The chronology was compiled from newspaper clippings, public documents and allegations made in the indictment itself. It was prepared by Kathering Gregg, investigative reporter for The Providence Journal.

June 20, 2000: The House Finance Committee votes 10 to 7 to kill legislation that would have allowed a public referendum on the Narragansett Indians' proposed West Warwick casino.

Same day: Bucci allegedly informs Potter, at a Wembley USA board of directors meeting in Lincoln, that "certain Rhode Island public officials would be hired in the future by . . . Lincoln Park in return for official favors."

Aug. 21, 2000: Bucci allegedly sends a fax to Potter suggesting that to advance their efforts to get additional video-slot machines and "silence the Indians," a "reward" should be given to Lincoln Park supporters who "took the brunt of media assaults."

Oct. 5, 2000: In a fax to Wembley USA in Colorado, Bucci allegedly suggests the law firm of McKinnon & Harwood "be given a 'six-figure check' to further the goal of receiving permission to install coin-operated slot machines and additional VLTs."

Nov. 1, 2000: By a unanimous vote, the Lincoln Planning Board urges rejection by the Town Council of an ordinance -- proposed by then-Town Council President Dennis M. Auclair in July -- to reduce the buffer zone on Lincoln Park's property from 800 feet to 150 feet and to allow park owners to build a hotel, restaurants and stores with town approval.

Same day: Potter allegedly faxes Bucci, proposing a meeting to discuss "who and how we want to" incentivize and maximize "our opportunity for success."

Nov. 7, 2000: Former Sen. Jonathan F. Oster is elected Lincoln town administrator.

Nov. 20, 2000: At a monthly meeting of the state Lottery Commission, legislator and then-chairman Robert E. Flaherty, D-Warwick, tells colleagues: "There could be legislation submitted for 'coin drop' at the two facilities." He asks Lottery Commission executive director Gerald S. Aubin to find out "how long it would take to implement this at both Lincoln Park and Newport Grand Jai Alai."

Same date: The Lincoln Town Council's ordinance committee rejects council president Auclair's proposed move to reduce Lincoln Park's buffer zone.

Nov. 21, 2000: Bucci allegedly sends a fax to Wembley USA, stating that "Big Money" was being thrown around, "the day of embarrassingly inept $100 political tix passed us @ warp speed." He says he needs a decision on "rewarding" and "incenticizing."

Dec. 1, 2000: Potter allegedly faxes Bucci, endorsing Bucci's "strategy" to obtain approval for 1,000 to 1,500 additional VLTs, to pay the firm of McKinnon & Harwood a $500,000-a-year "retainer" in 2001 and 2002 and to consider doubling that amount to $1 million a year in 2003, 2004 and 2005 "if 1,000 or more machines were implemented in 2002." If no additional machines were authorized, the payments would cease.

Same day: Bucci allegedly faxes Potter to suggest that without an "incentive" to McKinnon & Harwood, Lincoln Park might get additional machines, but the Narragansett Tribe "may also receive a casino license." He also allegedly tells Potter: "Lincoln Park supporters were being offered more money to support the Narragansett Indian Tribe."

Dec. 4, 2000: Potter allegedly faxes Bucci to say he would not "bring forward McKinnon's reward" until 1,000 or more machines had not only been approved, but were installed and generating revenue.

Dec. 5, 2000: Aubin sends identical letters to Bucci and Jai Alai general manager Diane Hurley asking: "What would it take and how long would it take to implement 'coin drop'?"

Same day: Bucci allegedly faxes Potter a warning that "unless an 'incentive' were given to 'McKinnon's office' the chances to achieve extra machines in 2001 would be 'MINIMAL AT BEST.' "

Same day: Bucci allegedly tells Potter, in a fax, of his "understanding that the law firm of McKinnon & Harwood would receive 12 monthly payments of $41,666" and Potter would decide when and if "the rate would double."

Dec. 6, 2000: Potter allegedly faxes Bucci to say they need to "chat."

Same day: Bucci allegedly faxes Potter to say: "delaying the payment of an incentive to McKinnon & Harwood 'validates the feeling' that Wembley is 'ungrateful' and 'unwilling to participate in common business practices.' "

Dec. 7, 2000: Bucci allegedly tells Potter, in a fax, that he "had to postpone" a meeting with unnamed state senators. If he and Potter were going to "back off an incentive philosophy," Bucci allegedly says, he "would have to be more creative enticing support."

Same day: Potter allegedly asks Bucci what kind of cash payment to McKinnon he would propose and what he would expect McKinnon "to do in exchange."

Dec. 11, 2000: Bucci sends Lottery director Aubin a letter saying it would not be "efficacious" to convert the 1,700 existing VLTs at Lincoln Park, but he "would strongly recommend" the Lottery and the legislature allow Lincoln Park to install 1,500 additional machines in an "old clubhouse," and make them coin-drop.

