Russell Stigall

For the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, February, 2008

Victor Kohring has beat back his day of sentencing with an appeal to disqualify the judge who found him guilty.

Like a man pursued in an action movie, Kohring has scattered before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John Sedwick a path of obstacles in the form of appeals.

Before Kohring’s October trial, Sedick denied appeals by the ex-legislator and his wily attorney, John Henry Browne to move the trial to Seattle, Wash. and to disregard certain evidence.

Now Kohring has accused Sedwick of being biased as a result of a previous political struggle between Kohring and Sedwick’s wife.

Judge Sedwick referred Kohring’s appeal to Honorable H. Russell Holland. Holland reinterpreted Kohring’s appeal and placed the decision back with Sedwick.

Sedwick has until February 25 to recuse himself or not and Kohring has until March 10 react.

Kohring, a seven-term Republican representative from Wasilla, was convicted of three counts of conspiracy, attempted extortion and bribery in a Federal political corruption case late last year.

Kohring benefited from and contributed to the cash and influence former Veco oil services company executives Bill Allen and Rick Smith meted out to at least a dozen state legislators for over a decade. Kohring was found guilty of selling his influence and vote for multiple cash payments equaling an estimated $2,600.

Allen and Smith held council dispensed take-out food and bribes with Kohring and other legislators in room 604 of the Baranof Hotel in Juneau. The Federal Bureau of Investigation bugged the room in 2005 and recorded thousands of hours of audio and video from inside the room. Kohring, and former House Speaker Pete Kott were convicted of bribery, conspiracy largely due the damning evidence on these recordings.

Federal prosecutors Joseph Bottini and Edward Sullivan have asked Judge Sedwick for a sentence of 60 months.

Kohring said before his trial last fall that he could face up to 50 years in prison. While this turned out to be quite high, he did originally face a sentence longer than the 60 months sought by the feds. His jury found him not guilty of the feds’ extortion charge, but upheld a lesser charge of attempted extortion.

The Federal Government is also asking for a fine of $24,244.

Bottini and Sullivan wrote in their Sentencing Memorandum that Judge Sedwick should take into account Kohring’s repeat offenses - the legislator accepted multiple bribes from Allen and Smith and conspired with the executives on multiple occasions.

Kohring was unable to answer questions at the time of this writing.

By Russell Stigall

For the Frontiersman

MAT-SU — Senate President Lyda Green was one of VECO Corp.’s favorite legislators.

During the corruption trial of Vic Kohring Allen testified that he had convinced former Wasilla representative to not run against Green for her Wasilla Senate seat. This revelation was used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and federal prosecutors to make a case against Kohring that the Wasilla Republican was beholden to the wishes of VECO executives. Kohring was convicted on three counts of bribery, attempted extortion and conspiracy. The Federal Bureau of Investigation recorded secret video and audio of Kohring accepting cash from former VECO CEO Bill Allen. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman

Anchorage – The Jury brought down three guilty verdicts in the trial of Victor H. Kohring. The former Wasilla representative called the trial his David and Goliath battle against the formidable resources of the United States of America.

“I just hope my aim is accurate and I find a smooth stone,” Kohring said.

Kohring’s attorney John Henry Browne looked like he just might be that smooth stone Kohring desired. But Browne defeated only one of Kohring’s four goliath charges.

The jury diffused into the courtroom dressed formal, some in suits others collard shirts. They appeared (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE – The jury for USA vs. Kohring left their seats in courtroom three with a list of deliberation rules written by U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick.

Victor H. Kohring, former Wasilla representative faces time in prison for four counts of bribery, extortion and conspiracy under the color of official right.

Kohring said he is up beat and optimistic, but that the situation is obviously stressful.

Defernse and prosecution finished their closing arguments and Judge Sedwick read the jury their rules.

Kohring, in a familiar blue suit and red tie, kept mostly quiet during closing arguments, leaning over once or twice to talk with his attorney. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE – Defense called only two witnesses today at the Vic Kohring public corruption trial. Kohring did not testify.

In an interview after leaving the courtroom before noon today John Henry Browne, Kohring’s attorney, said Kohring made the decision to stay off the witness stand. Browne said U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick will instruct the jury that they should ignore that Kohring passed on presenting his side.

Browne said he called only two witnesses today because he said he believed the Government failed to make a case for Kohring’s guilt. Browne had one answer to questions from reporters about the assumptions the Government made from a recording of witness Bill Allen handing Kohring a wad of Easter egg money and other undeniable evidence presented during the trial. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE – Vic Kohring takes a back seat in his own trail as Allen fingers Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young.

In a deal gone bad in 2005, Bill Allen, former CEO of VECO Corp. said an Australian company decided to not buy his company because, he thought at the time, VECO President, Pete Lethard, had made an intoxicated slip and revealed to the Australian’s his company’s practice of bribery. Allen specifically mentioned Stevens and Young as politicians he bribed. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE – Former VECO executive Rick Smith Kohring took the money. No one, not even John Henry Browne, Kohring’s attorney, denies that former VECO CEO Bill Allen and VECO VP Rick Smith passed hundred dollar bills to the former Wasilla representative.

