Saturday, June 25, 2011

Fugitive Boston gang leader held

23 June 2011 Last updated at 07:25 GMT 1996 photo of James Whitey Bulger on the FBI website on 23 June 2011 Pictures of James "Whitey" Bulger on the FBI website are now captioned "Captured" Alleged Boston gang leader James "Whitey" Bulger has been arrested near Los Angeles following 16 years on the run, FBI officials say.

The 81-year-old was detained with his long-time girlfriend Catherine Greig, 60. Both are due to appear in court later on Thursday.

Bulger was on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list, and is accused of involvement in 19 murders.

Bulger was the inspiration for the Martin Scorsese film "The Departed".

He was played by Jack Nicholson in a movie that won four Oscars in 2007.

Bulger is accused of running the Winter Hill gang in the 1970s and 1980s.

The couple's arrest in Santa Monica, California, came days after the FBI began airing 30-second public service announcements, focusing on Ms Greig.

They specifically targeted programmes watched by women of Ms Greig's age, and urged them to keep an eye out for her.

Announcing the arrests, Richard Deslauriers of the FBI said the couple were detained "without incident".

The Winter Hill gang was a largely Irish-American mob that ran loan-sharking, gambling and drug rackets in the Boston area.

Bulger disappeared shortly before he was due to be arrested in connection with 21 killings and racketeering.

Following his disappearance, it emerged he had been a long-time FBI informant who turned in rival gangsters.

The revelations left the FBI fighting accusations that it had long been turning a blind eye to the alleged crimes of James Bulger and the Winter Hill gang.


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