 Anderson had originally hoped to be represented by attorney Jeff Feldman, but Feldman's case load, which included representation of BP in an investigation and prosecution arising out of an oil spill on Alaska's North Slope in 2006 made it impossible for him to take on Anderson's defense as well.A letter soliciting funds for the Tom Anderson Defense Fund was sent to about 100 individuals in February 2007 in order to help Anderson defray legal costs, which it was estimated would cost up to $250,000 due to extensive pretrial preparation and a trial which was expected to last about two weeks.On May 14, 2007, William "Bill" Bobrick, a prominent municipal lobbyist in Anchorage and former executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, bribery, and money laundering in the same scheme for which Anderson was indicted the previous December.