The question, which Browne tried half the day today to wring out of Smith, on the witness stand, is whether the money given to Kohring in was in exchange for favors or just gifts between old friends. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Frontiersman

ALASKA – Kohring comes out swinging in the trial of his life.

Former Wasilla representative Victor H. Kohring and his attorney John Henry Browne take the offensive in Kohring’s Defendant’s Status Report. Browne argues that the government should throw Kohring’s case out, that Kohring will contest evidence and that the federal government should get a sense of humor.

Kohring’s attorney John Henry Browne “intends to file a motion to dismiss the case, based on the government interfering with his right to legal counsel and trial through the use of Sen. Dyson as an undercover FBI informant,” Kohring said. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE – The gentle giant speaks. Through audio and video recordings that featured former VECO CEO Bill Allen, VECO VP Rick Smith former Republican Wasilla representative Victor H. Kohring came across as boy-scout courteous and eager to please. In the recordings Kohring praised his staff, was almost never profane and took pride in House Bill 386, which he helped write.

Kohring faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted of the four counts of bribery, extortion and conspiracy for which he is charged. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE – Defense and prosecuting attorneys thinned the jury pool for USA vs. Kohring to the final 12 and three alternates by noon, Tuesday.

Victor H. Kohring, former Republican representative from Wasilla faces up to 55 years in prison for conspiracy, extortion and bribery charges.

Potential jurors were brought in from all around Alaska; Bethel, Unalaska, Wasilla, Anchorage, Soldotna. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE – Today at Vic Kohring’s trial three new names were introduced into Alaska’s legislator corruption scandal; Senator Ted Stevens, Congressman Don Young and the Mat-Su Valley’s own Senate President Lyda Green.

Federal prosecuting attorney Joseph Bottini, during his opening remarks, said the government will prove that former Republican Wasilla representative abstained from running against Republican Senator Lyda Green at the request of former VECO CEO Bill Allen. Bottini said Kohring had expressed his interest to run for Green’s seat in two separate elections. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Frontiersman

Published on Saturday, October 20, 2007 8:28 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE — Months of preparation, rumors and state political intrigue come to a head Monday when the trial of former state Rep. Vic Kohring of Wasilla gets underway.

The former Republican lawmaker has repeatedly maintained his innocence to federal charges of bribery, corruption and conspiracy. Kohring has waited and watched as fellow former lawmakers Tom Anderson and Pete Kott were tried and convicted of similar charges. At the center of the corruption is oil services company VECO and its former CEO, Bill Allen. Allen has testified he paid Kott, Kohring and others in return for favorable votes on the Petroleum Profits Tax.

Many of Allen’s ex-legislator friends seem to have needed money.

Former Eagle River state Rep. Pete Kott, convicted last month on three counts of bribery, extortion and conspiracy, recently asked to have his trial thrown out. Kott admitted taking thousands from Allen, but said he was a friend of Allen’s and only took the $9,000 as a friend.

The several thousand dollars prosecutors allege Kohring accepted from Allen was also only one friend to another. The money was mainly for Kohring’s stepdaughter, Anjuta, the former lawmaker says in pretrial documents. In a letter from attorney Wayne Anthony Ross to Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Bottini on behalf of Kohring, Ross says Kohring and Allen shared a penchant for Russian life partners and a commonality in the raising of their daughters. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Frontiersman

ALASKA – Tom Anderson will repay his debt to society with a prison sentence, handed down today by U.S. District Judge Sedwick, of five years. The sentence was a message, Sedwick said.

“[The court is] sending a message to the community that we can not tolerate” the crimes Anderson and other former legislators have been convicted or indicted for, Sedwick said.

Sedwick said these crimes negatively effect public perception of elected officials. (more…)

By Russell Stigall

For the Frontiersman

Interview with Vic Kohring
Judge denies Kohring’s request for change of venue
Vic Kohring: Feds release superseding indictment
In the wake of the trials of reluctantly guilty Pete Kott and admittedly guilty Tom Anderson, Vic Kohring stands his ground and maintains his innocence.

At his arraignment in U.S. District Courtroom 6 Tuesday afternoon, the former Wasilla representative told Judge John D. Roberts he would not change his position.

 “Not guilty your honor,” Kohring said when asked to plead on federal bribery, conspiracy and extortion charges. The government alleges Kohring accepted money from officers of oil services company VECO Corp. in exchange for favorable official acts.

His plea also comes less than a week following the release of an amended indictment that expanded upon Kohring’s original indictment released in May. The superseding indictment adds allegations that extend the former lawmaker’s alleged conspiracy back to January 2002.

Kohring called the revised indictment a “ludicrous … Hail Mary” lobbed by prosecutors “in desperation trying to pull off a last second victory,” Kohring said in an E-mail interview. (more…)