BOSTON -- A federal investigation into alleged public corruption in the city widened Friday with the arrest of a long-time Boston city councilor known for his community activism in one of the city's predominantly African-American districts.

Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner was arrested by federal agents Friday morning, charged with taking a $1,000 bribe and later lying to federal officials about it.

Turner, 68, was arrested at Boston City Hall and was scheduled to appear in Federal Court in Worcester, Mass., later on Friday, FBI officials said.

In a criminal complaint released by the U.S. attorney's office, Turner was charged with attempted extortion under color of official right and making false statements.

According to the affidavit, Turner took a $1,000 bribe from a confidential informant in exchange for his efforts to secure a liquor license for a proposed nightclub in the Crosstown area of Roxbury.

Turner had been working to set up City Council hearings on creating more liquor licenses in the city, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit alleges that the informant met with Turner in the city councilor's Roxbury office in August 2007 and gave Turner the money, saying, "You take your wife to dinner and ... have some fun," while Turner accepted the money, smiling, and saying "OK."

The FBI released surveillance photos of Turner allegedly taking the money. Investigators said they attempted to give Turner more cash at his City Council office later, but were prevented from doing because his assistant intruded on the transaction.

Former State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson was arrested last month and indicted this week on charges of allegedly taking more than $23,000 in bribes in exchange for getting the proposed Dejavu nightclub a liquor license and for her aid in a land development deal in her district, which is also Turner's City Council district in Roxbury.

Undercover photos of Wilkerson allegedly stuffing thousands of dollars into her bra at a Beacon Hill area restaurant were released as part of the investigation. Wilkerson resigned her Senate seat this week. She had already lost it to Sonia-Chang Diaz in the Democratic primary.

The complaint filed against Turner alleges that Turner was questioned by the FBI after Wilkerson was arrested. It says he acknowledged that he had talked to the chairman of the Boston Licensing Board, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission and the City Council president about the liquor license issue, but he denied knowing or ever taking cash from the confidential informant.

He allegedly commented about political corruption to the agents, saying, "If you took out all the corrupt politicians, you'd take out 90 percent and be left with us 10 percent."

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said he did not think Turner's arrest was a sign that the bribery scandal is spreading from the State House to Boston City Hall.

"It's one individual. It's not City Hall. You can't judge a body by one individual. It's so unfortunate that things like this do happen in our business," Menino said.

City Council president Maureen Feeney removed Turner from his City Council committees, including his chairmanship of the committees on Education and Human Rights, pending further investigation.

She also said the council will hold a special meeting Monday to discuss the corruption probe.

"I am deeply saddened by the news this morning. These charges are disturbing and shake an already fragile public trust in elected leaders," Feeney said. "If these charges prove true, I will not let the actions of one member cast a dark cloud over this entire body."

At Turner's City Hall office, his staff said they had no comment about the arrest.

"Business goes on as usual. The constituents get help the same way they've been getting help all these years," an unidentified Turner aide said.

Daniel F. Pokaski, the chairman of the Boston Licensing Board, also would not make any comment about the case.

Federal officials said the public deserves and expects honest service from public officials.

"Public officials who line their pockets with cash while claiming to act in the public interest, violate our laws and the trust and confidence of the public we serve," U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan said.

Turner told the Jamaica Plain Gazette newspaper that an undercover FBI agent had visited his office in September 2007 wearing a hidden camera in an apparent "sting operation," as it investigated Wilkerson, but claimed it was an attempt to entrap him and intimidate his staff.

He said he has never taken a bribe.

First elected in 1999, the Harvard-educated Turner represents Boston's District 7, which includes Roxbury, Lower Roxbury, and parts of the Fenway, South End, Dorchester. The Ohio native has been a community activist in the city for more than 40 years.

If convicted, Turner faces up to 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on the attempted extortion charge.

He faces five years in imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on the false statements charge.

Turner Constituents React

In Roxbury's Dudley Square, his constituents reacted with dismay and disbelief to the news of his arrest.

"Oh man, that's the first I've heard of that. That's devastating," one man said.

"That's not news to me. That's not the Chuck Turner I know," another man said.

"He's supposed to be representing me. Well, if he's doing that, he wasn't representing me. He was representing himself," a third man said.

Others said they thought Wilkerson has been implicating others since her arrest, and while people entering and leaving the councilor's Roxbury home had no comment to make, others said they suspected a conspiracy.

"I think the ball is rolling to stop black people from furthering themselves in this world," another constituent said, while still others said there shouldn't be any rush to judgment.

"There could be some truth. Who knows? I just hope they do get down to the bottom of this, but it just doesn't sound right to me," said another man.