Dec 9, 2008 10:28 pm US/Eastern
Wilkerson & Turner Indicted For Conspiracy
By Steve LeBlanc, AP Writer
BOSTON (AP) ―
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Ex-Senator Dianne Wilkerson and City Councilor Chuck Turner
WBZ
Former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson and
Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner were indicted Tuesday on conspiracy charges accusing them of being co-conspirators in a scheme to accept bribes in exchange for helping a local businessman obtain a liquor license.
The conspiracy charge against Wilkerson comes a day after she pleaded not guilty to eight counts of attempted extortion accusing her of accepting a total of $23,500 in bribes to help get the license for the nightclub.
Turner was also indicted on one charge of attempted extortion accusing him of accepting a $1,000 bribe, and three counts of giving false statement to FBI agents in the ongoing corruption probe at the Massachusetts Statehouse and Boston City Hall.
A call to Turner's office and a message left for Wilkerson's lawyer were not immediately returned Tuesday.
The indictment alleges that Wilkerson, 53, and Turner, 68, were "co-conspirators" in a scheme to accept cash in return for obtaining the liquor license.
In federal affidavits the businessman, who worked with investigators, is referred to only as a "cooperating witness," or "Witness A" but has since identified himself as Ron Wilburn, a 69-year-old former Wilkerson backer.
According to the indictments, Wilburn gave Wilkerson a total of $6,500 at five different meetings between the two. Wilkerson is also charged with accepting additional pay-offs from federal agents posing as out of town businessmen.
Turner is charged with accepting a single $1,000 bribe from Wilburn.
Read Wilkerson Criminal Complaint
Read the Turner criminal complaint
Wilkerson, who lost a reelection bid and resigned after being indicted,
remains free on $50,000 unsecured bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 22.
Turner has not resigned and has held several public rallies, including one in front of Boston City Hall, to protest his innocence -- at one point suggesting he may be guilty of nothing more than a campaign finance violation.
"The US Attorney's charge is not that I accepted the alleged money from Mr. Wilburn. Cash contributions below $50 are legal. Even if the alleged money was $1,000, I would be guilty of a campaign finance violation, not extortion," Turner said in an e-mail after his arrest.
"The US Attorney will have to prove not only that I forced Mr. Wilburn to give me money to provide the service of obtaining a liquor license but also that I conducted activities specifically designed to obtain a license," he added. "I know they can prove neither charge since neither of the alleged activities took place."
If convicted, Wilkerson could face up to 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the nine charges.
Turner faces up to 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the extortion and conspiracy charges. He also faces up to five years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the three charges of making false statements.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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