The long awaited trial of Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger charged with 32 counts of racketeering where is he accused of participating in 19 murders during his reign as boss of the Winter Hill gang in the 1970’s and 80’s. Bulger was one of the most wanted men in the world after he fled Boston in 1994 until he was captured in 2011. The Prosecution opened its case against Bulger with surveillance photo’s and videos from 1980’s showing Bulger meeting with other known organized crime members from the Patriarca crime family the Italian New England mafia family and his Winter Hill gang. The evidence including the surveillance photos are from a state police led investigation conducted while the feds were secretly protecting Bulger. Assistant US Attorney Brian Kelly said during his opening statements that Bulger was a “hands-on killer” responsible for years of murder and mayhem for over 30 years in Boston. Multiple members of the state police who were involved in the investigation during into Bulgers activities in the 70’s and 80’s took the stand to testify about the photo and video evidence being submitted.
(Bulger meets with criminal figures in 1980’s)
(Bulger holding court at a Lancaster street garage he used to conduct business)
(Bulger “left” and George Kaufman “right” meet at the same Lancaster street garage)
Also set to testify in the upcoming days are former Bulger cohorts including former Bulger partner Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi, former Bulger lieutenant Kevin Weeks, and hit man John Martorano. But Bulger lawyer J.W. Carney Jr in his opening statements attacked the credibility of these witnesses saying each of the men received extraordinary deals from the prosecution in return for their testimony. Carney also denied claims by the prosecution that Bulger was once an FBI informant who provided the feds with information about the rival New England Mafia family. He claims Bulger was never ever an informant of any kind and had simply paid off FBI agents for inside information about investigations into him and his gang or to tip them off about any upcoming indictments. The prosecution claims that Bulger supplied the feds with information and in return was protected and allowed to continue operating his illegal activities including murder.
Kelly said that Bulger and his Winter Hill gang had a strategy that worked and was successful in corrupting law enforcement and instilling fear into other criminals. Kelly showed the jury pictures of the 19 murder victims as he read the names of each one in court as the relatives of the victims watched. Showing the devastating impact that the murderous Whitey Bulger had on so many families during time his gang ran amok in Boston. A couple of former bookmakers also took the stand in first couple days of testimony and told about threats and violence used by Bulger and his cohorts in efforts to make them pay a tribute for doing business in the area they controlled. As the Bulger trial moves forward and some of the key witnesses take the stand against Bulger things may seem even more bleak for the infamous gangster.
