Former Veco chief executive Bill Allen is asking that his Oct. 28 sentencing on corruption charges be postponed four months because his cooperation in ongoing criminal cases is "incomplete," as is a contempt investigation of federal prosecutors in which he is also assisting.

Though prosecutors have previously initiated postponements seven times to encourage his cooperation, this time Allen is on his own.

According to Allen's motion, filed Tuesday afternoon, prosecutors believe Allen's request for a delay is not "meritorious" and were prepared to go ahead with his sentencing as scheduled.

Rick Smith, a former Veco vice president, is also scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 28. He has not filed for a continuance and his attorney didn't return a call asking if one would still be sought.

U.S. District Judge John Sedwick told prosecutors to file a formal response to Allen's request by Thursday. Without saying how he would rule, he told both sides to be prepared for sentencing to go ahead Oct. 28.

Both Allen and Smith pleaded guilty in May 2007 to charges of corrupting public officials in Alaska to hold down oil production taxes.

Veco was a construction and maintenance company that mainly operated in oil fields in Alaska and around the world. Allen used his political operation, fueled with a mix of legal and illegal campaign money, undisclosed gifts and outright bribes, to improve the business climate for himself and his clients.

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