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Yesterday, in Santa Monica, CA, Whitey Bulger was captured. He was #1 on the FBI's most wanted list after Osama was killed and on the run for almost 16 years, since 1995. He is 81 years old. I never thought I would see this day. Whitey started out on the Winter Hill gang, of Somerville. I grew up in Winter Hill, an Irish Catholic neighborhood in Somerville not too far from Davis Square (home of the Somerville Theater that lives in Phishlore) and while at the time iggnorant of what that meant, at a later age learned that there was quite an impact of that gang within all our lives. My first bank account was at Mr. Hill's bank. Our favorite pizza shop, Primos Pizza, was frequented by Mr. Hill and his gang. I learned many years later that many times I went in there, he was in a corner booth doing paperwork (why a gangster needs to do paperwork is beyond me, but apperently he was also a very important buisness man). While other neighborhoods, particularly in Dorchester, West Cambridge and Roxbury, where overrun with second rate gangs, our neighborhood was left untouched because of Mr. Hills influence.
Whitey eventually took over that gang and moved the operation to Southie. By that time I had long moved out of Somerville. Whitey was a theiving, murdering bastard, BUT he kept those neighborhoods safe for the working class people. I'm in no way defending his actions, but there is a "Robin Hood" aspect to the story. I really never thought I would see this day, and there is a bittersweet side of this story. The people he murdered, their families DO deserve justice, but like I said, he is a local legend of some sorts.
He was also a rat, and was an FBI informant for many years. In the next few weeks, months, I would not be surprised if he takes down more then a handful of FBI agents with him, as the FBI worked with him to take out other gangs and help him stay so powerful, while he gave up information in exchange. It's quite the story. It's gonna get very interesting around here in the upcoming weeks.
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This trial is going to be fascinating if he lives to see it through.I read a book called "Black Mass" about the Whitey Bulger story and it's just amazing. If you made a movie of the story it would seem too far out to be plausible. I mean, a ruthless crime boss who's brother is president of the State Senate? Come on. And the whole thing with FBI agent John Connelly. Whitey played the FBI like an accordion for decades...it's an incredible story.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mass-Unholy-Alliance-Between/dp/0060959258
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@joechip said: This trial is going to be fascinating if he lives to see it through. I read a book called "Black Mass" about the Whitey Bulger story and it's just amazing. If you made a movie of the story it would seem too far out to be plausible. I mean, a ruthless crime boss who's brother is president of the State Senate? Come on. And the whole thing with FBI agent John Connelly. Whitey played the FBI like an accordion for decades...it's an incredible story. http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mass-Unholy-Alliance-Between/dp/0060959258I love that book. It's up there with some of the great gang story books I've read. The Westies is a great book too, but Black Mass is more real to me. Basically because it took place in many neighborhoods I know.
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WOW, been listening to WEEI talk about it all morning here at work, they have had some interesting guest speak about the whole thing.
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@joechip said: This trial is going to be fascinating if he lives to see it through.Great read for sure. "All Souls" and "Easter Rising" have some references to Whitey's influence in Southie.
I read a book called "Black Mass" about the Whitey Bulger story and it's just amazing. If you made a movie of the story it would seem too far out to be plausible. I mean, a ruthless crime boss who's brother is president of the State Senate? Come on. And the whole thing with FBI agent John Connelly. Whitey played the FBI like an accordion for decades...it's an incredible story.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mass-Unholy-Alliance-Between/dp/0060959258
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Sounds like the movie "The Departed"
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@JayBubya, the movie was loosely based on Whitey's story.
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Sorry, @JayDubya. My bad man.
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@bostonron said: Sorry, @JayDubya. My bad man.Sorry for what? I didn't know it was loosely based on his story. It did sound very similar.
Interesting though, especially for you with your local connection.
::EDIT::
Oh, I see you called me JayBubya
Never mind.
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Interesting...they were cranking up the search around Milwaukee as of late.
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@joechip said: This trial is going to be fascinating if he lives to see it through. I read a book called "Black Mass" about the Whitey Bulger story and it's just amazing. If you made a movie of the story it would seem too far out to be plausible. I mean, a ruthless crime boss who's brother is president of the State Senate? Come on. And the whole thing with FBI agent John Connelly. Whitey played the FBI like an accordion for decades...it's an incredible story. http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mass-Unholy-Alliance-Between/dp/0060959258
just finished it myself roun' christmas. Good read.
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which character in the departed was loosly based on whitey? was in nicholson?
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@bostonron said: @JayBubya, the movie was loosely based on Whitey's story.
The guy had New england sow'd up!
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@MrMinersBrother said: which character in the departed was loosly based on whitey? was in nicholson?yep.
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I was just reading about the story this morning. Sounds really interesting. I hope he lives for a while in prison because I'm sure he is full of knowledge that would boggle people's minds. I would say he is going to get knocked off farily soon though, because he knows too much.
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@MrMinersBrother, yes, Jack's character. It was very loosely based. More of a Boston Irish gangster/FBI informant thing then any actual real life lineage. But when you have a story on Boston Irish gangsters, Whiteys gonna be brought to mind.
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@Dan615 said: I was just reading about the story this morning. Sounds really interesting. I hope he lives for a while in prison because I'm sure he is full of knowledge that would boggle people's minds. I would say he is going to get knocked off farily soon though, because he knows too much.
Regardless, apparently he's very ill and who knows how long he'll survive. As far as the FBI wanting to get rid of him to avoid embarrassment, I'm not sure, because it was quite a while ago and there's been a couple of huge house-cleanings at the FBI since then.
He definitely has enemies though.
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He does has enemies, and a head full of information. I'm sure the Providence mafia, or what's left of them, wants a piece of him, probably more then anyone else. And @joechip is right. This all was a very long time ago, and after the Connelly fiasco, most of that has been buried. This just represents a sense of closure more then anything else. But if he talks, this could get very interesting. Boston is a very small town, and this is very big news here.
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Heres a link for those interested. Not a whole lot of information at this point, but for those not living in the new England area, this might provide some insight into the situation thus far. http://www.boston.com/
Now I need to get to bed, as I work overnights and just got home a couple of hours ago, but I keep getting caught up in this story.
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Yeah I was meaning more that other gangsters might be holding a gridge still for getting them locked up and would send people after him. Not to bust balls or anything, but I dont think most peple would cinsider Boston to be a "very small town".
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@Dan615 said: . Not to bust balls or anything, but I dont think most peple would cinsider Boston to be a "very small town".Non taken man. I just meant in the way that Boston can feel small, as it's a very local city. Neighborhoods seem to rule here. You grow up in one neighborhood and thats basically your home. We do have the colleges that add flavor, but in certain areas of the city, Southie, Dorchester, Charlestown, the big schools really don't have any impact. Shit, even in certain areas of Cambridge, where you have two of the most prestigious schools in the country, there are neighborhoods that don't see that vibe at all. The kids don't venture too far from the Harvard> Kendall Square areas at all. Boston isn't Kansas City by any means, but it's def not NYC either.
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This story is fascinating! I've been following it for a while ever since living in Boston. It's interesting the way they finally nabbed him. I heard on the news this morning that they put out a PSA detailing his girlfriend, providing such information as her having had multiple plastic surgeries, her fondness for small dogs, and even her penchant for getting her teeth cleaned once a month.Interesting stuff.
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Pure speculation here, but does anyone else think maybe he has been in witness protection all this time and stepped out of line breaking their rules so they picked him up. I'm certain it's possible, but 16 years on the run and living in cali for multiple years without being found just seems a little fishy to me.
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Seems very fishy, they've been lookin for him for 16years, announce a new campaign to show ads during the price is right and 2 days later he's caught? The coward will get better health care in the governments custody. And anyone who defends him as a Robin Hood type or a folk hero is an idiot. The guy is lower than scum.
