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e FBI arrested state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson this morning after an 18-month, “painstaking” undercover sting investigation during which the Roxbury legislator was allegedly caught on video stuffing a cash bribe into her bra, according to federal officials.
“Dianne Wilkerson accepted these cash payments in exchange for her official duties and responsibilities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan during a morning news conference at the federal courthouse.
Wilkerson will be charged this afternoon in federal court with attempted extortion under color of official right and theft of honest services as a state senator, stemming from a money-for-legislation sting operation, officials said.
A federal criminal complaint alleges that Wilkerson was busted for accepting more than $20,000 in cash payments to introduce legislation in the Senate.
One undercover video shows Wilkerson allegedly taking a wad of cash from an undercover agent and stuffing into her bra, according to the complaint.
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.
The complaint alleges that 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.
The complaint also alleges that 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 also allegedly proposed to introduce legislation which directly designated a property to a private entity for development in order to avoid the ordinary bidding process.
Wilkerson left her Roxbury home this morning with about 20 law enforcement officers, according to neighbors. One neighbor said her hands were behind her back.
Wilkerson was defeated in the Democratic primary by Sonia Chang-Diaz, but has launched a sticker campaign in the general election.
At about 9:30 a.m. today, four Wilkerson supporters who stood across the street from her Roxbury home handed out political brochures in support of Wilkerson’s sticker campaign.
A message left in Wilkerson’s State House office this morning was not immediately returned.
Wilkerson’s campaign manager Boyce Slayman declined comment until more details are released.
“I can’t give a statement right now,” he said.
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