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James J. Bulger

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<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">James J.Bulger
James J.Bulger</td></tr>
James J.Bulger
FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive
Born: September 3, 1929
Crime: Racketeering influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) - Murder (18 counts),
Conspiracy to commit murder,
Conspiracy to commit extortion,
Narcotics distribution,
Conspiracy to commit Money laundering,
Extortion,
Money laundering
Date Added: August 19, 1999
Number on List: #458

<tr><th style="text-align:center; font-family:Georgia, serif; font-weight:bold; color:#fff; background-color:#00c; font-size:90%;" colspan="2">Currently Top Ten Fugitive</th></tr>

An FBI composite of how Bulger may look.

James Joseph "Whitey" Bulger (born on September 3, 1929) is a wanted fugitive and alleged leader, along with fellow mobster Stephen Flemmi, of the Winter Hill Gang, an Irish American organized crime group operating in the area of Boston, Massachusetts. He is the brother of William Michael "Billy" Bulger who rose to become President of the Massachusetts State Senate and president of the University of Massachusetts while "Whitey" was rising in the ranks of his mob.

On August 19, 1999 Bulger became the 458th Ten Most Wanted fugitive listed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and as such he currently remains wanted for racketeering (under the "RICO" act), murder, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit extortion, narcotics distribution, conspiracy to commit money laundering, extortion, and money laundering.

Contents

[edit] Life

Bulger was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts to Irish immigrant parents. When he was a small child, his parents moved to South Boston, Massachusetts, a neighborhood he would later rule with an iron fist. As a juvenile he was a member of the Shamrocks street gang. He was later convicted for bank robbery and spent time in Alcatraz before being released in 1965. After a brief stint as a janitor, he returned to the criminal life. He became an enforcer for South Boston's Killeen brothers and served them in their war against the Mullen gang. After Howie Winter of the Winter Hill Gang mediated their dispute, the two gangs joined forces with Winter as overall boss.<ref> Patrick Nee, "A Criminal and an Irishman," pages 127-134.</ref> Shortly thereafter, Whitey and his new partner Stephen Flemmi became FBI informants in the Top Echelon Criminal Informant Program under Special Agents H. Paul Rico and John Connolly, both of whom would become their partners in crime.

When Howie Winter and most of his organization's leadership were arrested for fixing horse races in 1979, the FBI persuaded Federal prosecutors to drop all charges against Bulger and Flemmi. Bulger and Flemmi then took over the remnants of the Winter Hill Gang and used their status as informants to eliminate competition from both rival Irish-American gangsters and the Italian-American Patriarca crime family, which was based in the North End, Boston and in Federal Hill, Providence. Bulger and Flemmi manipulated the ensuing vacuum to consolidate their control of organized crime in and around Boston.

After being warned by now-imprisoned FBI agent John Connolly that he was about to be indicted, Bulger, along with his girlfriend Catherine Greig, fled prosecution in 1995. Shortly thereafter, Whitey's longtime confidant Kevin Weeks, horrified by the revelation that Bulger and Flemmi had been ratting on their own underlings, cut a deal with Federal prosecutors. Weeks knew where every penny, and body, was buried. Whitey Bulger is currently on the FBI Ten Most Wanted list and a reward for US $1 million is being offered for information leading to his capture.

The last confirmed sighting of Bulger was in London in 2002, though in late July 2005, FBI agents were sent to Uruguay to investigate a lead.

Bulger is the older brother of John "Jackie" Bulger, a retired Massachusetts court clerk magistrate who was convicted in April 2003 of perjury to two grand juries regarding testimony he gave about contact with Whitey. Another brother is William "Billy" Bulger, former president of both the Massachusetts State Senate and, after that, the University of Massachusetts. In testimony before Congress, Billy Bulger admitted to speaking to his brother after he fled [1]. As fall-out from those remarks, Billy was forced to resign, by Governor Mitt Romney, as president of the University of Massachusetts in 2003.

