Posted on 12/07/2022 5:32:40 PM PST by george76
Ahead of his transfer to a West Virginia prison, inmates there traded bets over how much time mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger had left to live, illustrating how well-known his location was around the time of his move, a Justice Department watchdog found.
A remarkable flurry of mishaps and bureaucratic blunders preceded the ill-fated transfer as officials in the federal Bureau of Prisons took minimal security precautions, despite Bulger being a renowned informant to law enforcement, according to the watchdog report. But the DOJ's inspector general report stopped short of accusing BOP workers of acting maliciously.
"We found that did not occur here, not because of a malicious intent or failure to comply with BOP policy, but rather because of staff and management performance failures; bureaucratic incompetence; and flawed, confusing, and insufficient policies and procedures," the report declared.
"In our view, no BOP inmate’s transfer, whether they are a notorious gangster or a non-violent offender, should be handled like Bulger’s transfer was handled in this instance," the report added.
Bulger, a seasoned crime boss in the Boston area infamous for his brutality in the 1970s and 1980s, was savagely bludgeoned by inmates less than 12 hours after he was moved from a Florida prison to the Hazelton federal penitentiary in West Virginia. The transfer came after he threatened a nurse. Bulger had been using a wheelchair at the time.
He was found mutilated on Oct. 30, 2018, with his eyes gouged out, his tongue nearly cut off, and his body badly maimed. One official described him as "unrecognizable." Subsequently, three inmates were charged for the vicious killing, but questions have lingered over the circumstances of his death.
A manager at Hazelton requested Bulger get moved to his unit, despite there being at least one major organized crime leader holed up there, according to the report. The manager denied knowing there were safety concerns for Bulger in the unit. However, inmates later told investigators that “everyone knew” Bulger would get killed because he was a "rat," NBC reported.
Over 100 BOP personnel were aware of Bulger's forthcoming transfer to Hazelton, and some staffers discussed it openly with inmates, in a breach of policy, per the report.
Bulger had been a fugitive from 1994 until 2011, after the dramatic apprehension of him. While he vehemently denies informing the authorities, the FBI revealed he worked as an informant dating back to the mid-1970s. Relations between the FBI and Bulger's criminal empire have been subject to scrutiny.
Questions percolated over why Bulger had been moved to Hazelton, a violent prison. The report explained that the penitentiary was selected because of its medical facilities and closer proximity to his family in Boston. The watchdog argued he should've been sent to a prison with medical facilities better suited to his heart problems and other health troubles..
DOJ's Inspector General Michael Horowitz's investigation was not criminal, but the FBI is doing a separate criminal review of the matter. The inspector general's report pointed to six prison employees who may have engaged in misconduct. The BOP said it agreed with the watchdog report's recommendations.
"Subsequent to the events described in the OIG report, BOP initiated several improvements to its medical transfer system, including enhanced communication between employees involved in the process, multiple trainings for personnel, and technological advancements," an agency spokesperson explained in a statement, per NBC.
Howie Carr’s book is called “The Brothers Bulger”
Glad to see that the federal government still has the Death Penalty, at least when they need to apply it.
True story: a few years back a couple of New England mobsters were put on trial in Federal Court in Boston. For a couple of days Stevie "The Rifleman" Flemmi (Whitey's pal) was testifying for the prosecution. I wouldn't have missed that for the world so I was there...as was Howie Carr.After having been questioned by the prosecution the defense got their turn. Their first question was "Mr Flemmi,would you say you've murdered *more* than 50 people,or fewer than 50?" His answer: "I've killed about 50 people".
Also,having arrived at the courthouse early one day I was in the gallery with only several court officials,including the prosecutor,Fred Wyshak...the guy who prosecuted Whitey. I caught his attention and said to him "Mr Wyshak, I watched Black Mass last night to refresh my memory". He smiled and said "I wish they had found someone with hair to play me". Wyshak had a full head of hair.
That he was.
Trash....
If I’m not mistaken, both Muller and Comey worked the Boston office.
I have doubts he was unconscious before they gave him eye and tongue surgery. That must have been insanely brutal.
Bulger was a snitch. That’s not going to endear him to the knitting circle in cellblock C.
I have a biography of Bulger that I thought was decent.
It’s amazing how things are intertwined including the “made” men who serve in government positions.
You mean the BOP doesn’t utilize tele-med services? Seems like that could save them some serious coin and old Whitey might still be a live.
Gross incompetence you say? Not Malice? Not criminality?
Dear Lord.
Whatever
Oldie But Goodie, Louie Gohmert's, Robert Mueller: Unmasked.
Robert Mueller
Disgraced, fired FBI agent Peter Strzok worked in the Boston office of the Famous But Incompetent agency.
https://twitter.com/jblightner58/status/1033858588811251712
A real den of iniquity and corruption.
Good info on Bulger Biden Kerry connection
A remarkable flurry of mishaps and bureaucratic blunders preceded the ill-fated transfer…
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I’ll fated? No. Orchestrated. Bulger was tight with corrupt individuals in the FBI. The FBI offed him to make sure there were no deathbed confessions.
How many murders was Bulger responsible for?
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Hard to tally up as in some cases the FBI was helping him kill off the competition. Some bodies were stuffed in car trunks. Some were buried in basements. I don’t think all of them were ever found. About 20.
Thank you. Personally, I think 20 is a low figure.
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