I’ll tell you I’m jumping for joy at the idea of Whitey taking the stand. I’ve been doing everything possible in my power to figure out how Whitey could say that he was not an informant but had a deal with O’Sullivan that allowed him to commit all these crimes. The best I could come up with was Whitey knew Flemmi was an informant but in order to keep him quiet O’Sullivan let him commit crimes short of murder. But that went by the roadside today when Carney suggested to Weeks that Whitey was upset when he heard that Flemmi dropped a name to Connolly. Whitey told Weeks that at times Flemmi acted like Richie Ferrara who was a known informant which he didn’t like.
So just to learn that, to learn why Whitey says O’Sullivan told him he could commit any crimes he wanted and would not be prosecuted makes all this worth while. I just have to know because I can’t figure it out. It’s like watching a magician saw someone in half, it intrigues me. This mystery which I thought I’d never know about I will now discover. I’m delighted.
Not only that, to see Whitey on the stand testing his wits and guile against Wyshak, when he’s fighting for his life, literally, using all his vaunted intellect against the formidable Wyshak should be a magnificent encounter. I’m confident we will have the chance to see this which means the trial goes into September.
Now I have to look at the trial differently. I figured Whitey would want to stay off the stand and let Carney put in his case for him. Carney had done a good job at that. He had clearly shown at least to convince me that Whitey was not an informant. When I say Carney I’m also included Hank Brennan (sorry Hank but J.W. was up today so he’s on my mind).
If I had any doubts about it he had Weeks testify today that between 1977 and 1995 he did not have the slightest indication that Whitey was an informant. Weeks denied that Whitey taught him “you don’t rat on your friends, you don’t rat on your enemies, you take it to the street to work it out.” He said that was the culture of South Boston. It was something he and Whitey lived by growing up in South Boston. He agreed that Jim (Whitey) said the worst thing one could be was a rat and he hated them and they killed people for being informants. He said he had no idea Jim was an informant until Flemmi said it in court.
However, as I’ve said before if Jim is not an informant so what. How does it bear on the question of his guilt of innocence. I suggest the answer to this is that it shows the FBI files are totally unreliable and its agents, at least one or two, are corrupt. And that is another thing that Carney got from Weeks today is that there were several, six I believe Weeks said, FBI agents that had been corrupted by Whitey. And for all you reading the Naimovich series, one was Pipe, the nickname for Jim Ring.
Another thing Carney spent time on was showing how Whitey was constantly looking to find out what was going on out in the street. He’s spend lots of time talking to people and finding out who was doing what. Weeks pointed out it was necessary to do that just to survive out there. He relied on information from law enforcement which he paid for getting it from the FBI and Dick Schneiderhan of the state police. He’d pay Boston cops but that was mainly so they’d let some things go by. Generally Whitey was constantly talking to any source “that could help him in his business which was organized crime.” This helps fends off the idea that Whitey was getting information from Connolly which he used to then make a hit on Halloran. Carney will argue every gangster did this and it was well-known among the criminals that Halloran was cooperating.
Most importantly Carney showed that Weeks was a liar. He’s lie to benefit himself. Not only was he an admitted liar who ran around on his wife and lies to his girlfriend, it’s impossible to tell when he is lying. He’ll say anything to gain the moment. A totally untrustworthy thug and witting participant in all the activities Whitey was involved in. He turned on his mentor after he listened to Flemmi, who he was trying to help until Flemmi sent him a letter saying he was on his own, who told him that Whitey his big brother was an informant.
In sum, Carney never laid a glove on Weeks but he got from him all that he could have hoped for namely Whitey was a highly skilled and disciplined criminal who followed rules, was constantly on the alert for danger, and that he hated informant. He got Weeks to agree he lasted two weeks before trying to get a deal for himself and that he would lie to benefit himself and there was no way to tell if he was lying or not. Most importantly he showed that he was hot head still interested in beating up people and settling disputes with his fist. Not the type of guy you want to put much faith in. Yes, he’s smart and has a good memory, but that just helps him keep a check on his lies.
I’d say the prosecutors won a Pyrrhic victory today which may have laid the ground work for a major defeat. Time will tell.
Murderman’s deeds, appearance and demeanor pretty much speaks for itself and getting Weeks to expose his vile side was done quite masterfully; question is, what is the strategy for Flemmi? His admitted crimes are extremely vicious, yes, but he is still serving a life sentence; albeit in a “Witness Security Unit”.
Sorry my friend, Flemmi’s been free for quite a while now. BOP has no record of him….released. DOJ team-player for a while now. I know where the POS lives…
If that is the truth the DOJ has less of a moral compass than any of these men combined.
Yes John, that is the gist of this whole story. Im sorry you are just figuring it out now, at this late stage.
