James Whitey Bulger Runs Out of FBI Friends?

Out of ten people, James Whitey Bulger is number one right now on the FBI Top Ten Fugitive site. The only difference between Bulger and the other guys, his picture has some lovely red lettering that says, CAPTURED.

James J. Bulger, the Massachusetts mob boss many referred to as “Whitey” is an 81 year-old fugitive who has been on the run now for more than 15 years. On the Federal Bureau of Investigation site, a $2,000,000 reward was being offered for information leading to the arrest of James J. Bulger.

The alleged leader of the Winter Hill Gang, Bulger racked up quite a record during his involvement with organized crime beginning in the early 1970’s and up to the mid 1980’s in Massachusetts. The FBI posted charges against Bulger including Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) – Murder (19 Counts), Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Extortion, Narcotics Distribution, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering; Extortion; Money Laundering.

With 19 counts of murder, individuals were warned of the mob boss’ habit to carry a knife at all times and extremely violent temper. However Bulger is known to love to take long walks on the beach and in parks with his longtime girlfriend Catherine Elizabeth Greig. Both share a common bond in their adoration of animals.

A master of disguise with the money to travel, Bulger has been one step ahead of authorities since 1995 when he was indicted for federal racketeering and 19 murders. The Huffington Post says Bulger and Greig fled before authorities could take them into custody, most likely heading to Louisiana and than Chicago. Since than there has been one credible sighting of the pair in London, nearly ten years before he would be taken into custody in Santa Monica, California.

Even the FBI is tweeting, that’s right, early Thursday morning the news of the capture of Bulger and his lady friend fluttered around Twitter. Special Agent Greg Comcowich, a spokesman for the FBI Boston Office told the Huffington Post that Bulger and Greig were taken into custody without incident.

However neither Twitter nor Comcowich had any comment regarding NPR’s coverage on how “Whitey” Bulger Greased Palms For His Freedom. NPR Host Scott Simon interviewed former Boston Globe reporter Dick Lehr, about Bulger and his contacts within the FBI.

Author of Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob, Lehr wrote about the relationship between thugs and Boston FBI agents. Simon covered questions on Bulger and his personality, while also asking Lehr to describe the relationship the mob boss had with the FBI agents who were on his case.

Lehr attributes the relationships Bulger held with agents such as John Connolly and his supervisor John Morris for being able to remain on the run for the past 15-16 years. Refreshing news was what Lehr said in response to Simon’s question regarding if some of the FBI agents in Boston were interested in catching Bulger.

“As time went on and, you know, kind of turning a page in history almost, you know, there’s been a real turnover in the Boston office and in the FBI nationally. Some of the agents working on this now I think were in junior high when this all went down.” (Dick Lehr to Scott Simon @ NPR)

At 81 years old, it is not looking good for James “Whitey” Bulger, however it is looking brighter for the FBI and Boston Power structure as they are revamping and finding less corrupt individuals than in the past. Once again I cannot help think of the story of Bruce Wayne and the corruption of Gotham, Batman was the hero who cared and we need to have more people like that who cannot be bought if we are going to apprehend fugitives on the run such as James “Whitey” Bulger.