– Three men charged in Whitey Bulger’s 2018 prison killing
– Plea deals for men in Whitey Bulger’s prison killing case.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
WASHINGTON (AP) — Court papers filed Monday revealed that three men charged in the 2018 prison killing of notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger have reached plea deals with prosecutors. The deals for Fotios “Freddy” Geas, Paul J. DeCologero, and Sean McKinnon were disclosed nearly six years after the 89-year-old gangster was beaten to death in his cell at a troubled West Virginia prison.
Geas, a former Mafia hitman, and DeCologero, a Massachusetts gangster, were accused of repeatedly hitting Bulger in the head while McKinnon served as a lookout. DeCologero allegedly told an inmate witness that Bulger was a “snitch” and that they planned to kill him as soon as he entered their unit. He also mentioned using a belt with a lock attached to it to bludgeon Bulger to death.
Although Geas and DeCologero were identified as suspects shortly after Bulger’s death, they remained uncharged for years as the investigation continued. Prosecutors in West Virginia federal court have requested hearings for the men to change their not-guilty pleas and be sentenced, although the details of the plea agreements have not been made public.
Response from Attorneys
Belinda Haynie, an attorney for Geas, declined to comment on the plea deals. Attorneys representing the other two defendants have not responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
Justice Department Decision
Last year, the Justice Department announced that it would not seek the death penalty for Geas and DeCologero, who were charged with murder. All three men face charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, which carries a potential life sentence. McKinnon was also charged with making false statements to a federal agent.
Whitey Bulger’s Criminal History
Bulger, who led the Irish mob in Boston during the 1970s and ’80s, was also an FBI informant who provided information on his main gang rival. After fleeing Boston in 1994, he became one of the nation’s most-wanted fugitives until his capture at the age of 81. In 2013, he was convicted of 11 murders and numerous other gang-related crimes.
Bulger’s transfer to USP Hazelton in West Virginia, where he was killed just hours after arriving, raised questions about the prison system’s handling of high-profile inmates. An investigation in 2022 found that his killing was the result of multiple management failures and flawed policies within the Bureau of Prisons.
Background of the Defendants
DeCologero, a member of an organized crime gang in Massachusetts, was previously convicted of purchasing heroin to kill a teenage girl who was perceived as a threat to the gang. Geas, a close associate of the Mafia, was involved in several violent crimes but was not a “made” member due to his Greek heritage. McKinnon had a history of firearms-related offenses before his arrest in connection with Bulger’s killing.
As the legal proceedings continue, the details of the plea agreements and sentencing hearings for the three men will be closely monitored.
.
men charged in Whitey Bulger’s prison killing plea deals, Tuesday News.
