Alaska legislature scandal -- VECO'S Bill Allen pleads GUILTY!!

[Blue_In_AK]

Another shoe drops in the corruption scandal involving Alaska Republican state legislators.

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6480399

ANCHORAGE -- A corruption investigation by the FBI snags one of Alaska's biggest and most influential businessmen. This morning, Bill Allen, chief executive officer and part-owner of VECO Corp. pleaded guilty to extortion, bribery and fraud. Shortly after Allen entered his plea, Richard Smith, a VECO vice president and its chief lobbyist, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. They are the latest to be caught up in an ever-widening corruption scandal.

<snip>

But perhaps the biggest bombshell involves former Senate President Ben Stevens <son of "Tubes" Ted>.

Allen says he had been paying Stevens' consulting firm since 1995 and had even discussed making Stevens a VECO executive; and that the payments continued in the five years Stevens served in the Senate.

During that period, VECO paid Stevens in excess of $243,000.

Allen says although he and VECO characterized the payments as consulting fees, in his plea agreement he "acknowledges that in actuality the payments provided to Stevens were in exchange for giving advice, lobbying colleagues, and taking official acts in matters before the Legislature."

***

If Kohring, Weyhrauch and Kott were indicted for receiving paltry sums like $2,500, I can't even begin to imagine what the feds have in store for Ben. :evilgrin:


More here:

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/story/8863305p-8763968c.html

[Robbien]

1. Hard to understand why this is getting so little play here at DU

The story has everything

The guy in charge of BP maintenance, got tons of money to ignore maintenance. Thus the closure of the BP pipeline and the explosion at the Texas BP refinery. The guy, a Brit, Lord Browne who got caught when his spurred gay lover went to the press.

Then over in Alaska the guys started a club. These guys were so arrogant as to form a group and actually name themselves the 'Corrupt Bastards Club'. They went so far as have tee-shirts and hats printed with their logo and name.

The Corrupt Bastards Club politicos got caught and will be going straight to jail because they were too arrogant to hide their corruptness. Now the BP honchos are pleading guilty.

There is even a piece of the attorney purge in this because the Alaskan USA was replaced by Gonzo's hit squad.

What a story! Wonder what is next.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Not to mention that Ted "Tubes" Stevens' son Ben...

...former state senate president, is about to fall. He accepted over $243,000 from these guys over a period of about six years for "consulting" services, which Bill Allen admits in his plea deal was actually for arm-twisting services in the state senate.

I agree this story really has legs and could potentially cause some real problems for some big names. All three of Alaska's federal legislative delegation has taken money from Veco, especially including Don Young, who counts Veco as his biggest campaign donor and who notoriously left early when the oilmen were being questioned by his energy committee last year.

I think they all have a lot to answer for.

[Robbien]

4. I was just reading that about Ben Stevens

in this article
VECO papers suggest more to come
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/050807/sta_20070508012.shtml

and then read the story on Allen at VECO

The story of VECO and the rise of Bill Allen
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6482935&nav=menu510_2

It still surprises me that all these guys are selling themselves so cheap. BP is raking in billions each quarter and these corrupt bastards are getting chump change in comparison.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Ben Stevens is a very disagreeable person...

(takes after his old dad, I guess), who has been involved in quite a few shady deals here over the past few years. This VECO thing is only one of many. He rather famously labeled critics from the Matanuska Valley area north of here a couple years ago as "Valley Trash," which caused a huge uproar and even spawned (haha) "Proud to be Valley Trash" T-shirts. He's always got a scowl on his face and refuses to deal with the media at all over any of this. Just a thoroughly nasty guy, and I hope he goes down hard.

[Robbien]

15. Stevens is now saying he is first finding out about this from the media

VECO? What or Who is VECO? DUH.

ABC Alaska News has also learned of reports that connect the Veco scandal to former state senator Ben Stevens. Apparently, payments to Stevens equal the same dollar amount that an “un-named senator” received in the FBI's investigation.

