Back in the hot seat again former VECO Chairman Bill Allen took the stand for a second day in the corruption trial of Pete Kott.

Thursday's testimony examined the delicate relationship between the two and what happened to Allen's life once he made his deal with the government. Allen was put on the spot Thursday to explain the conversations the jury heard between himself and defendant, Kott. We also got a very interesting description on how Allen's life changed last year when the FBI contacted him about a deal regarding the controversial PPT tax.

    "It's been a lot of work."

That's how Allen described his relationship with the FBI since they entered his life last August. It took nine months for Allen to have a plea

agreement with the United States. That's when he pled guilty for bribery and conspiracy charges.

As part of the agreement, Allen asked the FBI to leave the entire VECO Corporation out of this. He said, "There's 4,000 people in the company who have nothing to do with this."

No sentencing was written in stone, but the ex-chairman of VECO said he believed his sentence to be 10 or 11 years. It was his conversations with friend Kott that got him into trouble. That's because legislators and oil giants alike were trying to settle a price tag on the controversial PPT tax.

Oil companies wanted a 20/20 tax or they would threaten to pull out of a natural gas pipeline deal. Kott agreed with Allen and tried pushing that tax in Juneau.

Prosecutors

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asked Allen hypothetically:

"What if Mr. Kott tried for a 30 percent tax?"

Allen responded, "He wouldn't have a job."

CBS 11 News will be in court Thursday. We will post updates on our Web site throughout the day.

More about Allen's testimony will be available on CBS 11 News at 5, 6 and 10.

To contact Steve, call 907-273-3186.