South Carolina Criminal Lawyer Blog

Bulger had a long criminal career, in fact, it has been the longest and most controversial in Boston's history. He has been listed as number 1 on the FBI's Most Wanted List since Osama bin Laden was killed. He grew up in South Boston's projects during the Depression. In 1956, he went to jail for the first time at Alcatraz for a bank robbery. In 1965, Bulger returned to Boston and became a top lieutenant under Howie Winter, boss of the Winter Hill gang. In the late 1970's, the FBI indicted more that 20 people, including Winter, in a horse race fixing scheme, making it possible for Bulger to take control of Winter's crime operation.

In the 1980's, John Connolly Jr., an FBI agent, made Bulger an informant. Bulger helped the FBI bring down Mafia crime boss Gennaro Anguilo. Then, under the protection of the FBI, Bulger's crime operation began a lawless killing spree over gambling operations. In 1994, Federal officials were about to indict Bulger when he fled Boston after being tipped by Connolly, who was convicted of Racketeering in May 2002 for protecting "Whitey" Bulger and his comrade Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi.

Bulger was able to elude the FBI until June 22, 2011, when after 16 years on the run, he has finally been captured in Santa Monica, California. Bulger was arrested Wednesday night at his apartment along with his longtime girlfriend, Catherine Greig. The FBI had been looking for Bulger since 1994 when he fled Boston after being connected to atleast 19 murders and other charges. Bulger was listed as one of the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted. He is now looking at federal charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, narcotics distribution, extortion, and money laundering. He is scheduled to appear in federal court on June 23, 2011. He is going to need a good criminal defense attorney to help him fight these charges.

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