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DOJ Witness in Stevens Case Sentenced to 3 Years
The National Law Journal
October 29, 2009
The government's chief witness in the prosecution of Ted Stevens was sentenced in federal court in Alaska on Wednesday to three years in prison and ordered to pay a $750,000 fine.
The witness, Bill Allen, 72, pleaded guilty in May 2007 to charges that included bribery and extortion for his role in a corruption scheme that entangled several public officials in Alaska. Allen was the former owner of the oil services company called VECO.
Judge John Sedwick of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska presided over sentencing. A former vice president of VECO, Richard Smith, 64, was sentenced Wednesday to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Sedwick ordered Allen to also serve three years of supervised release.
Justice Department prosecutors say Allen and Smith conspired with at least five members of the Alaska legislature to provide benefits to elected officials in exchange for support on legislation. Allen and Smith admitted they paid nearly $400,000 to the benefit of public officials.
Allen's lawyers, including White & Case partner George Terwilliger III, said in court papers that Allen's cooperation in the investigation should warrant a considerable reduction in a prison sentence. Terwilliger said Allen should serve no more than six months behind bars.
This article first appeared on The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.
