Posted: October 28, 2009 - 11:01 pm
With the sentencing Wednesday of the central figure and his top lieutenant in Alaska's ongoing political corruption investigation, a chapter closes in the saga.
The broad federal investigation into political corruption in Alaska is conducted by the FBI and IRS, with prosecution directed by the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section in Washington.
The inquiry, intitally into allegations of corruption in the small but assertive private prison industry here, began in secret in 2004 under the code name "Polar Pen." It soon shifted to the politically active oil-field service company Veco Corp. with wiretaps and secret cameras focused on chief executive Bill Allen and vice president Rick Smith, both sentenced to prison Oct. 28, 2009.
Three former state lawmakers were convicted in jury trials and another two pleaded guilty. A lobbyist for a private prison, the chief of staff of former Gov. Frank Murkowski, and a private prison advocate all pleaded guilty as well.
One case involving an Alaskan lawmaker charged with corruption remains to be heard, that of former Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch, R-Juneau.
The biggest case, against U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, crumbled after his conviction. A Washington, D.C., jury found U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens guilty in October 2008 on seven counts of failing to disclose gifts, mainly from Veco and Allen. Then prosecutors admitted they failed to provide favorable evidence before the trial. A judge dismissed the case. Two convicted former state legislators are now out of prison while lawyers fight in court over similar issues.
The FBI has said the corruption investigation is ongoing and both Smith and Allen continue to cooperate. Key figures named in the investigation but not charged are: U.S. Rep. Don Young; former state Sen. Ben Stevens, son of Ted; and former Sen. Jerry Ward. ~ Anchorage Daily News
