Eight-term Massachusetts State Senator Dianne Wilkerson was arrested Tuesday morning on public corruption charges stemming from her acceptance of more than $20,000 in cash payments to introduce legislation in the State Senate.
Wilkerson, 53, of 74 Howland Street in Boston, was arrested on a federal complaint charging her with attempted extortion under color of official right and theft of honest services as a state senator.
The complaint alleges that law enforcement authorities were first alerted to Wilkerson’s acceptance of cash in connection with the use of her public office in the spring of 2007. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with the Boston Police Anti-Corruption Unit, undertook a long-term covert operation, which included audio and videotaped recordings, commencing in May 2007 aimed at exploring these allegations.
It is alleged that, between June 2007 and March 2008, Wilkerson took $8,500 in cash payments from an undercover agent, and a cooperating witness, to assist in obtaining a liquor license for a proposed nightclub in Roxbury. It is further alleged that, in exchange for these payments, Wilkerson pressured the Boston Licensing Board, the Mayor and the City Council, and also held-up pending legislation in the State Senate, including legislation increasing the salaries of the Boston Licensing Board.
The complaint alleges that in an effort to obtain a license for which she was obtaining unreported cash payments, Wilkerson ultimately introduced legislation to increase the number of liquor licenses available in Boston, and then manipulated the timing of that legislation at the request of undercover agents.
It is further alleged that in January 2008 Wilkerson proposed that an undercover agent, posing as out-of-state businessman, become involved in the development of a piece of state property in Roxbury. Wilkerson proposed that she introduce legislation which directly designated the property to a private entity for development in order to avoid the ordinary public bidding process.
In exchange for her assistance in the direct designation of the property, Wilkerson allegedly took a $5,000 payment in June 2008.
The complaint further alleges that, in September 2008, Wilkerson requested that another undercover agent, posing as an out of state businessman, pay her $10,000 in cash. According to the Complaint, in early October 2008, the undercover agent paid her $10,000 in cash, on her promise to file the direct designation legislation in the State Senate and to continue to advance the private interests of his business.
Wilkerson allegedly filed the legislation and was pressing their interests with the House of Representatives and the Boston Redevelopment Authority as recently as last week.
In total, Wilkerson allegedly accepted a total of $23,500 in cash payments, ranging in amounts from $500 to $10,000. Each of the eight payments was in connection with the use of her office as a state senator.
If convicted, she faces up to 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the charges. 10-27-08
Source: North Country Gazette
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