I wouldn’t feel sorry, as my awareness is on par with most informed persons as to the implications of many aspects surrounding this trial, however, if Flemmi is on the loose, as you speculate, I don’t think I would be the only one who was shocked.
John:
I don’t think he is on the loose. He is in some form of custody but for all we know it could be on the upper floors of the Four Seasons Hotel with all the amenities of one of those suites. After all he does have to oversee all the properties he owns. The facade of him being in prison has to be kept up during Whitey’s trial. After that we’ll see some type of actions releasing him. After all if the DOJ can take Tommy Sperrazza out of Massachusetts prison where he is doing a natural life sentence and arrange for him to be release we know that our laws don’t apply equally to everyone.
john- Steve Flemmi is still buried deep inside the feds he is not out free. reading through your comments you seem to be well aware of the situation. To think Flemmi is out living in society is just dumb. IF he does get out it will be after all this.
Doubting:
Agree – it will be after this.
John:
Read the NY Times yesterday about the Mafia chief who just got out. Then read about all the people being executed in the country for one or two murders and see all those who have spent 40 or 50 years in prison for one murder. Something is wrong. It’s up to us to show it.
Otisville? Where/when/why was he released? Very intrigued by your claim that he’s free…..
Jim:
They won’t let him out until later this year.
That is just amazing to me. Sickening and unbelievable.
Rather:
You are right, Flemmi is not in BOP custody. He’ll soon be back on the street. That would just about tell us everyting about the mindset of the prosecution. If that happens I’m really going to despair for our country.
Where does he live?
Do an internet search, like I did. Public record.
? Matt has spoken of where he is most likely located, buried under the jail getting his bishop’s belly plumped up nice and tan.
Jim:
Weeks lives in Southie
Oh I know that, he just moved from Quincy I believe. A friend knew his neighbors “kevin weeks, great guy!” was a running joke we had during his testimony based on the review weeks’ neighbors gave.
I am wondering where flemmi is. I’m blown away he’s not in bop custody / the witness protection unit at otisville. And someone gave a snide “google it” like there’s a white pages for people in witness protection. His release boggles my mind for I thought he was serving 10 life sentences and all of a sudden he’s released with assets to come home too because mr white finally got put away? I was never shocked at martorano’s deal (I expected with his legal team he would at least get that deal) but flemmi being released from prison is unbelievable.
Anonymous:
I hope they drag Flemmi through the mud of his life – I think they have to show he is so utterly despicable that to even thing you’d believe anything he said you’d feel you had to wash out your brain.
Most importantly they have to show that Flemmi has a deal with the government that allowed him to keep millions of dollars worth of properties in Boston and surrounding areas and that the government will file to get him out of prison as soon as Whitey is sent off to ADX.
Matt- Red Shea was on greater Boston bragging about himself how he stood up to bulger when he was told by Kevin weeks “Stevie and whitey are after you” He seems upset he is not a more important component in this circus. He says that polecat moore will be testifying. Do you believe Weeks when he says he can walk through the NORTH END {mafia turf}without a worry? isn’t that because he is team FED..what mobster is gonna kill an fbi rat that is treated like a king? Also think about it when is the last time kevin weeks had to use his fists without whitey backing him? Kevin Weeks never had to fight for anything on his own he always used whitey and flemmi as a threat to obtain anything he could not on his own.
And you seem to know Weeks thoughts……..how? Red wrote a book, so what? I know the story, and it’s not whats put forth in the media or books that were written when they thought “Jimmy” would never show up again.
I know his thoughts because he sells them for money, he lies for money. I know Red Shea personally so I can tell you from a perspective you probably don’t have that he is an ASSHOLE so that’s what. You must be a genius that you know not to go by the mainstream media thanks for the tip.
Doubting:
It seems you back up Billy Shea’s description of Red Shea. Any idea what he is doing now. I can’t figure out how a guy who was a drug dealer thinks he has any honor so now I understand why if he’s the type of guy you mention.
Matt- He is on his way to Hollywood according to him and his loyalists. Because selling cocaine to your community and peers is definitely something to write home about. Billy Shea has it dead on in regards where LIL RED stood with this group of criminals.
Doubting:
The greatest sin of Whitey was making those who associated with him think they were other than gutter rats.
Thomas, I apologize for my tone. I guess you are right about Weeks. If you know his motivations, you know his thoughts. As far as Red, never met him personally, and have heard nothing bad about him on the street. I do know that he joined the fraternity of “imaginary authors” that profited from Whitey’s absence, thinking they could write their own legacy, because it would never be disputed.
Rather:
That’s an excellent point we must keep in mind – all the books were written thinking they’d never be scrutinize because Whitey would never come home again. That 16 years absence gave everyone a chance to write from their imaginations and not from the facts.
Doubting:
Red Shea was called a mid-level dealer by Billy Shea. Red wrote a book putting himself on top of Whitey’s organization when he wasn’t. The three top guys were Weeks, Tower and Billy Shea. Billy said of Red: “he was a nice kid until he went to prison and after he came out he became a tough guy.”
Polecat is in the witness protection program and is scheduled to testify. He apparently was the strong man for Billy Shea when Freddy Weichel went off to the can on the murder rap. Red has a high opinion of himself apparently – didn’t he call himself the last honorable buy in Southie. It shows what a strange mind he has that he thinks he can connect the word honor with a life of drug dealing and prison.
Weeks can probably walk through the North End if he keeps his head down, his nose clean and his mouth shut. No one will recognize him. He did suggest that no one in the North End would dare do a tangle with him – he’s too tough for all the Italians. He’s still has the hangover myth of the Winter Hill groups that they could have beat the Mafia.
He can only do it, as I suggest because like me and a million other people who walk through the North End no one knows him. It’s not as he imagines anyone is afraid of him.
No doubt he can call up the feds for help anytime he wants since he is far from a POOF. You’re right that he has always been under the protection of Whitey – but I’ve suggested earlier that we’ve not heard the last of Weeks. With a temper that he has and some kid thinking he can make a name for himself by beating up a 57 year old man – didn’t someone shoot Johnny Pretzie who was in his 70s – you never know what will happen.
Matt,
Did Weeks really testify on cross yesterday that he hasn’t seen John Martorano “since they were in jail?”
Martorano was at Plymouth HOC (xpt for a quick stint in the hole in NY) until he flipped and then he was released from the Bureau of Prisons in 1999 to serve his sentence somewhere nice as a guest of the US Attorney’s Office.
Weeks was arrested and sent to a Rhode Island jail where he famously lasted only two weeks before being released by the BOP and sent to somewhere nice as a guest of the US Attorney’s Office.
Did the US Attorneys really put Martorano and Weeks together? Weeks said he saw Martorano in jail. How the hell did that happen? Didn’t that mean they could cook up their story to protect Pat Nee and each other there?
Martorano wrote in his book that as he was being checked into a federal facility, Pat Nee was there but was being released and Pat gave him all of his toiletries.
And then Flemmi disappeared from the BOP in 2002/2003, while Weeks and Martorano were still serving sentences somewhere. Was Flemmi put in with Weeks and/or Martorano?
If Flemmi was the only one who didn’t have contact with Weeks, Martorano and Nee, he might not have received the command to protect Pat Nee. That could put his testimony at odds with Weeks on the three Death House murders and the Halloran/Donahue murders.
Dan Doherty and Steve Johnson are going to have to spend a lot of time with Flemmi telling him exactly how he is going to testify if Flemmi wants to get out someday.
I’m convinced Flemmi will be released from wherever he is currently living shortly after this trial. There’s absolutely no other reason the US Attorney’s would give him back $millions if he was really going to spend the rest of his life in jail. His family has sued him and testified against him. He can’t be trying to help them.
Too bad we’ll never know any of this information because our government has it.
P
Patty:
Weeks said he never met Martorano until he was in prison. He repeated it by saying “met John when in prison, haven’t seen him before or after.”
I never considered your well made point that if things were on the level they never should have met in prison. Murderman Martorano cooperated after he figured Flemmi being a lifelong informant would give him up for a deal. He got his handshake from the government long before Weeks was in prison. Why are they connecting them up?
I think you have hit home with that point. There is no legitimate reason that I can see to have put these guys together except for them to coordinate their stories. I’ve got to go back and track their movements better if I can – wish Carney had explored this more deeply.
I agree with all your other points. They just released a Mafia Chieftan in NY who had 8 murder convictions after he served 8 years. That’s Flemmi’s deal no doubt about it. He’ll be back on the street a year after this trial ends. The whole thing is shocking.
Let us drop talking and get on with our work….
Anonymous:
And, what would you suggest our work to be.
Asked JJ Sullivan about forty years ago how to cross examine a criminal co operating witness. He said ask him many questions, expose him for what he is, get under his skin and hope he loses his cool. Didn’t Carney get that out of Weeks? Could you ask for anything more than the thug threatening the lawyer and asking him to meet him outside? 2. Establishing that Weeks and all criminals are liars is very beneficial to the defense. If none of the gangsters, bookies and drug dealers have any credibility what is left of the prosecution? C and B can concede that their client was involved in crime and that he is a liar as are all criminals. The government has to prove these specific charges. With no credible witnesses ( save law enforcement and the victim’s families) what have they proven against the defendant? 3. In order to catch the spies in the film North by Northwest the CIA invented a character George Kaplan.WB as the top criminal is as real as Kaplan. Don’t count on WB testifying. 4.What does it say about the so called civil rights community and their media friends when they go ballistic over the Martin killing which occurred during a fight between two males ( maybe self defense at the most manslaughter) and no one says a word about Gucci executing three unarmed, innocent blacks ( Smith and the two teenagers)?
N:
1. JJ was the master. If he said that is what you do then Carney did it to perfection.
2. Carney and Brennan have shown Martorano, Morris and Weeks are liars who got goodies from the government for lying. What’s left are some bodies and a defendant who admits he’s a big bad criminal and some witnesses, not the liars, agree that if you don’t do what he wants it’s lights out. That’s enough for some jurors, but may not be for all.
3. Whitey has to testify. I don’t want William going around saying Whitey gave the money to Morris who pocketed it. I want Whitey to tell the truth. Red Shea might not be the last honorable man in Southie.
4. Can’t speak for th civil rights community.
Matt, I’m jumping for joy right beside you.
Rather:
It should be a rather good show.
what would make you say that the jury on hearing the testimony today would conclude that Kevin is lying rather than just unburdening himself?
was there a point today which someone, that was not been up to speed on the inside atuff,i.e. books,press,gangster folklore and legend,street scuttlebutt, see through a liar’s spun web of deceit to find a pathological poseur.
it is still all about the defendant’s desperate attempt to save as much of his ego and family name as possible. He still has to convince his 12 peers that O’Sullivan,poster boy for altar boys, stamped nihil obstat (short of murder) on his gangster pass. a thousand times more difficult than pulling the rabbit out of the hat,more like a certifiable miracle.
Hopalong:
He said he’s a criminal and he lies all the time. I don’t think its a hard leap for the jury to figure out if that’s the case how do we know what he is saying now is the whole truth. I don’t see them looking at him as a guy who needs to unburden himself, he’s shown himself very interested in taking care of Kevin no matter what. Shows no remorse that would have to be shared.
He probably hit the low point with his agreeing he was a liar and lied to wife, girl friends and then wanted to be seen as a tough guy. Not someone a juror would warm up to.
Agree that Mr white will need a miracle but I’m told they happen more often than we’d like to think – it doesn’t have to be a big one since he’ll never convince 12 that he had total immunity to commit crimes but others did all the murders but all he wants is one or two to buy into his theory
Matt, at one point Weeks is reported saying that Whitey had six FBI agents with machine guns ready and willing to do Whitey’s bidding. He’s also said he saw 20 envelopes with money inside with cops names on it. He could only remember one name, and the cop with the unblemished record of course called Weeks a liar. It is an easy way to smear someone’s reputation: 20-30 years after the fact Weeks says Cop X or FBI agent X got cash from Whitey. Ring of course steadfastly denies Weeks slanders, and like Connolly no other bookie/druggie/gangster has accused Jim Ring of taking a dime, to my knowledge. My conclusion: Weeks fed Wyshak B.S. 10-15 years ago for the purpose of getting leniency, and now he’s simply regurgitating the lies and b.s. he fed to Fred Wyshak.
William:
Weeks gave a half dozen names at least of Boston cops in his testimony on a prior occassion. He did name six FBI agents who he knew by their nicknames such as Agent Orange and Vino. We all know Weeks is a liar but some of his testimony has the ring of truth.
Of course Ring would deny what Weeks said. So did Agent Orange – Newton – but he was eventually found to be not on the level. When you read my Naimovich story you’ll see that Ring is not someone who is absolutely on the level – so I’m not sure he’s what you think he is –
Matt, you call Fred Wyshak “formidable.” I saw him go one on one with John Connolly in Miami and John boxed his ears off. At one point Wyshak actually trembled and his weight shifted to his back leg and the tenor of his voice changed slightly but noticeably, it was if he were reeling from a right upper cut. He never impressed me as anything but a showboat bully-boy.
William:
You saw him without having a witness on the stand. Believe me his is formidable. But to each his own – we all see things differently.
According to Two Weeks, Abie received cash from the sale which was not reflected on the documents filed with the Registry of Deeds.
Prince Street I am impressed with your investigation of that …I have never even heard of that focused upon
Prince:
It showed how smart Bill Weld was. When Abie dealt with Weeks she took 15,000 or so in cash to avoid the taxes on the sale. With her understanding of the tax situation, no wonder he appointe her chairman of the Tax Board.
No mention of who sold real estate for the South Boston Liquor Market to Whitey, Weeks and Stevie. Abigail Burns of WInchester.
1994, Governor Weld appointed her as a member and, subsequently, chairman of the Commonwealth’s Appellate Tax Board where she remained until her retirement in 2004.
Prince:
Yes, indeed, that name was mentioned by Weeks as the person who owned the real estate of the liquor mart or the rotary variety.
Perhaps the entire trial is jointly a dog and pony show, thank heavens MacKenzie isn’t around to facilitate any repeats.
Jan:
Weeks called it a circus.