The oldest member of Alaska's Legislature, Anchorage Republican John Cowdery, has been indicted by a federal grand jury. The 78-year-old lawmaker has been charged with conspiracy and bribery.

The 16-page indictment names Cowdery and others in a conspiracy to give another state senator $25,000, characterized as campaign contributions, in order to pass a version of an oil tax favored by North Slope producers. Court papers filed in other cases identify Veco Corp. as the North Slope producer behind the conspiracy, and both chief executive Bill Allen and vice president Rick Smith have plead guilty to bribing legislators, including Cowedery to push the favored oil tax.

Cowdery has a long history with Allen. Allen testified that Cowdery was part of his inner circle at the trial of former House Speaker Pete Kott last fall. Allen discussed his relationship with Cowdery during the trial, "John Cowdery was -- he didn't drink a lot, but him and I seen each other a - a - a lot. He had the same makeup, I guess, of me." Both men were contractors and often spoke about heavy equipment.

Evidence of Cowdery's political corruption surfaced in 2001, when the lawmaker's 50-foot boat, the Juanita II, sank in its Whittier Harbor slip. Cowdery requested Allen's help in retrieving the boat, which was towed by Wasilla resident Dave Martinsen. Martinsen, who towed the boat to Veco's yard on the Anchorage waterfront, received a check from the Veco Corporation.

Allen supposedly disscussed the possibility of partial ownwership of the boat, according to an Anchorage furniture maker. Ernie Hall had been contracted by Cowdery to make a custom table for the boat and had discussed the possibility of Allen becoming partial owner, however Allen later backed out of the deal.

As described in a court document filed in the Allen case, a meeting took place at an Anchorage restaurant in June 2006. In attendance was Allen, "State Senator A" and an unidentified state elected official. Cowdery was previously identified as being Senator A by his attorney Kevin Fitzgerald. Senator A said at the meeting that Allen was willing to raise campaign funds for the official's campaign in exchange for votes that would favor Allen's company's position. Allen said he would be able to provide $25,000, however nothing ever came of it, as suggested by the court document.

At the time of meeting, state Sen. Donny Olson, D-Nome, was running for lieutenant governor. Olson has testified to the grand jury on two occasions, according to his and Corwdey's attorney.