Anchorage Daily News

Charging documents unsealed by federal prosecutors Monday after Veco executives Bill Allen and Rick Smith pleaded guilty in Anchorage to bribing Alaska legislators refer to lawmakers only by letters -- Representatives A, B and C, and Senators A and B.

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But enough information is given in the Allen charges about most of the anonymous players to figure out who they probably are.

The one exception is Senator A, about whom little data is offered and whose identity remains obscured.

Senator B is described as being part of a conspiracy in which Allen and Smith say they paid him "for giving advice, lobbying colleagues and taking official acts in matters before the Legislature."

One former senator matches the description of Senator B: former Senate President Ben Stevens.

The court documents list payments from Veco to Senator B ranging from $43,750 to $57,000 a year over five years, for a total of $243,250 between 2002 and 2006.

Stevens reported on his legislative financial disclosure forms that he received payments in those amounts from Veco, for a total of $243,250 over those years.

Stevens' lawyer, John Wolfe of Seattle, wouldn't confirm that Stevens is Senator B. But he said that Stevens denies doing anything criminal and maintains he is innocent. Stevens was surprised to learn that Allen had pleaded guilty and hopes that Allen is not falsely accusing legislators and former legislators to mitigate his own role, his lawyer said.

The charges against Allen and Smith include conspiring with three members of the state House. The facts in the Allen charges match three legislators who were indicted last week on conspiracy and bribery charges: former Reps. Pete Kott and Bruce Weyhrauch and current Mat-Su Rep. Vic Kohring.

“Representative A” is described in the court documents as a sitting legislator who has served since 1995 -- as Kohring has. Allen is accused of giving “State Representative A” multiple cash payments, and State Representative A of asking Allen what he could “do for you guys” on March 30.

Kohring’s indictment has him asking Allen on March 30: “What can I do at this point to help you guys? Anything.”

“Representative B” accepted $1,000 from Allen on June 1, the Allen charges say. The money was to reimburse Representative B for donating $1,000 to a gubernatorial campaign. According to Alaska Public Offices Commission records, Kott donated $1,000 to former Gov. Frank Murkowski on May 31.

“Representative C” is described in the Allen charges as a lawyer who served in the state House from 2002 to 2006 and sent a letter to Allen asking for legal work in late April or early May. Former Juneau Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch was elected in 2002 and, according to his indictment unsealed Friday, mailed such a letter on May 4.

Unlike Allen and Smith, all three charged legislators have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Reporters Lisa Demer can be reached at ldemer@adn.com, and Kyle Hopkins can be reached at khopkins@adn.com.