Alaska-Based VECO Is Building New Prison In Barbados
A few snippets from the Juneau Empire…
Tom Anderson bribery trial begins Monday
Attorney prepares for public scrutiny in corruption case
Former state Rep. Tom Anderson, R-Anchorage, goes on trial Monday in Anchorage, in a case which may be linked to the ongoing political corruption investigation involving VECO Corp. executives and other state legislators.
Also involved, likely without her knowledge, may be Anderson’s wife, Sen. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage.
(snip)
The FBI investigation in Alaska, led by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Public Integrity became publicly known in August of 2006. At that time FBI agents served search warrants on the offices of six members of the Alaska Legislature, though not Anderson, as well as VECO and other offices.
Three of the six legislators and two top VECO executives have been indicted on corruption charges. The executives have pleaded guilty, while the legislators have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
A series of indictments, guilty pleas and legal maneuverings have kept those VECO-related issues in the news for months.
According to documents filed by U.S. attorneys to outline their case, the investigation had been in the works for more than two years before the raids.
(snip)
The charges against Anderson accuse him of using his position as a legislator, including the chairmanship of the Administrative Regulations Review, to benefit Cornell Companies, a Texas-based firm which operates private prisons.
In Alaska Cornell was seeking state approval to build a private prison and a juvenile psychiatric treatment facility, as well as regulatory changes to help its Alaska operations, which include a string of halfway houses around the state.
(snip)
Cornell is not accused of any wrongdoing, federal and Cornell officials have previously told the Empire.
Prosecutors said they expect to take a week to present their case.
At the time of the alleged bribery, Anderson, chairman of the Labor and Commerce Committee, was single but known to be romantically involved with McGuire, at the time chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee…
… read the entire article online here
Also see our first story on the VECO situation…
… or use our search box in the sidebar to search for “VECO” and you will find all our stories on this ongoing scandal.