Bill Allen (corporate CEO)
Encyclopedia
William J. "Bill" Allen is the co-founder and former CEO of the Alaska
oilfield services company VECO Corporation. VECO Corporation was an Alaska-based oil pipeline service and construction company. Bill Allen was born in New Mexico
and at the age of 16 left for the oil fields of Alaska to become a welder to help support his family. Founded in 1968 by Allen, VECO began as a one truck welding and repair operation that grew to become a major player in the Alaskan and worldwide oil industries' support services business. VECO also was a worldwide player in the oil industry, having divisions in many major oil markets. VECO had a major impact on the economy of Alaska and employed over 5,000 people worldwide.
ran aground on Bligh Reef, spilling eleven million gallons of crude oil into the waters of Prince William Sound. The Exxon Valdez oil spill was the largest in United States history.
Under Allen's guidance, VECO (along with its unionized subsidiary, NORCON) was responsible for large parts of the spill's clean up, hiring 2,500 workers to clean up the environmental disaster. VECO's quick actions are credited with limiting the devastating environmental impact of the Exxon spill.
Following the spill and cleanup, Allen purchased the Anchorage Times
from editor/publisher Robert Atwood
. Allen operated the newspaper until shutting it down and selling many of its assets to its rival, the Anchorage Daily News
, in 1992. Through an agreement described as "unique," Allen paid for space in the editorial section of the ADN for many years afterward to provide a half-page feature known as The Voice of the Times.
to charges of extortion, bribery, and conspiracy to impede the Internal Revenue Service
. The charges involved bribing Alaska lawmakers to vote in favor of an oil tax law favored by the VECO that was the subject of vigorous debate during the regular and two special sessions of the Alaska Legislature
in 2006 Bill Allen's testimony, at the trial of his former friend, Alaska
Senator Ted Stevens
, helped secure Stevens' conviction, in U.S. District Court on charges of felonious corruption.
Later, it emerged that Allen might have perjured
himself at trial. During a review of the case triggered by allegations of prosecutorial misconduct
, investigators for the United States Department of Justice
discovered a previously undocumented interview between Allen and prosecutors. In this interview, Allen stated that the fair-market value of the repairs to Stevens' house was around $80,000—far less than the $250,000 he testified to at trial. Moreover, Allen said in the interview that he didn't recall talking to Bob Persons, a friend of Stevens, regarding the repair bill for Stevens' house. This directly contradicted Allen's testimony at trial, where he claimed Stevens had asked him to give Persons a note Stevens had sent asking for a bill for the repair work. At trial, Allen said Persons had told him the note shouldn't be taken seriously because "Ted's just covering his ass". The notes of this interview were never given to the defense, as required by U.S. criminal law. The discovery of this interview, was cited by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder
in his decision to move to dismiss Stevens' indictment before sentencing—effectively vacating his conviction. "I have determined that it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the indictment and not proceed with a new trial," said Holder.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
oilfield services company VECO Corporation. VECO Corporation was an Alaska-based oil pipeline service and construction company. Bill Allen was born in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and at the age of 16 left for the oil fields of Alaska to become a welder to help support his family. Founded in 1968 by Allen, VECO began as a one truck welding and repair operation that grew to become a major player in the Alaskan and worldwide oil industries' support services business. VECO also was a worldwide player in the oil industry, having divisions in many major oil markets. VECO had a major impact on the economy of Alaska and employed over 5,000 people worldwide.
Exxon Valdez oil spill
On March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon ValdezExxon Valdez
Oriental Nicety, formerly Exxon Valdez, Exxon Mediterranean, SeaRiver Mediterranean, S/R Mediterranean, Mediterranean, and Dong Fang Ocean is an oil tanker that gained notoriety after running aground in Prince William Sound spilling hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil in Alaska...
ran aground on Bligh Reef, spilling eleven million gallons of crude oil into the waters of Prince William Sound. The Exxon Valdez oil spill was the largest in United States history.
Under Allen's guidance, VECO (along with its unionized subsidiary, NORCON) was responsible for large parts of the spill's clean up, hiring 2,500 workers to clean up the environmental disaster. VECO's quick actions are credited with limiting the devastating environmental impact of the Exxon spill.
Following the spill and cleanup, Allen purchased the Anchorage Times
Anchorage Times
The Anchorage Times was a daily newspaper published in Anchorage, Alaska that became known for the pro-business political stance of longtime publisher and editor, Robert Atwood. Competition from the McClatchy-owned Anchorage Daily News forced it out of business in 1992.-History:The Anchorage Times...
from editor/publisher Robert Atwood
Robert Atwood
Robert Bruce Atwood was the long-time editor and publisher of the Anchorage Times, and a proponent of Alaska statehood.-Biography:...
. Allen operated the newspaper until shutting it down and selling many of its assets to its rival, the Anchorage Daily News
Anchorage Daily News
The Anchorage Daily News is a daily newspaper based in Anchorage, Alaska, in the United States. It is often referred to colloquially as either "the Daily News" or "the ADN"...
, in 1992. Through an agreement described as "unique," Allen paid for space in the editorial section of the ADN for many years afterward to provide a half-page feature known as The Voice of the Times.
The Alaska political investigation
On May 7, 2007 Allen, along with VECO's Vice President for Community & Government Affairs Rick Smith, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in AnchorageAnchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
to charges of extortion, bribery, and conspiracy to impede the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
. The charges involved bribing Alaska lawmakers to vote in favor of an oil tax law favored by the VECO that was the subject of vigorous debate during the regular and two special sessions of the Alaska Legislature
Alaska Legislature
The Alaska Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution, consisting of the lower Alaska House of Representatives, with 40 members, and the upper house Alaska Senate, with 20 members...
in 2006 Bill Allen's testimony, at the trial of his former friend, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
Senator Ted Stevens
Ted Stevens
Theodore Fulton "Ted" Stevens, Sr. was a United States Senator from Alaska, serving from December 24, 1968, until January 3, 2009, and thus the longest-serving Republican senator in history...
, helped secure Stevens' conviction, in U.S. District Court on charges of felonious corruption.
Later, it emerged that Allen might have perjured
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
himself at trial. During a review of the case triggered by allegations of prosecutorial misconduct
Prosecutorial misconduct
In jurisprudence, prosecutorial misconduct is a procedural defense; via which, a defendant may argue that they should not be held criminally liable for actions which may have broken the law, because the prosecution acted in an "inappropriate" or "unfair" manner. Such arguments may involve...
, investigators for the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
discovered a previously undocumented interview between Allen and prosecutors. In this interview, Allen stated that the fair-market value of the repairs to Stevens' house was around $80,000—far less than the $250,000 he testified to at trial. Moreover, Allen said in the interview that he didn't recall talking to Bob Persons, a friend of Stevens, regarding the repair bill for Stevens' house. This directly contradicted Allen's testimony at trial, where he claimed Stevens had asked him to give Persons a note Stevens had sent asking for a bill for the repair work. At trial, Allen said Persons had told him the note shouldn't be taken seriously because "Ted's just covering his ass". The notes of this interview were never given to the defense, as required by U.S. criminal law. The discovery of this interview, was cited by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder
Eric Holder
Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. is the 82nd and current Attorney General of the United States and the first African American to hold the position, serving under President Barack Obama....
in his decision to move to dismiss Stevens' indictment before sentencing—effectively vacating his conviction. "I have determined that it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the indictment and not proceed with a new trial," said Holder.