Beason and the other two legislators helped expose.

I applaud the three of them for standing up to corruption in its ugliest form. I wonder if voters across the state will do the same come November.