By John Ruch November 20, 2008

City Councilor Chuck Turner was arrested by the FBI today on charges of accepting a $1,000 bribe and lying to federal agents about it, according to the US Attorney’s Office. The charges are part of the FBI’s investigation of former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, who was arrested last month on bribe-taking charges.

The Gazette first revealed the FBI’s undercover investigation of Turner last week. In that exclusive interview with Turner, he said he has never taken bribes and accused the FBI of attempting to “entrap” him.

“I know they don’t have any evidence I was taking bribes,” Turner told the Gazette in that interview. “I know I didn’t take anything…It shows, to my mind, how corrupt the FBI is.”

The US Attorney’s Office released a still image from FBI undercover footage allegedly showing Turner accepting a handful of cash.

Turner, who represents the Egleston Square area, faces 25 years in prison and $500,000 in fines on the charges, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

See the Dec. 5 Gazette and this web site for more updates.