Black Plague
11-20-2008, 01:53 AM
http://wcbstv.com/watercooler/dianne.wilkerson.bribery.2.851440.html
http://i37.tinypic.com/2gv4y2h.jpg
BOSTON (AP) ― A state senator who lost the Democratic primary last month was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday and charged with accepting $23,500 in bribes from undercover agents she believed were local businessmen.
Sen. Dianne Wilkerson was charged with attempted extortion as a public official and theft of honest services as a state senator. She did not enter a plea during an initial court appearance Tuesday.
She faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines on each count.
The new charges are the latest in a string of troubles to plague the lawmaker, Massachusetts' only black state senator.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Wilkerson was recorded by audio and videotape accepting bribes in exchange for helping a proposed nightclub in her district get a liquor license. She also allegedly accepted payments for helping an undercover officer posing as a businessman who wanted to develop state property in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood.
http://i33.tinypic.com/24cd548.jpg
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134703/posts
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081119/ap_on_re_us/state_senator_indicted;_ylt=AkIfZ7A4h.zY5fNOliFk8y PLLJ94
BOSTON – A Massachusetts state senator photographed while allegedly stuffing thousands of dollars in bribe money into her sweater has resigned.
Dianne Wilkerson's resignation was announced Wednesday by state Senate President Therese Murray. Wilkerson was indicted a day before on eight counts of attempted extortion.
The Democrat had faced increasing pressure to step down and possible expulsion by her Senate colleagues since she was arrested last month.
http://i37.tinypic.com/2gv4y2h.jpg
BOSTON (AP) ― A state senator who lost the Democratic primary last month was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday and charged with accepting $23,500 in bribes from undercover agents she believed were local businessmen.
Sen. Dianne Wilkerson was charged with attempted extortion as a public official and theft of honest services as a state senator. She did not enter a plea during an initial court appearance Tuesday.
She faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines on each count.
The new charges are the latest in a string of troubles to plague the lawmaker, Massachusetts' only black state senator.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Wilkerson was recorded by audio and videotape accepting bribes in exchange for helping a proposed nightclub in her district get a liquor license. She also allegedly accepted payments for helping an undercover officer posing as a businessman who wanted to develop state property in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood.
http://i33.tinypic.com/24cd548.jpg
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134703/posts
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081119/ap_on_re_us/state_senator_indicted;_ylt=AkIfZ7A4h.zY5fNOliFk8y PLLJ94
BOSTON – A Massachusetts state senator photographed while allegedly stuffing thousands of dollars in bribe money into her sweater has resigned.
Dianne Wilkerson's resignation was announced Wednesday by state Senate President Therese Murray. Wilkerson was indicted a day before on eight counts of attempted extortion.
The Democrat had faced increasing pressure to step down and possible expulsion by her Senate colleagues since she was arrested last month.