Fotios “Freddy” Geas, an ex-Mafia enforcer serving a life sentence, was given an additional 25 years by a judge for the 2018 bludgeoning death of New England crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger inside a federal prison. Geas pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury for attacking Bulger, who was repeatedly battered in the head with a lock attached to a belt shortly after arriving at USP Hazelton in West Virginia.
Geas had been in prison since 2011 for various crimes, including the 2003 killing of Genovese crime boss Adolfo “Big Al” Bruno. Bulger had been moved to the prison from Florida, and inmates were made aware of his arrival. Two other inmates were also charged for their roles in Bulger’s murder, with Massachusetts gangster Paul DeCologero receiving an additional four years in prison for assault. DeCologero acted as a lookout for Geas during the attack.
Inmate Sean McKinnon, who was serving a sentence for stealing firearms, pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about Bulger’s death. McKinnon received no additional prison time and was released from custody. The plea deals for the three men were disclosed in May, with Geas and DeCologero being identified early as suspects but not charged until 2022. Bulger’s placement in the general prison population, rather than protective custody, raised concerns following his murder.
James “Whitey” Bulger was a notorious crime boss who ran the Irish mob in Boston in the 1970s and ’80s. He was also an FBI informant who provided the agency with information on his gang’s rivals. After fleeing Boston in 1994 upon learning of an impending indictment, he spent over 16 years as a fugitive before being captured in California at the age of 81. Bulger was convicted in 2013 for 11 killings and numerous other crimes, many of which were committed while he was reportedly working as an FBI informant.
The circumstances surrounding Bulger’s murder in prison led to additional charges for those involved in the attack. Fotios “Freddy” Geas, already serving a life sentence, was given an additional 25 years for his role in Bulger’s death, during which he repeatedly battered the crime boss in the head. Other inmates, such as Paul DeCologero and Sean McKinnon, were also charged for their involvement in the assault. The decision to place Bulger in the general prison population instead of protective custody sparked criticism of prison officials.
Bulger’s criminal activities and FBI informant status added to his infamy, making him one of the nation’s most wanted fugitives before his capture in California. His murder in prison revealed the violent consequences of his criminal past and his connections to other inmates involved in organized crime. The additional charges and sentences for Geas, DeCologero, and McKinnon highlighted the ongoing repercussions of Bulger’s criminal career and his death in a federal prison.
