12. DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR
1In 2014, federal investigators leaked to local Boston media an updated assessment of the Mafia hierarchy in New England. Vincent Ferrara was not mentioned, suggesting, as Ferrara himself has claimed, that he is retired. The man federal authorities now claim is boss of the New England mafia is none other than Peter J. Limone, the man who, along with Joe Salvati, was falsely convicted for the murder of Teddy Deegan in 1968.
2A seminal event in the Bulger saga that was, curiously, only mentioned in passing during Flemmi’s testimony was a dinner meeting that took place at the home of Steve Flemmi’s mother. At this meeting were Flemmi, Bulger, FBI agents Connolly, Morris, and Jim Ring, who had recently taken over as head of the C-3 squad. Also present as a special guest was former agent Joe Pistone, whose exploits as an undercover agent who penetrated the Mafia would be lionized in the movie Donnie Brasco. It was an esteemed gathering, with the bosses of the Southie underworld socializing with the leaders of the FBI’s organized crime squad in Boston. If that weren’t enough, at one point Senator Billy Bulger, who lived across the courtyard from Mrs. Flemmi, entered the room so that he could view a program on Mrs. Flemmi’s television. If Billy Bulger thought it was strange to see this unusual mix of good guys and bad guys dining together, he did not say so. In fact, years later, when called to testify at congressional hearings, Billy Bulger claimed to have no memory of the occasion.
The wining and dining of Bulger and Flemmi became a tradition in the Boston division of the FBI. It was revealed at the 2008 Miami trial of John Connolly that before and after his retirement in 1990, his successor as informant handler, Special Agent Nicholas Gianturco, hosted dinner parties for Bulger and Flemmi at his home that were attended by other agents, with his two young children also present in the house. At the Connolly trial, it was alleged by witness Steve Flemmi that Gianturco and at least five other agents—Connolly, John Morris, John Newton, Mike Buckley, and Jack Cloherty—received cash bribe payments from the Bulger/Flemmi organization. Gianturco took the stand and denied the payments (as have all of the agents, except for Morris), but he admitted receiving gifts from Bulger—with John Connolly acting as middleman—that included a black briefcase, a bottle of cognac, and a Lladro vase. Testified Gianturco, “They were informants. Informants were important. You don’t make organized crime cases without informants. They were giving us information about the Mafia.” Gianturco added that presents “didn’t mean anything. They weren’t getting any information from me. They weren’t getting any assistance from me. Again, they were informants. They were important, and it just didn’t mean anything to me other than a Christmas present.”
13. THE MUGGING OF FITZY
1The desire on the part of Bulger prosecutors to punish Robert Fitzpatrick continued after the trial was over. On April 30, 2015, Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Wyshak announced that Fitzpatrick was being indicted on six counts of perjury and six counts of obstruction of justice stemming from his testimony at the trial. Specifically, the indictment stated that Fitzpatrick had “knowingly made false and misleading declarations” in his retelling of criminal cases he was involved in previously in his career, most notably his claim that as a young FBI agent in Memphis he had been among the first to arrive at the scene of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and also that he had physically made the arrest of mafia boss Gennaro Angiulo at Francesca’s restaurant in 1986. Fitzpatrick was arrested and brought handcuffed into court to face the charges. It was an astounding turn of events, and a seemingly blatant act of retaliation on the part of prosecutor Wyshak. Even Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen, who had ridiculed Fitzpatrick in print during his time on the stand, referred to the indictment as “vindictive.” Facing charges that could, upon conviction, result in up to sixteen years in prison, Fitzpatrick was slated to go to trial in fall 2015.