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@the_clever_ruse said: Pure speculation here, but does anyone else think maybe he has been in witness protection all this time and stepped out of line breaking their rules so they picked him up. I'm certain it's possible, but 16 years on the run and living in cali for multiple years without being found just seems a little fishy to me.I really dont think you know what your talking about. He was on the fbi most wanted list. Y if he was on witpro would they set them selves up to fail, after already failing to rieng him in as an informant? Why would the prosecute the fbi handlers?
Its real simple hes been living month to month,. year to year on the millions and i mean MILLIIONS of dollars he had stashed in safety deposit boxes around the country. He knew the other shoe whould drop sooner or later and like any crime boss had prepared for life on the lame.
If you wanna get a glimpse of what this guy had set up read "Black Mass" just finished it like 2 months ago good read.
Hey Whitey,
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Never thought we'd see the day when they found Whitey...Anyone notice that an overwhelming amount of media/news programs would have you believe that Whitey preemptively based his whole life on the movie "The Departed"? I mean seriously, MSNBC showed waaaayy too much Jack Nicholson footage today while talking over it about Whitey...or as some of you may know him, the old guy from Southie who hit Leo DiCaprio with a boot...
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Being from MA, this whole thing is FASCINATING! That being said, I just don't get the whole Whitey/departed movie connection- "the Departed" was adapted from a Japanese movie called "Internal Affairs" and fit into the S. Boston mob scene.
Yes jacks character was an Irish (with a TERRIBLE Boston accent) mobster / FBI informant but that's where the similarities end-
Whitey's informant activities was a huge disaster for the FBI, resulting in many convictions of agents, and murders of rival informants- in the movie the only mention of frank being an informant was from the crackhead and franks admission in the final scene
Whitey murdered at least18 people, frank only one in the opening scene IIRC
Whitey was on the lam for 16 years
Whitey had very high connections within state leadership
It's strange to me that when a Boston mob news story makes national headlines that all the media can do is compare it to a popular movie... Just sayin
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@Multibeast_Dave said: Being from MA, this whole thing is FASCINATING! That being said, I just don't get the whole Whitey/departed movie connection- "the Departed" was adapted from a Japanese movie called "Internal Affairs" and fit into the S. Boston mob scene.Ditto and yup... there is no real connection but apparently the news needs something flashy to sell it...outside of MA at least. I think the original was INFERNAL affairs (not the richard gere flick)...didn't see it but as far as I can tell the only thing they "based" on Whitey was the double-informant-working for the FBI angle for Jack's character...
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Hahaha! The feds catch me?! Yeah, they'll catch me....when the Bruins win the Stanley Cup!" -Whitey Bulger 1995
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This case is going to be entertaining for the world and especially Boston for the next few months, years maybe. Never thought I'd see the day. Also a good point my boss made today (not that I totally agree) If the FBI would have killed Whitey on the spot millions in taxpayers dough would have been saved. But nothing we can do about it now.
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@Phlat_Brim_Kid said:
@the_clever_ruse said:Fair enough, not questioning the amount of money he had access to either. Just saying it seems a little odd to me a person in the top 5 or 10 on the FBI most wanted list could hide in america for 16 years and travel as extensively as he did.Pure speculation here, but does anyone else think maybe he has been in witness protection all this time and stepped out of line breaking their rules so they picked him up. I'm certain it's possible, but 16 years on the run and living in cali for multiple years without being found just seems a little fishy to me.I really dont think you know what your talking about. He was on the fbi most wanted list. Y if he was on witpro would they set them selves up to fail, after already failing to rieng him in as an informant? Why would the prosecute the fbi handlers?
Its real simple hes been living month to month,. year to year on the millions and i mean MILLIIONS of dollars he had stashed in safety deposit boxes around the country. He knew the other shoe whould drop sooner or later and like any crime boss had prepared for life on the lame.
If you wanna get a glimpse of what this guy had set up read "Black Mass" just finished it like 2 months ago good read.
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