ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- An Alaska state senator has pleaded guilty to bribery charges as part of a continuing corruption investigation in the state, U.S. officials said.
The U.S. Justice Department said state Senator John Cowdery, 78, pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring to bribe another Alaska state legislator, identified only as "State Senator A," by offering him $10,000 in campaign contributions for support of oil tax legislation in 2006.
Cowdery admitted to conspiring with Bill J. Allen, former chief executive officer of the now defunct VECO Corp., and Richard L. Smith, a former VECO vice president, to offer campaign contributions in exchange for State Senator A's support of a proposed petroleum profits tax while meeting at an Anchorage restaurant.
Allen and Smith pleaded guilty in May 2007 and are awaiting sentencing, the department said. Cowdery faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 when sentenced.
The department said including Cowdery's plea, there have been 10 criminal convictions arising out of the public corruption investigation in Alaska. The convictions include that of Peter Kott, former speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives, who was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to six years in prison for extortion, bribery and conspiracy.
