The federals didn’t think he was a big shot after all. Had they, Whitey would have found a home in ADX, Florence, Colorado where all the big shots go like . The federals didn’t consider him as being a real bad guy unlike what we’ve been spoon fed. The Bureau of Prisons checking thoroughly into his background figured he should end up in Tuscon, Arizona, with a bunch of nobodies.
Wikipedia tells you all about his new home. Whitey tops the list for high-profile inmates. It says this about him: ‘Former leader of the Winter Hill Gang in Massachusetts and FBI Ten Most Wanted fugitive; apprehended in 2011 after 16 years on the lam; convicted in 2013 of ordering 11 murders, as well as extortion, money laundering and drug trafficking.” Mentions nothing about his being an FBI informant; perhaps we are supposed to not know that.
Most of the other inmates mentioned in the article are either doing life or will be getting out sometime in the 2040s or 2050s. Two former cops are there, a fair amount of sex offenders, the usual group of drug dealers and murderers. One thing that Whitey may like is that there seems to be some contact between inmates because in 2009 several of the inmates got into fights with improvised weapons. In ADX, Colorado there was no inmate contact.
Another thing good about the Tucson prison is it is close, about an hour’s drive, to Tombstone, Arizona famous for the fight at O.K. Corral and its Boothill Graveyard. It’s interesting to read about those buried there, many Chinese, many killed by Indians, and others in gun fights. Margarita who was stabbed by Gold Dollar at the dance hall fighting over a man and Killeen who was shot by Frank Leslie in an argument over Killeen’s wife also reside there. Leslie would marry the widow. This may provide an incentive for some to visit Whitey.
One would like to say that’s the end of Whitey but it appears he’ll be able to send his letters from his cell to his many admirers. I suppose he will still be able to avoid the federal restrictions on communicating with his girl friend Catherine Greig using his lawyers as couriers. I was surprised Carney was in the business of transporting these letters; he says there was nothing illegal about it but why take the route he took if it was fine. If it happened at the time reported in the article. Greig left Rhode Island in June 2012 so Carney was doing this early on in his representation.
Although I have to admit this gives a clear insight into the person of Whitey Bulger: he weeps cause he misses his girlfriend and ignores the plight of his victims. Carney told his audience that Whitey told him that one of his greatest regrets was never marrying Greig; no regret over the people he murdered or the lives he ruined. That’s the type of man he is; a sad commentary on what a human should be.
The article also notes that Brennan is still representing Whitey. Carney has gone on to some other ordeals. Brennan assured his audience that Whitey will win his appeal. Brennan’s a good guy so he has to spout the party line but he knows Whitey has no chance. The imaginary meeting between Whitey and O’Sullivan where the alleged deal was made: you know, that O’Sullivan told Whitey he could murder people if he felt like doing it and O’Sullivan would protect him could not be upheld even if Whitey had a recording of it. The president doesn’t have the power to let people be murdered; at least that was the situation the last time I looked.
There’s an even greater problem with justifying Whitey’s actions based on Brennan’s assertion is that what is called an offer of proof was not made to support it. Whenever a judge tried to hone in on it, the subject would change. Without having before the court who said what to whom, the court can’t decide the issue in the abstract.
I’ve no interest in the appeal. I see Whitey has the same chances of getting relief as he would to win the lottery. I know he did win, but that was at the end of a gun. I don’t think he has one in Tuscon.
“I’ve no interest in the appeal. I see Whitey has the same chances of getting relief as he would to win the lottery. I know he did win, but that was at the end of a gun. I don’t think he has one in Tuscon.”
Matt,
I would respectfully ask you to reconsider the above statement. If you have, as you have already written, an interest in public corruption, then I believe that you would want to follow closely what Whitey’s appeal has to say. During the trial, it was clear that public corruption also was found ‘guilty’. To the degree that the public can better understand that the ‘devil’ is always in the details. I would hope that once the appeal is posted on Pacer you would access it and share it with your readers.
