Judge sentences Vic Kohring to 3½ years in prison(former AK lawmaker with ties to VECO)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

ANCHORAGE - Facing a prison sentence of 3½ years, a former Alaska lawmaker said he's broke and has lost respect for the U.S. government, but that his conscience is clear.

Former state Rep. Vic Kohring was sentenced Thursday for bribery and two other felony corruption charges, convictions he blamed on prosecutors who twisted his words and a judge with a conflict of interest.

"I refuse to cower before you in hopes of receiving a lighter sentence," he told U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick.

The seven-term Republican from Wasilla said he had to borrow a truck to drive to the courthouse and it broke down on the way. He hitchhiked and was picked up by a loyal constituent who immediately put him on his church's prayer chain, Kohring said.

more:

Read more: http://juneauempire.com/stories/050908/sta_277395989.shtml

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The political corruption investigation

~snip~
The investigation, under way in secret since 2004 or earlier, surfaced Aug. 31, 2006, when scores of federal agents, many from other states, served search warrants at more than 20 locations around Alaska, including the offices of six state legislators. Since then, Kohring and two other legislators have been convicted by juries and a fourth is awaiting trial. A lobbyist and the chief of staff to former Gov. Frank Murkowski have pleaded guilty. At the center of the investigation are the chief executive and a vice president of the Alaska-based oil-field services company Veco, now defunct. Both men have pleaded guilty and are cooperating in the investigation. Grand juries continue to hear evidence in Anchorage and Washington, D.C.

Several people and areas are known to be under scrutiny:

• Veco's relationship with state legislators. During trials, the Veco executives described bribing or otherwise exerting improper influence over several officials. Among them: former Senate President Ben Stevens, whom Veco officials admitted paying more than $240,000 in phony consulting contracts to act on the company's behalf in the Legislature.

• U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. FBI and IRS agents performed an extensive search of Stevens' Girdwood home in July, and ex-Veco CEO Bill Allen testified in former Rep. Pete Kott's trial that company employees oversaw and provided labor for an extensive remodeling there. The government is also investigating some of his legislation that benefited his son or former staff members.

• U.S. Rep. Don Young. In Alaska, Young has been reported to be under scrutiny for ties to Veco and others over his use of earmarks. Veco executives are his largest group of political donors. One of Young's top aides pleaded guilty last year in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, which is still being investigated. And last week, Congress asked the Justice Department to investigate one of Don Young's earmarks, $10 million for an interchange in Florida that would benefit one of his campaign donors. Young has reported spending more than $1 million in campaign funds for legal fees since last year as the investigations of his actions mount.

more:http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/400892.html

[ToughLuck]

1. Pathetic slime

This last part cracked me up: Prosecutors asked for a sentence of five years, rejecting Browne's contention that Kohring's behavior was an aberration and that he could be compared to a lovable small-town sheriff on the old television sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show. Kohring accepted bribes over four years, said assistant U.S. attorney Joe Bottini.

"I don't remember any episodes of that show where Andy Griffith took cash," Bottini said.

[gratuitous]

2. Mr. Kohring has lost respect for the government? Oh noes!

I guess he didn't figure all those volumes of law books applied to him or his political pals.

[Ian David]

3. Victor Kohring Kohring Kohring 's going to jail jail jail! n/t

[Winterblues]

4. Twisted his words

They had him on tape and camera and there was no way his words got twisted. He was quite obnocious and vulgar and you could see the jury cringe when they watched the video. The jury convicted him with no remorse and he has been whining ever since..

[Robbien]

5. They drag this stuff out as long as possible

so that the media pays little or no attention to the story. This guy is pure sleaze and greed. Perfect for a media frenzy.

Only a little over three years for all his crimes, what a shame.

[Arctic Dave]

6. I love the smell of toasted repug in the morning.

:evilgrin: