Former Boston crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger was led off to prison Thursday to begin serving a life sentence at 84 for his murderous reign in the 1970s and ’80s, accepting his punishment in stone-faced silence even as a judge castigated him for his “almost unfathomable” depravity.
Bulger’s sentencing brought to close a sordid case that exposed FBI complicity in his crimes and left a trail of devastated families whose loved ones — fathers, uncles, brothers and sisters — were killed by Bulger or his henchmen.
Many of the relatives had vented their anger at Bulger during the first day of his sentencing hearing on Wednesday, calling him a “terrorist,” a “punk” and “Satan.”
When U.S. District Judge Denise Casper announced the punishment and Bulger was led from the courtroom, there were no shouts of joy or applause from the families, just silence.
Afterward, many said they took some comfort in knowing that Bulger will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
“He’s going to die in prison,” said Tom Donahue, whose father was gunned down by Bulger after he happened to offer a ride home to a man who was Bulger’s actual target.
Bulger, the former boss of the Winter Hill Gang, Boston’s Irish mob, fled the city in 1994 after being tipped off by a former FBI agent that he was about to be indicted. He was a fugitive for more than 16 years until he was captured in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2011.
His disappearance became a major embarrassment for the FBI when it was learned that corrupt Boston agents had taken bribes from Bulger and protected him for years while he worked as an FBI informant, feeding information on the rival New England Mafia.
A jury convicted Bulger in August in a broad racketeering case. He was found guilty in 11 of the 19 killings he was accused of, along with dozens of other gangland crimes, including shakedowns and money laundering.
At his sentencing, the judge read off the names of the 11. She told Bulger she sometimes wished that she and everyone else at his trial were watching a movie because the horrors described — including stranglings and shootings — were so awful.
“The scope, the callousness, the depravity of your crimes are almost unfathomable,” she said.
Casper sentenced Bulger to two consecutive life sentences plus five years, as prosecutors had requested.
Bulger, who was known for his volcanic temper, snarled obscenities at several once-loyal cohorts during his trial, but he said nothing at all at his sentencing and left the courtroom without even looking at one of his brothers or other supporters.
J.W. Carney Jr., one of Bulger’s lawyers, said Bulger was “pleased that he held to his principles” by staying silent and refusing to participate in the sentencing.
Bulger’s lawyers said he believes his trial was a “sham” because he was not allowed to argue that a now-deceased federal prosecutor gave him immunity to commit crimes.
Defense attorney Hank Brennan blasted prosecutors for plea bargains given to Bulger associates who testified against him, including hitman John Martorano, who served only 12 years in prison after admitting to killing 20 people, and Kevin Weeks, who did five years behind bars after he admitted to taking part in five murders.
“Why in the world do we have a handful of murderers walking the streets?” Brennan asked.
U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said prosecutors had to make difficult decisions to get Bulger.
“Was it worth it? I believe so, but it’s not something you enjoy doing,” Ortiz said.
“James Bulger deserves nothing less than to spend the rest of his life in prison for the harm, the pain and the suffering that he has caused to so many in this town,” she said.
About the Author
