Bill Allen, former chief executive of VECO Corp. leaves federal court on Oct. 28, 2009 in Anchorage. Allen, a former oil services executive who was a key figure in a corruption scandal that rocked Alaska politics, has died. He was 85. (AP Photo  /Al Grillo, File)

Bill Allen, key figure in Alaska corruption scandal, dies

Bill Allen, a central figure in a corruption scandal that rocked Alaska politics, has died. He was 85.

Allen’s death was reported by Alaska media, citing a brief death announcement on the website for a Colorado funeral home, which said Allen died on June 29. A person who answered the phone there on Wednesday declined to provide more details.

Allen was CEO of the oil services company VECO Corp., which did contracting work for oil producers. He also was a former publisher of the now-defunct Anchorage Times newspaper. In 2009, he was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $750,000 on charges including bribery related to efforts to win support for legislation favored by the company. He served a shorter period.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Sentencing for Allen and a former VECO vice president was delayed more than two years as they cooperated with federal prosecutors in cases against elected officials.

Allen at sentencing said he thought he could do good in pushing tax legislation that was favorable to oil companies.

The FBI approached him in 2006 with plans to prosecute. Agents showed him a videotape of him interacting with a legislator in a Juneau hotel room.

“I could tell I was half drunk and I didn’t like what I looked at,” he said. He said he decided to quit drinking and to cooperate with investigators.

“I went over the line,” he said.

Allen resigned as VECO chairman after his plea agreement. The company also was sold.

Allen also was a star witness in the government’s case against U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, a one-time friend.

Stevens was charged with failing to report gifts, including renovations by Allen’s company to Stevens’ home in Girdwood. A jury verdict against Stevens was set aside and the indictment dismissed amid charges of prosecutorial conduct. But by then, he had lost a 2008 bid for reelection. Stevens died in 2010.

More in News

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, March 2, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, March 1, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Friday, Feb. 28, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Juneau Courthouse on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau man with child sexual abuse material conviction arrested again on similar charges

Taylor Funderburk, 25, pleaded guilty Feb. 14 to charges in 2021 case, new arrest came 11 days later.

Passengers aboard an Alaska Marine Highway System vessel are seen on the cover of a draft 20-year plan for the ferry system released Friday. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
20-year plan for Alaska Marine Highway envisions better service, if government provides more money

Draft long-term plan calls for six new ships in eight-ship fleet; public comments open until March 30.

The Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island on Aug. 21, 2014. President Donald Trump wants to circumvent environmental regulations to expand timber production, something sought by homebuilders and the construction industry. (Jim Wilson/The New York Times)
Trump moves to increase logging in national forests

President Donald Trump has promised to “drill, baby, drill.” Now, he also… Continue reading

Snow falls on the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Legislature votes against inflation-adjusted pay rates for top officials

The Alaska House of Representatives voted 36-0 on Friday to reject a… Continue reading

Most Read