Fees Paid to Stevens' Son Questioned

7 Oct 2008 // JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Executives from an oil field services company linked to a sweeping federal corruption probe question whether the son of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens performed legitimate work for thousands in fees paid to him.

Stevens is on trial for allegedly lying on financial disclosure forms and former longtime friend and VECO Corp. founder Bill Allen is the government's key witness.

Allen told investigators that other company executives questioned whether former state Senate President Ben Stevens was actually billing VECO monthly for consulting but performed no actual work, according to court documents filed late Sunday.

Ben Stevens earned more than $300,000 between 2000 and 2006 from VECO. His legislative offices were searched by the FBI in August 2006, but he has not been charged.

His attorney was reviewing the court documents Monday and did not immediately have a comment.