According to Aaron Saunders, Steven's Press Secretary, Steven's issued a statements from Washington saying, “ I was surprised and saddened to learn of the recent developments in the ongoing federal investigation in Alaska. Like many Alaskans, I am finding out about these events form the media. The legal process will now continue. Consistent with my longstanding practice regarding matters of this sort, I will make no further comment.”


http://www.aksuperstation.com/news/local/7383026.html

[Blue_In_AK]

16. It's very difficult to believe that Ted Stevens

isn't fully aware of what's going on with his son Ben up here. The FBI raided the offices of Ben and the other former and current indicted legislators (and others) months ago now, and this whole scandal has been in the wind here for ages. Ted's declaration of "surprise and sadness" seems patently disingenuous.

[quiet.american]

3. Thanks for that rundown -- very helpful. "Corrupt Bastards"... hoisted by their own petards. n/t

[loudsue]

6. K & R! More corruption than you can shake a stick at.

Corporations are going to corrupt every area of every legislative body in this whole republic! And they all know that EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN is a whore who can be bought.

:kick:

[malaise]

7. Bigger than that

Here's some more - they're spreading the prison business.

http://www.nationnews.com/story/303717079326551.php
THE COMPANY hired by Government to build the new prison facility at Dodds, St Philip, has been named in a federal indictment in the United States.

Veco USA Incorporated, which is building the multi-million-dollar facility, is co-operating with federal authorities in a case where Alaskan Republican legislator Victor Kohring, and two former Republican legislators, Pete Kott and Bruce Weyhrauch, pleaded not guilty on Friday to counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, bribery and fraud.

The charges relate to the three political figures accepting bribes or the promise of future work to benefit an Alaska-based oil services company. Attorney-at-law representing Veco, Amy Menard, described Veco as "Company A" in how the indictment referred to the oil services company.

[Robbien]

10. That is the prison one of the corrupt bastard club members

wanted to be appointed warden I bet. A prison job in return for a favorable legislation. So much money being made by BP and VECO and so little being made by the guys selling out their country.

Ha. VECO even bought the Anchorage Times newspaper in order to make sure they were getting good press.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Someone posted the indictement a couple of days ago, and "Company A" wasn't identified, yet.

It's good to see it clarified today.

This is such an important area to watch. These guys are obnoxious, arrogant a-holes who have been tempting fate a long time.

[Bandit]

8. Well I hope the sweat is pouring off ol' Murkowski about now..

He is the biggest crook of all of them so I expect he will fall the hardest when it all shakes out.. I suspect even Stevens the old man has some involvement. Would love to see the entire corrupt lot of them sent off to one of the prisons they built..Young, Murkowski, and Stevens along with their sons and daughters that are involved..

[Blue_In_AK]

13. You got it.

Don Young's my particular target. I really want to see that old bastard taken down HARD.

[madinmaryland]

9. THIS IS HUGH!!1!!

From an email I received from my sister, rumor has it that Ted himself may be involved!!1!!

:woohoo:

[KharmaTrain]

11. Didn't We Just Discuss This???

Good to see things are moving forward and the slime starting to come to light. Looks like Ben's on his own bridge to nowhere...or is that statesville? :rofl:

:hi:

[roguevalley]

14. I rememer Ted being involved in the fishing thing with his spawn

and then there is Don Young. I can't wait to go out and get my paper every day because of this.

[Blue_In_AK]

17. It's just so gratifying to think that maybe Big Oil's strangulation

hold on us is weakening a bit. And I'm right there with you on Don Young. I think there'll be a statewide celebration when he falls. :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce:

[mdmc]

18. break the hold

:hi:

[Toots]

19. I understand he has also admitted to paying out over $200,000.00 to Republican Congressmen

and even large amounts to the Bush* Administration. This could be as big or even bigger than the Abraoff scandal. Both Allen and Smith are singing like canaries....:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: