Alaska Dispatch

Send him to prison, argue prosecutors preparing for the upcoming sentencing of Bill Allen. The millionaire who secretly paid state legislators to take action favorable to the oil industry, and who became a star government witness in several ensuing trials, should serve 46 months behind bars, they said in a sentencing memorandum filed with the court this week. Allen pleaded guilty to three felonies in May 2007, admitting to his role is a sweeping bribery and conspiracy scheme to influence emerging oil tax legislation. Although Allen aided investigators significantly, federal prosecutors note that Allen's actions "were corrupt, sustained, and damaging to the integrity of the legislative process." Prosecutors also note that Allen was involved in what could be considered two distinct schemes -- one to influence state lawmakers, another to influence two federal public officials. Allen was a star government witness in the trials of former state Reps. Pete Kott and Vic Kohring, and in last year's criminal trial of former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. The feds say Allen spent nearly $400,000 bribing lawmakers to do his bidding. And they believe Allen, who remains a wealthy man, should also have to pay a hefty fine. They want the max -- $750,000. But a fine alone, they argue, is insufficient. "In fact, a sentence that does not include a term of imprisonment could send a message that a fine is nothing more than a transaction cost for engaging in public corruption," argue prosecutors. Allen and another former VECO executive, Rick Smith, are scheduled to be sentenced next week. Earlier this week, we reported that former VECO Corp. chief executive Bill Allen asked a federal judge to delay his sentencing until February 2010.