This request is from an ardent reader and a victim of public corruption who is still seriously seeking justice for herself and her family. As you and the other readers continue to point out…James Bulger was but a small bit player in the over all corruption scheme that has seriously jeopardized the Rule of Law in US…but, Whitey’s fact set is an integral part to the whole of the process that has been corrupted. Therefore the appeal process should provide us with the issues of law that have been perversely used to allow his crime spree to have continued for several decades…and, if his attorney is correct my even vindicate Whitey in the end. But, surely NOT those who had a duty to make certain that the process was not corrupted. They will remain guilty in their betrayal of the public trust. Always.
Jean:
An appeal will produce no new facts than those which have already come out. The appeal will only consider what is already on the record. I’ve said before that the appeal even if it were meretorious cannot be won. Judges decide what the law is and the judges in this case are firmly of the belief that Whitey is guilty. Remember in this case Carney and Brennan conceded just about all the charges so there appeal basically boils down to the idea that Whitey had the right to murder people and that Jeremiah O’Sullivan had the authority to give him that right. There is no precedent in American jurisprudence for an assistant US attorney to give people the right to murder others; it is doubtful in a case involving Whitey the First Circuit Court of Appeals would want to make that precent type decision.
The Boeri article states that 4k was found on Todashev’s body. He also had purchased presents for his family. Despite having no visible employment, Todashev didn’t seem to be short of funds. Both he, and, T.Tsarnaev, appear to have had ample running around money, but, no jobs. I’d say they were in the weed business, if not for Todashev’s Florida location. Back in the day, Florida was a prime source of weed. But, over the last couple decades, especially after 911, smuggling marijuana into Florida has become more difficult. The risks are all but prohibitive. Only transport rings of long standing, and, great discretion, have been able survive the new border security arrangements. Tsarnaev, and, Todashev, were too young, and, too foreign, to work with the good old boys who run things in Florida. On the other hand, the Oxycontin trade was/is open to anybody who can/could organize a gang of stooges to hit the pill-mills. Pain pills are very attractive to those in the fight business. I played competition Judo for thirty-years. After knocking the crap out of yourself on the mat, narcotic pills seem a reasonable solace for your pain. Off course, they are not. The pills are a trap. Very soon one is dependent on them. If you want to find pain meds, look for them at any fighting gym, or, competition dojo. Everything I’ve read, including the Boeri article, leads me to believe that T&T were in the pill business. As far as Brendan Mess goes, I still believe he either stiffed the Chechens, snitched on them, or, both. The ritual nature of the Waltham massacre was specifically designed to lead investigators off in the wrong direction. In my youth, a wise old fellow told me, in regard to the illegal drug trade, that one should never listen to people’s words, but, should watch which way the money goes to determine the truth in any matter.
Khalid- With all the leaks these days, I am surprised that these Boston police officers name or names have not been leaked. This shocks me, looking at the autopsy photos and no real answers from the DOJ. The kid has holes in him everywhere. Is the media at all to blame for not making this a Chris Crispy Crème Governor scale type scandal? We got full blown Million Dollar Gangsters called politicians running our Free World. Covering up murder and punishing the citizens of our world because of political hatred for the opposing colleagues that don’t fall in line with their own beliefs. It may be getting worse everyday folks….hold on!!!!
Doubting;
Dave Boeri the best reporter in Boston has just come out with an article on Todashev. You’ll learn at lot from it, I did. http://www.wbur.org/2014/01/14/todashev-fatal-fbi-shooting I’m happy he’s picked up the ball. The comment section names the cops who were there but not all of them.
Thank you Sensei for the article reference!
The autopsy report will be hard to explain, if, there were wounds from multiple weapons. Likewise, an execution round to the back of the head would lead to difficult questions. But, perhaps, Occam’s Razor can assist the investigation once the autopsy is public. If the wounds are all from the same weapon, that might well lead the casual reader to believe that an individual among the cops, and, agents, at that interrogation might have panicked at some threatening action by the deceased. That type of embarrassment can be chalked off to human error, and,would pass fairly quickly. The connection between the Tsarnaevs, and, Todashev, is harder to sweep under the rug.
Did Todashev organize, and, enforce, the Florida end of a pill-mill scam to Mass? What’s the real motive for the Waltham murders?
