Wilkerson, Turner face more corruption charges

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday announced more charges against former Boston state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson. A federal grand jury sitting in Boston returned 23 new charges, all comprised of theft of honest services mail and wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan's office said.

The Department of Justice announced that a grand jury had returned a superseding indictment against Wilkerson and Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner, adding the new charges to last November's indictment. If convicted, Wilkerson faces up to 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the 32 charges. If convicted, Turner faces up to 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the two extortion charges. Turner also faces up to five years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine on each of the three false statement charges.

The second indictment seeks forfeiture of alleged bribes Wilkerson and Turner received from undercover agents and a cooperating witness. Announced last year after an 18-month undercover investigation, the federal charges rocked the state's political establishment and contributed to voter anger toward Beacon Hill.

Read the new indictment.

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