Bill J. Allen, Alaska Businessman at the Center of Scandal, Dies at 85
Bill J. Allen, an itinerant pipe fitter who rose to be one of the most powerful men in Alaska and a dominant figure in the state’s oil industry, then fell from grace in a spectacular bribery and corruption scheme that also took down a U.S. senator, died on June 29. He was 85.
He was one of the state’s most powerful figures, but his extensive corruption schemes brought him down — and took several politicians with him.
He specialized in greasing the connections between the two, shuffling money into the coffers of friendly politicians, who in turn kept companies like Veco flush with work. By the early 2000s, Veco was the largest Alaska-owned and Alaska-based company, with 3,500 employees, 18 subsidiaries and $400 million in annual revenue.
Mr. Allen and his circle seemed to revel in their shamelessness. He and Mr. Smith always booked Suite 604, and Mr. Allen always sat in the same chair. He bragged that he kept $100 bills in his front pocket, the easier to dole them out to friendly politicians. The girlfriend of one politician even had hats embroidered with the letters CBC, for “Corrupt Bastards Club.”
As early as 2004, law enforcement officials had been investigating multiple accusations that Mr. Allen had sexually assaulted underage girls.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/09/us/bill-j-allen-dead.html