Wilkerson Watch: Cooperating Witness Wilburn

According to the Globe, state senator Dianne Wilkerson's longtime political pal Ron Wilburn may have been the "cooperating witness" (CW) behind the FBI operation against Wilkerson. The FBI isn't revealing its sources, but Wilkerson aides claim--and FBI footage seems to confirm--that Wilburn is the man who bribed Wilkerson to get him a liquor license.

The Globe calls Wilburn a "gentlemanly" entrepreneur and a significant figure in the minority community. He was a friend of Bertram M. Lee and had helped various minority business ventures. Most recently, Wilburn helped manage the Mirage at Estelle's nightclub in Roxbury, which closed in early 2007. Soon after the closure of the club (which had served as the venue for many Wilkerson fundraisers), the CW approached the FBI with allegations that Wilkerson was accepting bribes from constituents. The CW first paid off Wilkerson in June 2007.

Saying it's "unusual" for someone without a criminal background to participate in an investigation of this nature, the Globe wonders why Wilburn would have cooperated with the FBI on this venture. If/when the Wilkerson case goes to trial, the identity of the CW will be revealed.