Kott Guilty on 3 Counts; Sentencing Set for December 7

[Blue_In_AK]

Source: Anchorage Daily News

Former legislator likely faces four years or more in prison

By LISA DEMER and SEAN COCKERHAM
Anchorage Daily News

Published: September 26, 2007
Last Modified: September 26, 2007 at 07:54 AM

Former state Rep. Pete Kott, a 14-year veteran of the Legislature and one-time House speaker, was convicted Tuesday by a federal jury of conspiring with Veco Corp. executives to push an oil tax favored by industry. Jurors convicted the Eagle River Republican of conspiracy, bribery and extortion. They acquitted him of a fourth felony charge, wire fraud, that was based on a single cell phone conversation that went across state lines.

As the verdicts were read around 3 p.m. on the trial’s 15th day, Kott sat silent and still between his defense lawyers. He left the courtroom looking tired and drawn. He had little to say about the verdict.

“I’m disappointed,” Kott said. He didn’t want to talk about what’s next for him or the specifics of how he thought his corruption trial went. “It came,” he sighed. “It went.”

Kott walked out of the Federal Building with his girlfriend, Debora Stovern, on one arm, daughter Pamela on the other and lawyer Jim Wendt just ahead. They faced a barrage of television cameras and reporters asking questions that Kott wouldn’t answer.

<snip>

During the trial, prosecutors Nicholas Marsh and James Goeke portrayed Kott as a deal-maker who plotted with former Veco executives Bill Allen and Rick Smith to secure the oil tax rate sought by North Slope oil producers during the 2006 regular session and special sessions that summer. They played nearly five dozen secretly made recordings during the trial.

This is the second victory for prosecutors in the ongoing public corruption investigation, and the first involving oil field services contractor Veco. The company was sold to Denver-based CH2M Hill just before the trial.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/kott/story/9331746p-9246830c.html

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Two down, ? to go. Ted Stevens? Don Young?

[displacedtexan]

1. “It came,” he sighed. “It went.” He forgot to add...

"I lost."

[roguevalley]

2. 4 years is what they are saying he might get. I expect Ted next.

They have tapped his phones. :) consider how many times he talked to Lisa and Don and if they knew his stuff, they are guilty too. I would love them all arrested on the same day. :)