Massachusetts state Senator Dianne Wilkerson was arrested by the FBI on public corruption charges Tuesday morning following an 18-month undercover investigation.
The Democratic Senator was caught on tape stuffing bribe money into her bra and taking payoffs to push through a Roxbury nightclub liquor license. She is being charged with attempted extortion and theft of honest services as a state senator, stemming from a money-for-legislation sting operation.
Wilkerson stands accused of accepting eight bribes, totaling $23,500, in exchange for her influence on Beacon Hill.
The complaint alleges that:
In exchange for payment, Wilkerson pressured the Boston Licensing Board, the mayor and the City Council and held up pending legislation in the Senate, including legislation increasing the salaries of the Boston Licensing Board.
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.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 the Dejavu nightclub in Roxbury.
Wilkerson proposed that an undercover agent, posing as an out-of-state businessman, become involved in the development of a piece of state property in Roxbury.
Wilkerson proposed legislation that directly designated a property to a private entity for development in order to avoid the ordinary bidding process.
Senate Republicans called for Wilkerson’s resignation today as word spread that she had been arrested on federal corruption charges.
“This has moved far beyond the sad transgressions of her past,” Senate Majority Leader Richard R. Tisei said in a statement. “The latest charges brought against Senator Wilkerson rise to a whole new level, and significantly tarnish the reputation not only of the Massachusetts Senate, but government as a whole.”
Wilkerson has been embroiled in her fair share of scandals during her 15 years in office, including tax evasion.
If convicted, the senator could face up to 20 years in prison on each count.
View surveillance photos and video of charges against Diane Wilkerson below.