Khalid- I looked into the murders a few months back. It is pretty weird the crime scene, weed on the chest of the victims, The victims were allegedly pushing some weed, I am not up to speed on a pill mill element? you fill me in a bit?
Khalid:
Dave Boeri the best local reporter on these matters has come out with the story. See: http://www.wbur.org/2014/01/14/todashev-fatal-fbi-shooting
I suggest you may want to take a look at it. Dave deserves a lot of credit for doing this since he also seems to just let the truth be his guide. I have some questions about it that I will ask later but for now I think his article is great.
In a Cagney movie he is shot and killed in the final scene. The Police arrive and ask his girlfriend ” who is he?”. She says “he use to be a big shot”. Isn’t that WB’s fate? How much interest does the public have in him today? Not much. 2. Your post on Joker was excellent. He deserves the ultimate sanction. He intentionally killed unarmed women and children. He intentionally killed a cop. He intended to kill hundreds of civilians. He maimed hundreds. His was a crime against humanity. If the Feds won’t protect women and children from terrorists why do they exist? Just to frame innocents i.e. Swartz, Rico, Connolly, Turner and the Probation officials? In the 19th century in England there existed a commune whose first born was named Primo Communist Flitworth, who subsequently faded into obscurity. Several decades later in a commune in Hawaii a child named Primo Liberal Obama was born. Unfortunately for the citizenry of the U. S. he hasn’t faded into obscurity. Primo Liberal and his trusted sidekick, Holder will make the decision on Tsarnaev’s fate. How about making an offer to Joker of a life sentence on a plea but he has to serve his time as WB’s cellmate? See if he lasts. Or send the FBI agent and State cops that interviewed Todashev to Jokers cell for a discussion. Maybe the Tsarnaev family has the goods on the FBI which will prompt leniency from the DOJ. Don’t expect anything close to justice.
NC you are so on point!!!The ultimate sanction, perfect description!!!!
NC:
1. I remember the scene. It was on the steps of a church or some other public building in New York City. Yes, I’d agree with you that would normally be the case that Whitey fades off but when we read reports of him crying when he received his girlfriend’s letter I’m afraid that the Boston media will never let him fade away. Now that he’s in Tucson and can write letters, we’ll be treated to his thoughts on occassion. I understand when he was in Brooklyn he was in population and was quite popular with all the young gangsters; seemed to enjoy the food and the company, and has brightened up quite a bit. He’s now going into population in Tuscon. I could only think after learning of him being among other criminals there’s going to be a story someday of “the man who killed Whitey Bulger.”
2. You make an excellent point when you say: “If the Feds won’t protect women and children from terrorists why do they exist?” That’s the gist of my article that we have to confront terrorism on our homeland as harshly as we are able. Terrorist acts are pre-planned (pre-meditated) murders of many others. Those who carry them out must face a military court and the death penalty.
I’m afraid you are right that the decision makers on whether Joker faces the death penalty is in the hands of people who may not understand the enormity of their decision. They won’t be the ones who will decide if he deserves to die or not, all they have to do is decide if a jury that listens to the evidence will be empowered to give him the penalty. Their decision is easy; if they fail to subect him to that penalty then things will begin to fall apart for if he doesn’t deserve it, who does, certainly not that homeless druggy sad sack Gary Sampson. If he only has to face a life sentence, then he can play out the string and put on a big circus in the court and his legions of sympathizers, like the BBA, will pour out onto the streets in support of him. The only good news is that if Stearns is the judge, and I think he is, then he’ll hit him hard at the end.
By the way check out Boeri’s article on Todashev – lots of good information in it.
http://www.wbur.org/2014/01/14/todashev-fatal-fbi-shooting
Tucson! He lucked out. Beans, and, rice at every meal. How can things get better than that? Top off his commissary, devote some portion of his funds to phone credits, and, Jim will be styling. If he gets seriously ill, as most elderly men eventually do, it’s off to vacation at an FMC. Once a zek is in the hands of the BOP, only the godfathers get to decide his fate. The FBI has no say in what happens to the convicted. Tucson FCI is the kind of environment a savy zek can make moves in. One could say that JB is back in his element. He’s a star in that world.