Dec. 12, 2000: Potter allegedly faxes Bucci that he is "happy that the McKinnon 'payments' were as 'we agreed when we met . . . $500,000 a year in 2001 and 2002, followed by $1 million a year for the next three years' " -- and sooner, if 1,000 extra machines are in by the end of '02.

Jan. 24, 2001: Potter allegedly advises the Wembley USA board of directors that Wembley PLC has "approved payments to Daniel V. McKinnon of $4.5 million over a six-year period."

March 8, 2001: Bucci allegedly faxes two unnamed coconspirators in the United Kingdom, describing Harwood "as the most powerful politician in Rhode Island," attributing much of Lincoln Park's "political success" to the law firm of McKinnon & Harwood, and suggesting "a $1 million retainer for four years, without strings, sends a clear message of gratitude."

March 14, 2001: Unnamed coconspirators allegedly "offered the law firm of McKinnon & Harwood a multi-year payment."

March 15, 2001: Bucci allegedly sends two unnamed coconspirators in the United Kingdom a fax that says McKinnon was "touched by the offer . . . would not accept a 'multi-year arrangement,' " but "might accept a one-year 'arrangement' in which McKinnon & Harwood would submit 12 monthly invoices to (Lincoln Park) for 1/8th million each." That equates to $125,000 a month.

March 18, 2001: Bucci allegedly faxes two unnamed coconspirators that they had "done the right thing."

March 27, 2001: An unnamed coconspirator announces at a Wembley board of directors meetings that it had been decided to pay a $1-million annual "retainer," to McKinnon, in monthly installments.

March 30, 2001: Bucci allegedly sends a fax to unnamed coconspirators, suggesting the payments "be couched for the purposes of public perception only as a bonus," and agreement be backdated to January 1.

April 2, 2001: Bucci allegedly sends a fax to an unnamed coconspirator, seeking permission to make the first payment "in June and the remainder in November."

April 18, 2001: Without explanation, Wembley places two of its highest ranking U.S. executives on administrative leave. Wembley chairman Claes Hultman tells employees, in a memorandum, that Francis "Skip' Sherman and David G. Brents, the president and chief financial officer of Wembley USA, had been "relieved of any operating responsibilities."

May 9, 2001: Lincoln Town Council President Raymond N. Depault proposes a zoning amendment to relax restrictions on Lincoln Park's use of its property. "The only thing I am looking to do is to give [park officials] permission to use the [old grandstand] building they have there," Depault later says.

May 10, 2001: Sherman and Brents, file a civil lawsuit in a Denver court alleging they were "relieved" because they refused to carry out the alleged scheme to pay millions of dollars to an unnamed Rhode Island lawyer. Their suit says they complained to London headquarters, but were ordered to make the deal. Wembley denies the allegations; Bucci denies the company proposed any new payments to its lawyers. Brents and Sherman seek compensation for lost pay and humiliation.

May 24, 2001: The Providence Journal reports that Rhode Island law-enforcement officials are exploring whether to open a probe into the alleged illegal dealings. "It's a high priority,' said then-state police Supt. Edmond S. Culhane.

May 25, 2001: FBI agent James Pitcavage and state police Detective Douglas Newberg, of the financial crimes unit, visit the Lottery to question Lottery director Aubin about a meeting he had two days earlier with Bucci.

May 30, 2001: Bucci acknowledges, in a letter to Aubin, that: "Discussion concerning a possible bonus to one of our lawyers did occur. . . . However, no bonus was ever tendered to legal counsel, and in fact, when the firm was made aware of the discussion, it advised the company that it did not wish to receive one."

Aug. 16, 2001: Wembley serves notice in an annual earnings report of its plans to file an application for more video slots, saying "such additional machines would enable us to satisfy customer demand, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights," but "this will depend upon a positive resolution to a long-running zoning dispute with the town of Lincoln."

Sept. 18, 2001: The Lincoln Town Council votes 4 to 1 for a zoning change -- and side agreement -- that gives the dog track more room to expand and, at the same time, lifts a ban on coin-drop slot machines in Lincoln. "If the state does authorize them, yes, we'd be wanting them in our facility," McKinnon says that night.

Bucci gives McKinnon credit for negotiating the agreement. Dean L. Lees, the one councilman who voted against the agreement, says he first saw it the night it came up for a vote.

Sept. 25, 2001: In an alleged fax to Potter, Bucci says he has spoken with various Rhode Island politicians and that it was "pretty much understood" that Lincoln Park would "do the right thing" with McKinnon & Harwood "when the authorities walk away from us."

