Alaska ? A former state legislator was convicted Tuesday of trading his legislative influence for bribes from a company that was seeking to profit from a proposed natural gas pipeline.

Former Rep. Pete Kott, a Republican who was House speaker for part of his 14-year tenure, was found guilty of accepting nearly $9,000, a political poll and the promise of a job from VECO Corp., an oil field services company.

The case has wide implications because the FBI is investigating whether Ted Stevens, the U.S. Senate’s longest-serving Republican, received illegal gifts from VECO. Stevens has not been charged and has said he paid all bills he received for the remodeling project.

Kott was convicted of conspiracy to solicit financial benefits, extortion and bribery but was acquitted of wire fraud. He did not comment as he walked away from the federal courthouse.