In 2018, James “Whitey” Bulger, one of America’s most notorious gangsters, was killed in his cell at the U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton in West Virginia by three inmates who knew he was being transferred there. Fotios “Freddy” Geas, Paul J. DeCologero, and Sean McKinnon were the inmates involved in the killing, with Geas and DeCologero delivering fatal blows while McKinnon served as a lookout. These inmates have reached plea deals and now await sentencing, although the details of these agreements have not been disclosed. Bulger, who was 89 at the time of his death, had a violent and criminal past, being involved in multiple murders and working as an FBI informant.
Bulger was known as a “rat” and a “snitch” for his role as an FBI informant, putting him at risk of being targeted by other criminals. He was convicted for his involvement in 11 of the 19 murders he was charged with. The FBI recently released documents related to Bulger, shedding light on some of his criminal activities. One document revealed that Bulger took notes in a steno notebook, including mundane details like grocery shopping and cut-up papaya, which indicate his day-to-day life. Another document detailed how the FBI tracked Bulger and various criminal groups in the Boston area for loan-sharking activities in the early ’70s.
The FBI reports also mentioned Bulger’s involvement in a horse-racing scam in the ’70s, where jockeys were bribed, and horses were drugged at major race events. Bulger’s name was redacted in later federal court documents around the same time he began working as an FBI informant. Eventually, FBI agent John Connolly tipped off Bulger about law enforcement closing in on him, leading Bulger to flee Boston and go on the run for 16 years before being captured in California. Bulger was involved in extortion and murder while also being an informant, showcasing his violent and manipulative nature.
The court filings and FBI documents around Bulger’s case provide insight into his criminal activities and connections with law enforcement. The violent death of Bulger in prison at the hands of fellow inmates highlights the dangers he faced due to his criminal past and betrayal of fellow criminals as an FBI informant. Bulger’s reputation as a ruthless and dangerous criminal was further solidified through the court proceedings and revelations about his involvement in various criminal activities over the years. The plea deals reached by the inmates involved in Bulger’s murder shed light on the complex and dangerous world of organized crime and the consequences faced by those involved in such activities.
