Oct 28, 2008 2:29 pm US/Eastern
A Closer Look At Wilkerson's Alleged Bribery
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
-
-
These are photos provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office as evidence.
U.S. Attorney's Office
-
-
In one case, Wilkerson is seen taking the money and stuffing it under her sweater and inside her bra.
U.S. Attorney's Office
So how did state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson allegedly get the $23,500 in bribes from undercover agents she believed were local businessmen?
Here are some highlights of the federal criminal complaint against her from the investigation between June 2007 and October 2008.
Read The Entire Criminal Complaint- She is accused of urging an undercover agent to help her raise $10,000 of the up to $70,000 needed for a primary recount. (Wilkerson lost a close Democratic primary in September to Sonia Chang-Diaz, but was running a sticker campaign against her in the Nov. 4 election)
- An undercover agent asks Wilkerson if a second agent has been "taking care" of her. "Sure has," Wilkerson is quoted as saying. "And believe me, they're very, very, very much appreciated."
- An FBI affidavit includes a series of still photographs from video recordings allegedly showing Wilkerson accepting cash, in one case taking the money and stuffing it under her sweater and inside her bra. She allegedly took one payment earlier this month outside her Roxbury office.
- Wilkerson is accused of accepting eight payments, ranging in amounts from $500 to $10,000, during the 17-month investigation.
- Some of the meetings discussing the payments or the actions Wilkerson would take occurred in the State House.
- Between June 2007 and March 2008, Wilkerson allegedly took $8,500 in cash payments from an undercover agent and a cooperating witness to help a proposed nightclub in her district, named Dejavu, get a liquor license.
- She allegedly pressured the Boston License Board, Mayor Tom Menino and the City Council on behalf of the nightclub, and delayed legislation that would have increased the salaries of members of the licensing board.
- "I pushed the envelope farther than it's ever been pushed before," Wilkerson allegedly told the agent. According to court documents, she also said "I've been beating people up" for action, and spoke of "people who's knees I had to crack."
- Between June and October, she also allegedly accepted $15,000 in payments in exchange for helping an undercover officer posing as a businessman avoid the bidding process to develop state property in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood.
- During one transaction caught on videotape on June 18, 2007, Wilkerson took a payment and stuffed it inside her sweater at the bar at No. 9 Park restaurant on Beacon Hill. The money was allegedly handed to Wilkerson by a cooperating witness who Wilkerson promised to help obtain the liquor license.
- During another transaction at the Fill-A-Buster restaurant on Beacon Hill, a cooperating witness handed Wilkerson $1,000 in cash, telling her she had earned the money and should "knock yourself out." The handoff was made while Wilkerson's granddaughter, who had accompanied her to the lunch, was away from the table, according to the complaint.
- Wilkerson told the witness she planned to go to the spa at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut that weekend, the complaint said.
Wilkerson, the lone black member of the state Senate, is charged with attempted extortion as a public official and theft of honest services as a state senator. She faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines on each count.
U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan said there was no evidence other lawmakers were involved in the bribery scheme.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
