Nov 24, 2008 9:02 pm US/Eastern
File Behind The Federal Probe Of Wilkerson, Turner
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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This is the license Turner and Wilkerson are accused of accepting bribes for to push through.
WBZ
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These are photos provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office as evidence.
U.S. Attorney's Office
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The FBI released these surveillance photos which, they say, show Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner accepting a $1,000 bribe.
The file at the heart of the federal investigation targeting City
Councilor Chuck Turner and former
State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson is an application for the liquor license for Dejavu – an upscale supper and music nightclub that was supposed to open at the Crosstown Center in Roxbury.
It's the very license Turner and Wilkerson are accused of accepting bribes for to push through.
In a letter to Licensing Board Chairman Dan Pokaski, Chuck Turner writes: "An establishment such as this would bring a facility to the area that is lacking and also provide and upscale facility for the black and Latino communities."
State Rep. Gloria Fox says, "For far too long, my district has been limited in offering quality social facilities, which promote the interaction of diverse populations of people."
Both Turner and Fox voiced their support for the club's owner, Ivan Serret – a native Dominican and resident of Dorchester. WBZ went to his home on Monday, but he said he can't comment.
A timeline of the licensing board's action and the alleged crimes that took place shows that after the money flowed, decisions changed.
The licensing board held the initial hearing on the liquor license on March 21, 2007. The license was rejected without prejudice on June 27.
In the meantime, the alleged backdoor deals began.
Investigators say Wilkerson accepted bribes from June 5, 18 and August 2.
Chuck Turner's accused of pocketing a $1,000 bribe on August 3.
Less than two weeks after those alleged payments, the licensing board takes a vote and grants the license. The final approval comes in March, but the doors of Dejavu never opened.
According to the file, Dejavu never opened because the owner didn't have enough financing to get the club off the ground.
The license was officially cancelled in April 2008.
WBZ wants to note that Rep. Fox has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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