Former Veco chief Bill Allen's bid to delay sentencing on corruption charges was rejected Thursday by a federal judge.
Allen, the central figure in Alaska's political corruption scandal, is scheduled to learn his punishment Wednesday morning in Anchorage.
Prosecutors are recommending he get 46 months in prison and a $750,000 fine, while his attorneys have said six months in prison and a $150,000 fine is appropriate.
Allen's former vice president for community affairs, Rick Smith, is set to be sentenced right after Allen. Prosecutors are seeking a 42-month prison sentence and a fine of $7,500 to $75,000.
U.S. District Judge John Sedwick said postponing Allen's sentencing goes against the "best interest of the public." "Bill Allen has been guilty of major crimes implicating the integrity of the legislative process in the State of Alaska since May 7, 2007," Sedwick wrote in his order. "The underlying criminal conduct took place between 2002 and 2006. It is time to turn Allen's page in this lamentable chapter of Alaska's history."
Allen has been cooperating with federal authorities and said he should get credit not only for his past help but for possible future cases. He also is working with the special prosecutor who is investigating contempt charges against the Justice Department officials involved in the prosecution of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.
But Sedwick said the government is already crediting Allen for his assistance in its sentencing recommendation, and whether there will be charges in additional cases is "speculative." Sedwick said that Allen's cooperation with the special prosecutor was not part of his plea bargain. But the judge said he would also not blame Allen for any prosecutorial misconduct charges that might emerge.
Sedwick had offered prosecutors the opportunity to seek to delay Allen's sentencing, but they declined.
"The very fact that the United States has not urged the court to continue Allen's sentencing so that it might hold more leverage over him should he be called to testify at any such trials tends to establish that the leverage is likely no longer needed," Sedwick wrote.
