United States v. Dianne Wilkerson

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Before Lynch, Chief Judge, Torruella and Thompson, Circuit Judges.

Defendant-appellant Dianne Wilkerson, a former state senator in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to federal charges of attempted extortion (18 U.S.C. § 1951) based on her acceptance of money offered in exchange for her favorable influence in her official capacity. Her crime involved two separate matters: the issuance of a liquor license for a new club, and the sale and development of a parcel of publicly-owned land. After she pleaded guilty, the district court received a lengthy presentence report, and conducted a thorough sentencing hearing. Before imposing sentence, the district court stated its reasons in some detail. It imposed a prison term of forty-two months, which was near the middle of the applicable range under the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The defense takes issue with three separate conclusions that it attributes to the district court, based on the court’s statement of reasons in support of the sentence imposed. First, in relation to a prior conviction for failure to file tax returns, Wilkerson released a public statement in which she said “[f]or public officials, there should be a higher expectation about how we conduct even our personal affairs. This is a personal tax matter.”

More From ALM

Discover how AI is transforming small law firms with increased efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. This latest report reveals key insights from a 2024 survey, showcasing how professionals are leveraging AI to improve billable hours and client services. Download now to explore the benefits and elevate your legal practice.

The Positive Impact of AI at Small Law Firms: 4 Key Insights

Brought to you by LexisNexis®
Download Now

Premium Subscription

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now

Team Accounts

Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now

Bundle Subscriptions

Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now

From Data to Decisions

Dynamically explore and compare data on law firms, companies, individual lawyers, and industry trends.

Exclusive Depth and Reach.

Law.com Compass includes access to our exclusive industry reports, combining the unmatched expertise of our analyst team with ALM’s deep bench of proprietary information to provide insights that can’t be found anywhere else.

Big Pictures and Fine Details

Law.com Compass delivers you the full scope of information, from the rankings of the Am Law 200 and NLJ 500 to intricate details and comparisons of firms’ financials, staffing, clients, news and events.

The National Law Journal Legal Awards 2024

October 24, 2024
Georgetown, Washington D.C.

The National Law Journal honors attorneys & judges who've made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in the D.C. area.

Learn More

New York Legal Awards 2024

September 05, 2024
New York, NY

The New York Law Journal honors attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in New York.

Learn More

African Legal Awards 2024

September 06, 2024
Johannesburg

The African Legal Awards recognise exceptional achievement within Africa s legal community during a period of rapid change.

Learn More