Whitey Bulger Found Guilty on 31 of 32 Counts, was Involved in 11 Murders
James "Whitey" Bulger, a notorious gangster in Boston, was convicted of 31 out of 32 charges, including involvement in 11 murders. His criminal activities spanned the 1970s and 1980s, during which he led the Winter Hill Gang, engaging in racketeering, extortion, and drug trafficking, while also corrupting law enforcement. Bulger's trial in 2013 revealed testimony from 77 witnesses regarding his criminal deeds, and he faced charges for 19 murders in total. Although he maintained that he was not an informant for the FBI, there were documented connections between him and corrupt agents. After evading capture for 16 years, Bulger was apprehended in 2011, found with a significant amount of cash and weapons. In November 2013, he was sentenced to two life terms in prison and ordered to pay restitution to the victims' families. His life and crimes have inspired various media portrayals, including the acclaimed film "The Departed." Bulger's story highlights issues of organized crime and law enforcement corruption in America.
Whitey Bulger Found Guilty on 31 of 32 Counts, was Involved in 11 Murders
Whitey Bulger Found Guilty on 31 of 32 Counts, was Involved in 11 Murders
James “Whitey” Bulger, considered Boston's most notorious gangster, was arrested on June 22, 2011 in his apartment in Santa Monica, California with an arsenal of weapons and $822,000 in cash.
In the summer of 2013, Bulger stood trial for 19 murders in addition to racketeering, extortion, money laundering, and weapons possession. Jurors heard, from 77 witnesses, that Bulger, as head of a South Boston crime organization in the 1970s and 1980s, participated in 11 of 19 murders for which he was accused. He had also trafficked marijuana and cocaine, extorted money from drug dealers and book makers, and corrupted law enforcement officials. Bulger was convicted of these crimes on August 12, 2013.
Bulger chose not to testify. Although he denied being an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, links between some corrupt agents in Boston and Bulger's Winter Hill Gang have been documented. Bulger was on the run for 16 years before his arrest, and it is suspected that the FBI helped him to escape.
On November 14, 2013, District Court Judge Denise Casper sentenced Bulger to two life sentences, and ordered him to pay $19.5 million in restitution to the families of his murder victims.
Bulger's long-time girlfriend Catherine Greig was convicted of identity fraud and harboring a fugitive. She was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
Aspects of Bulger's life have been the basis for numerous books, television shows, and movies, most notably Martin Scorsese's 2006 film The Departed.