The James “Whitey” Bulger verdicts have been returned in a case involving one of Boston’s and the United States’ most notorious mobsters.
James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, the man who eluded FBI investigators for 16 years after building a reputation as one of Boston’s most ruthless mobsters, was found guilty Monday on federal racketeering charges and some — but not all — of the murders he was accused of, reports Associated Press.
Bulger, 83, was charged with participating in 19 murders as well as 13 counts of extortion and money laundering, among other crimes. In total, he faced 32 counts. He was convicted as being directly involved in 11 of 19 murders, and was also found guilty on weapons charges, money laundering, and conspiracy.
He faces life behind bars.
As he left the courtroom, he reportedly gave the thumbs up to his brother Jack, and someone yelled, “Rat a tat tat, Whitey,” according to WCVB.
Jurors said his connection to one of the murders — the shooting death of Roger Wheeler — was proven. Convicted hit man John Martorano testified earlier in the trial that he shot Wheeler between the eyes after the executive finished a round of golf at a Tulsa country club. The killing was sanctioned by Bulger.
Some of the victims’ family members spoke out after the verdict was reached. Though jurors said Bulger’s involvement in the the murder of Michael Donahue in 1982 was proven, the victim’s son Tom Donahue was shocked that Bulger got off on any of the murders.
“I’m not satisfied with the verdict — he should have been guilty for all those murders,” Donahue told reporters outside the courthouse. “My father got killed in his very early 30s. I’ve got [a family] my father’s missing out on all that. It’s a nightmare … He’s gonna spend a couple hundred years behind bars, but he should have been found guilty of everything.”
He added, “He doesn’t care about anybody he killed, he doesn’t care about anybody he extorted, he’s just a sick psycho individual.”
Jurors took more than four days and 33 hours of deliberations to convict Bulger, in what has amounted in a 40-day trial.
In closing arguments during the trial, prosecutors portrayed Bulger a “vicious, violent and calculating” criminals who hunted his victims. The defense described him as a victim of FBI corruption and backstabbing former associates.
Bulger was one of the FBI’s most wanted criminals when authorities captured him at his Santa Monica, Calif., hideout in 2011. His former henchmen testified against him, including Kevin Weeks. The two gangsters shared volleys of profanity and shouting in the courtroom, as Bulger lashed out at Weeks for saying he was worse than a murderer.
