Anchorage Daily News

Bill Bobrick, long the most prominent lobbyist on municipal issues in Anchorage, has been charged with a single count of conspiracy related to a scheme to bribe former state Rep. Tom Anderson.

Bobrick is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on Wednesday morning to plead guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit extortion, bribery and money laundering.

Bobrick created a sham corporation that was used to funnel money to Anderson, the prosecution says. The money was paid by a private corrections company lobbyist who was working as a government informant, according to court documents. Bobrick also made money off the deal, the documents say.

Anderson has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial next month.

Bobrick becomes the seventh person to be charged in the corruption investigation, which burst into public view last summer with the searches of state lawmakers' offices, joining Anderson, state Rep. Vic Kohring, former Reps. Pete Kott and Bruce Weyhrauch and Veco Corp. executives Bill Allen and Richard Smith.

Bobrick, who continues to lobby city government on behalf of several clients, had told people in recent weeks that he expected to be charged soon.

Contact reporter Lisa Demer at ldemer@adn.com