Bulger is also a 1991 lottery winner. His share of the winnings amounted to $1.6 million - $80,000 a year for 20 years.[1]

[edit] Murders

Bulger is wanted on 18 counts of murder, including those of the following victims:

  • Louis Litif
Louie Litif, an Arab-American bookmaker based in South Boston, was a longtime reliable moneymaker for Bulger and Flemmi. In the late 1970s, however, he began dealing drugs without paying protection and allegedly committed a string of murders without Bulger's permission.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal; My Life in Whitey Bulger's Irish Mob," pages 55-58 </ref> In April of 1980, Litif's nephew found his body stuffed in the trunk of his car, which had been dumped in the South End, Boston. He had been stabbed with an ice pick and shot in the head.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," Page 59 </ref> Kevin Weeks writes that Bulger later joked, "He was color coordinated. He was wearing green underwear and was in a green garbage bag."<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 59 </ref> At Weeks' wedding in April 26, Whitey pointed to the empty chair next to him and cracked, "Say hi to Louie."<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 59 </ref> Flemmi then made a show of wiping his face with a napkin and joked, "He keeps drinking and it keeps on leaking out of him."<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 59 </ref> The whole table burst out laughing in response.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 59 </ref>
  • Debra Davis
Debra Davis began having an affair with Stephen Flemmi when she was only seventeen.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 73. </ref> At the age of 26, Flemmi came to believe that she was dumping him for another man whom she had met while on vacation in Mexico.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 72. </ref> Raging with jealousy, Flemmi lured her to his parents house at 832 East Third Street in South Boston.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 72. </ref> Kevin Weeks states that it is "open to debate" who strangled her,<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," pages 72-73. </ref> but it is known that she was buried by Bulger and Flemmi at low tide under the Neponset railroad bridge in Quincy, Massachusetts.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 73. </ref> Flemmi later traveled to Mexico in an unsuccessful quest to find and murder the man who had taken his place in Debra's affections.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 73. </ref>
  • Debra Hussey
Deborah Hussey, the daughter of Stephen Flemmi's common law wife Marion Hussey, was lured to the house at 799 East Third Street in the spring of 1985. Flemmi was angered that she had been working as a stripper in the North End, Boston, doing drugs, and bringing black men to the house that Flemmi shared with her mother in suburban Milford, Massachusetts.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," pages 120-121, 123</ref> In addition, she had allegedly threatened to tell her mother about her one time affair with Flemmi.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 123 </ref> After she arrived, Stephen Flemmi and Whitey Bulger strangled and garroted her in the parlor of the house as Kevin Weeks watched.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," pages 121-122.</ref> The three gangsters buried her in the basement after Flemmi pulled out her teeth with a set of pliers.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 122.</ref> Her body was later removed to a wooded gully in Dorchester.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," pages 123-125</ref> After Kevin Weeks cooperated with the authorities and exposed the murder, Stephen Flemmi was disowned by Marion Hussey and by their children.
  • Bucky Barrett
  • John McIntyre
John McIntyre was an associate of Charlestown, Massachusetts drug smuggler Joe Murray, who relied on Bulger, Flemmi, and Weeks for his muscle.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 113. </ref> After the failure of an attempt to smuggle seven tons of guns to the IRA aboard the fishing trawler Valhallah, McIntyre was arrested by Customs agents and revealed what he knew.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," pages 113-116. </ref> Prior to being released, Customs agents gave him $20,000 with orders to wear a wire on his bosses.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 117. </ref> On November 30, 1984, Joe Murray handed McIntyre over to Bulger, Flemmi, and Weeks at the South Boston house at 779 East Third Street.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 117. </ref> McIntyre was mentally terrorized for several hours before being taken to the basement.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," pages 117-118. </ref> After failing to strangle McIntyre, Bulger asked him if he wanted "one in the head."<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," pages 118-119. </ref> When McIntyre said yes, Bulger shot him in the back of the head with a .22 caliber rifle before turning him over and pumping 5-6 more bullets into his face.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 119. </ref> His teeth were pulled out with pliers by Flemmi, who was barely prevented from cutting open the body to have a look inside.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 119. </ref> "See," cracked Bulger, "I told you Doctor Mengele was crazy." <ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 119. </ref> The body was then buried in the basement,<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," page 119. </ref> later being dug up and buried in a secluded gully in Dorchester, Massachusetts.<ref> Kevin Weeks, "Brutal," pages 123-125. </ref> Prior to the cooperation of Kevin Weeks, John McIntyre's family believed that British Intelligence was responsible for his disappearance.<ref> John Loftus and Emily McIntyre, "Valhallah's Wake," Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989. </ref>
  • Brian Halloran
  • Michael Donahue
  • Paulie McGonigle
  • Donald McGonigle
  • Richie Castucci
  • Eddie Conners
Three of these murders are believed by the FBI to have occurred in the same house between 1983 and 1985.

