The city of Boston said that interviews with at least five people suggested that Wynn Resorts was aware that a convicted felon had a stake in the land it acquired to build a casino.

In a recent court filing on Thursday, the city argued for casting a wider net for gathering evidences in the civil lawsuit it filed against Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC). The city said that the witnesses told the gaming commission investigators that Wynn representatives were informed of or discussed Charles Lightbody’s ownership stake before acquiring the 30-acre property on the Everett waterfront across from Boston.

Lightbody, a convicted felon with reputed ties to gangsters, was one of four members of FBT Everett Realty, a trust that paid $8m for the waterfront property in 2009.

An interview with Stephen Tocco, Wynn’s political consultant, showed that Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria had mentioned Lightbody in a conversation prior to Wynn purchasing the land.