Oct. 8, 2001: Lincoln Park makes an official request to the Lottery Commission for permission to add 1,300 VLTs and place them in an old and unused clubhouse after a "$25 million" renovation. Newport Grand Jai Alai follows with its own request for 525 additional machines.

Oct. 18, 2001: A Lincoln residents' group known as The Lincoln Comprehensive Plan Defense Committee files suit against the Town Council in Superior Court, claiming the council failed to adhere to the town's Comprehensive Plan when it approved the zoning amendment.

Oct. 19, 2001: Then-Gov. Lincoln Almond voices concern that lawmakers will use the state's worsening financial picture to bring in coin-drop slots. "I can't imagine why they did that in Lincoln unless somebody . . . whispered in their ear to say, let's maybe do it," the governor says. "There are proponents of coin drops in the General Assembly."

Dec. 27, 2001: An undisclosed settlement is reached in the Colorado lawsuit filed by the two former Wembley USA executives.

Jan. 7, 2002: The Lottery Commission holds a packed public hearing on the requests by the track and fronton to increase the overall number of video-slot machines by 1,825.

Jan. 19, 2002: The Providence Journal reports a federal grand jury is investigating Lincoln Park. Bucci says: "We didn't do anything wrong. We are open and willing and looking forward to any investigation that will stamp us free of any wrongdoing."

Jan. 23, 2002: William J. Murphy, the West Warwick legislator who is now House Speaker, cosponsors legislation (H.6892) to allow slot-machine payouts in coins and cash. "I never spoke to John Harwood about this legislation at any time," Murphy said last week. "I thought it was a good opportunity to explore a way of increasing state revenues."

Feb. 9, 2002: The Narragansett Tribe announces it has teamed again with the Boyd Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas to seek a referendum on the proposed West Warwick casino.

Feb. 25, 2002: An anticipated Lottery Commission vote on more VLTs is "tabled" at the request of Flaherty, who says he is "not comfortable voting to approve the additional VLTs until he is sure that number is crafted with respect to the projected deficit." The delay is approved 5 to 3, over the objections of the Lottery's three Senate members.

March 26, 2002: House Finance Committee votes 16 to 1 for a lengthy gambling study that effectively dooms the Narragansetts' bid to get their casino proposal on the November ballot. The House study wins full House approval two weeks later.

June 3, 2002: Flaherty, the Lottery chairman, advises his fellow commissioners to be prepared to discuss the requests for 1,825 more VLTs at their next meeting. He also asks the Lottery's lawyer for an opinion on who has the authority to allow the track and fronton to move from redeemable paper-chits to coin payouts: the legislature, the Lottery Commission or the voters.

July 24, 2002: Then-House Finance Committee Chairman Gordon D. Fox, D-Providence, confirms that he has prevailed on Flaherty to postpone consideration of more VLTs while the gambling study is under way.

Sept. 28, 2002: In a letter to Aubin, Bucci lables the delay in approving the additional VLTs harmful to the track and the state's budget. "Clearly, time is of the essence," he writes.

Oct. 21, 2002: Flaherty resurrects the requests for more VLTs, saying "the evidence is overwhelming that the state is in dire need of revenue," and the Lottery has a responsibility to "protect" the state's share of the VLT revenue "from possible casinos in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire."

Nov. 7, 2002: House Democrats anoint Murphy as their chosen successor to Harwood.

Jan. 9, 2003: A bill to allow the Lottery to "conduct" and "regulate" coin-drop slots is introduced by Lottery Commission member and Rep. William San Bento, D-Pawtucket, and four other lawmakers.

Jan. 27, 2003: On a unanimous vote, the Lottery approves an additional 1,300 video slots at Lincoln Park and 525 more at Newport Grand Jai Alai. The minutes reflect "a handshake agreement" between the governor and lawmakers to increase the state's share at a later date.

April 1, 2003: The House gambling-study wraps up its work with the recommendation voters be allowed to vote at a special November 2003 election on whether the state should auction off to the highest "responsible bidder" the right to run Rhode Island's first and only full-fledged casino.

May 7, 2003: Bucci writes Aubin a letter pinning the delay in starting construction on an addition for the extra VLTs on the legislature's plan to trim Lincoln Park's share of the VLT revenue. "Indeed," wrote Bucci, "since the additional machines were granted, the landscape has drastically changed."

July 1, 2003: The House approves legislation to allow voters statewide to decide, in November 2004, if they want a casino and, if so, to create a process for choosing among competiting bidders. The legislation dies in the Senate.

July 30, 2003: Superior Court Judge Jeffrey A. Lanphear knocks out three of four counts in the lawsuit, by Lincoln residents, challenging the Lincoln Park zoning change.

Sept. 9, 2003: A federal grand jury indicts Bucci and Potter on conspiracy and wire-fraud charges.