Former State Senator Diane Wilkerson and Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner were today indicted by a federal grand jury on conspiracy charges relating to the issuance of a liquor license in Boston. From the Boston Globe:

City Councilor Chuck Turner and former state Senator Dianne Wilkerson were charged for the first time today with conspiracy, adding another allegation to an ongoing federal bribery sting that has upended City Hall and Beacon Hill.

A federal grand jury issued an indictment alleging that Turner and Wilkerson worked together to extort money from a businessman seeking a liquor license for a nightclub in their district. The 17-page indictment does not describe any new evidence against either politician. It is, however, the first time that the grand jury has jointly charged Turner and Wilkerson in the corruption investigation.

The indictment also charged Turner with three separate counts of making false statements, detailing three specific instances in which he allegedly lied to FBI agents about accepting a $1,000 bribe. He is now charged with five felonies and is expected to be arraigned in US District Court on Wednesday afternoon.

Quite a busy day for courthouses across the country.