[edit] Press relations

Author Howie Carr provides an explanation in his book The Brothers Bulger on why the press failed to more vigorously pursue Whitey. When Boston Herald reporter Paul Corsetti began looking into Whitey's possible involvement in a gangland murder, he ran into a stranger in a bar. The stranger told Corsetti, "I'm Jimmy Bulger and I kill people," and pulled out a piece of paper from which he recited Corsetti's address in Medford; the make, model, and license number of his family's cars; and information about Corsetti's preschool daughter's day care. This incident caused Corsetti to wear a .38-caliber revolver to work, and discouraged the Boston media from investigating Bulger again for a number of years.<ref name=AchWhit>[2] Edward Achorn, "The Anti-Brahmins: Not every Massachusetts dynasty is great," a review of The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston For a Quarter Century by Howie Carr in The Weekly Standard magazine, issue of July 24, 2006</ref>

In addition, many columnists, especially those working for The Boston Globe, were friendly towards Billy Bulger and downplayed Whitey's criminal enterprises, portraying the gangster as a latter-day 'Robin Hood,' who kept drugs out of South Boston.

According to former associate Kevin Weeks, Whitey was highly fond of reading the newspapers and laughing hysterically at all they got wrong in their coverage of him. "The Boston press is not known for its accuracy," he was fond of saying, "and they never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

[edit] Description

  • Hair: White/Silver
  • Eyes: Blue
  • Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
  • Complexion: Light
  • Weight: 150 to 160 lb (68 to 73 kg)
  • Sex: Male
  • Build: Medium

[edit] Known Medications

Bulger was last known to be using atenolol, a heart medication in 50 milligram doses. As a person who loves dogs, as he is known to frequent animal shelters, this medication is also a prescription drug used to treat heart ailments in dogs. This drug can only be obtained through a Veterinarian.

[edit] Possible Location

Bulger was reportedly last seen in San Diego, in October of 2006.

[edit] Weapons

Bulger is said to carry a knife on him at all times.

[edit] Aliases

  • Thomas F. Baxter - a name Bulger created in 1971.
  • Mark Shapeton
  • Tom Harris
  • Tom Marshall
  • Jimmy Bulger,
  • "Whitey"

[edit] Notable Possessions

He has an Irish passport in his own name.

[edit] Crimes

The FBI wants to apprehend Bulger on the following charges:

[edit] FBI rebuked

A US District Court judge found on September 5 2006 that the mishandling of Bulger and his associate, Stephen Flemmi caused the murder in 1984 of John McIntyre in a lawsuit brought by the victim's family who will receive more than $3 million from the US government. The judge stated that the FBI failed to properly supervise their own agent John Connolly (convicted and jailed in 2002) and also failed to investigate numerous allegations that Bulger and Flemmi were involved in drug trafficking, murder, and other crimes over decades.<ref>"FBI found liable for Bulger, Flemmi", The Boston Globe, 2006-09-06.</ref>

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

<references />

[edit] References

  • The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston For a Quarter Century, by Howie Carr, Warner, 352 pp., ISBN 0-446-57651-4
  • Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill, Harper, 424 pp., ISBN 0-06-095925-8
  • Street Soldier; My Life as an Enforcer for "Whitey" Bulger and the Boston Irish Mob by Edward MacKenzie and Phyllis Karas, Steerforth, 256 pp., ISBN 1-58642-076-3
  • Brutal; My Life Inside Whitey Bulger's Irish Mob by Kevin Weeks and Phyllis Karas, Regan Books, 304 pp., ISBN 0-06-112269-6

[edit] External links

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