Report: Big Oil ties to Veco investigated

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Prosecutors are looking into illegal ties between U.S. oil producers and Veco Corp. Alaska oil services executives, a published report said Tuesday.

Through wiretaps and other evidence, investigators are probing the relationship BP PLC, ConocoPhillips Co. and ExxonMobil Corp. executives had with former Veco Chief Executive Officer Bill Allen and other Veco executives in the Alaska political corruption scandal, The Anchorage Daily News reported.

Former Alaska lawmaker Pete Kott, accused of trading his legislative influence for bribes, was convicted of corruption charges in the scandal Thursday. The case spotlighted Kott’s dealings with Veco, which stood to make millions if a $20 billion natural gas pipeline were built.

Prosecutors are investigating if the oil companies influenced Veco's lobbying -- and, if so, if Veco had a longstanding agreement under which it received "benefits" for its political work, such as oil-field service contracts, the newspaper reported.

The investigation includes the U.S. Justice Department, FBI and Internal Revenue Service, along with the state legislative watchdog Alaska Public Offices Commission.