BOSTON, MA—A federal grand jury sitting in Boston today returned additional felony charges against Former Massachusetts State Senator DIANNE WILKERSON in an ongoing public corruption probe. The new charges brought against WILKERSON include 23 counts of theft of honest services mail and wire fraud.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Office and Police Commissioner Edward Davis of the Boston Police Department announced today that a grand jury returned a Second Superseding Indictment against DIANNE WILKERSON, 53, of Boston and CHARLES “CHUCK” TURNER, 68, of Boston. The Second Superseding Indictment adds nine counts of theft of honest services mail fraud and 14 counts of theft of honest services wire fraud against WILKERSON.

The charges returned today were added to the already pending charges against WILKERSON and TURNER. WILKERSON now stands charged with one count of conspiring to extort cash under color of official right, eight counts of attempted extortion under color of official right and the 23 counts added today. TURNER remains charged with conspiring to extort cash under color of official right, one count of attempted extortion under color of official right and three counts of making false statements to FBI agents. The Second Superseding Indictment also seeks forfeiture of the funds paid to Wilkerson and Turner by undercover agents and a cooperating witness as part of an 18 month covert investigation into their alleged corrupt activities.

If convicted WILKERSON faces up to 20 years imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the 32 charges. If convicted TURNER faces up to 20 years imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the two extortion charges. TURNER also faces up to 5 years imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of the three false statement charges.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Boston Police Department Anti-Corruption Unit and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation - Boston Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. McNeil and James P. Dowden in Sullivan’s Criminal Division.

The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.