Posted on 09/16/2002 9:55:28 AM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:08:18 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
BOSTON -- Former FBI agent John Connolly, who had been credited with helping to cripple the New England Mafia, was sentenced Monday to more than 10 years in prison for protecting his informants in exchange for information.
U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro had twice rejected motions from both the prosecution and the defense to deviate from federal guidelines, which called for a sentence of eight years, one month to 10 years, one month.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Just goes to prove that Boston can get it right every so often. Good job, Judge Tauro. Connolly is a scumbag's scumbag.
Best news article I've read in days.
John Morris, Connolly's boss, should be tarred and feathered. Unfortunately he was granted immunity where he squealed like the cobarde he really is. The worst part? The Bulger Group was able to buy Morris' integrity for $5K and a couple of cases of wine.
Is. I'm very happy Connolly got a real sentence. Next: will he flip for reduced time? Is Zip Cannoli more interested in protecting Whitey's hide than his own backside?
In recent weeks, the judge was deluged with 200 letters from friends of Connolly asking for leniency. He also received letters, including from Robert Jordan, assistant director of the FBI office of professional responsibility, asking Tauro to impose the maximum sentence.
Special U.S. Attorney John Durham had urged the judge take into consideration the damage Connolly had done to the reputation of the FBI.
Durham also scoffed at Connolly's claims that he didn't realize while he was the FBI's handler for Flemmi and Bulger that they were committing serious crimes, including murder.
He urged the judge to impose a sentence that would show the public "that there are no special rules for those people who are well connected."
"It should tell the public that there is no person who is above the law," he said.
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