INDEX
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Abe & Louie’s, 139–40, 141
“accessory after the fact,” 30, 30n
Ahearn, James, 369, 383–84
Albano, Michael, 205–7, 294
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, 78, 103
America’s Most Wanted (TV show), 11, 250
Angiulo, Donato “Danny,” 212–13, 281
Angiulo, Gennaro “Jerry,” 112–13, 156, 212–13, 277, 278–81
arrest of, 364–65, 370n
Deegan murder and, 105–6
murder charge against, 92–93, 121, 278
racketeering charges, 280–81, 282, 362
wiretap of, 198–99, 279–81
Angiulo, Michele “Mikey,” 212–13, 281
Angiulo, Vittori Nicoli “Nick,” 212–13, 281
Animal (Sherman), 105n
Atlanta Penitentiary, 78–79
Attardo, Anthony, 275
audio interruption, 177, 179
Auerhahn, Jeffrey, 334
Bailey, F. Lee, 121, 277–78
Bangs, Joseph, 61
bank robberies, 61–62, 77–78, 113–14, 117–18
Barboza (Barboza), 105n, 108
Barboza, Joseph “Animal,” 103–13
Angiulo and, 92–93, 105–6, 112–13, 121, 278–79
background of, 104
Bulger trial and, 48–49
in Carney’s opening statement, 48–49
as contract killer for Mafia, 6, 104–5, 105n
Deegan murder, 105–8, 117–19, 121–22, 288–89, 344–46
as FBI informant, 2, 6, 7, 10, 48–49, 108, 111–13, 115–19, 121–23, 278–79
McLaughlin brothers and, 109–11
murder charge in California against, 122–23
murder of, 123
nickname of, 104–5
Patriarca and, 115–17, 121–22
Salvati and, 2, 3, 5–6, 7, 49, 118, 119
Barrett, Arthur “Bucky”
Depositors Trust bank robbery, 61–62, 183, 255
excavating and moving body, 260–62
murder of, 36–38, 39, 234, 254–57
Batista, Fulgencio, 141
Bennett, Edward “Wimpy,” 120, 126–27, 394
Berlinger, Joe, 100, 274, 415
Beth Israel Hospital, 109
Betrayal (Fitzpatrick), 353, 358, 366–67
Black Mass (Lehr and O’Neill), 126, 214–15, 215n
Boeri, David, 218
Bond, Theresa, 407–8
bookmaking, 44, 84–97, 179
Boozang, Steven, 320, 370–73
Boston (magazine), 60, 215
Boston, gangsterism in, 75–76, 80–84, 105, 165–71
Boston Combat Zone, 111
Boston Edison, 284–85
Boston gang wars, 80–84, 93–94, 105, 108–9, 111, 124, 164, 165–71, 342–45
Boston Globe, 77n, 126, 193, 212–15, 216–17, 320, 370n
Boston Herald, 137, 216, 273, 328, 404
Boston Marathon bombing, 31–32
Boston media, 211–18, 273–75, 330
Boston Phoenix, 218
Boston Police Department, 199–200
Boston University, 91
Bradley, Ed, 138
Bratsos, Arthur, 346
Brennan, Hank, 41–42
background of, 59
Bulger informant file, 184–89
closing argument, 393–97
Davis testimony, 378, 379–81
Fitzpatrick testimony, 359–63, 368
Flemmi testimony, 338, 339, 340, 342–47
Foley testimony, 70–73
jury nullification, 344–46
Martorano testimony, 142–45, 151–53
media appearances, 49–50, 211, 399
Morris testimony, 197–203, 205–6
“Nee matter,” 320
objection to motion, 58–59, 60
pretrial arguments, 60
the verdict, 399
witness list, 3
08, 352–53
Bricco Suites, 275–77
Brinks robbery of 1950, 76
Brothers Bulger, The (Carr), 216
Brunnick, Leo, 200–201, 360
Brutal (Weeks and Karas), 53, 55–56, 81–82, 262–63
Buccheri, Richard, 348–49
Buckley, Mike, 348n
Bulger, James Joseph, Sr., 76–77
Bulger, James “Whitey”
apprehension in Santa Monica, 8–9, 16, 17, 41, 276, 349, 353
early life of, 76–77
as FBI informant, 9–10, 15, 124, 126–28, 132, 171–76, 181–207, 267–68, 309–10, 342, 347–48n, 363, 369, 381–84, 389; Carney’s trial “bombshell,” 43–44, 50, 54, 283; Connolly as handler, 16–18, 43–44, 47–48, 55–56, 126–27, 169, 171–76, 182, 186–90, 192–96, 198–99, 203–4, 280–81, 355–56, 357, 376–77, 381–82, 391–92; FBI files, 45–46, 124, 169, 181–89, 199, 203, 288, 357; Fitzpatrick’s efforts to close, 356–58, 360–62; and Morris, 192–204, 214; recruitment, 19–20, 78, 244–45, 279, 395
on the lam, 9, 215–16, 285
mythology of, 14, 217–19, 220
prison years, 78–79, 103
swagger of, 33–34
trial of. See People of the United States v. James J. Bulger
Bulger, John “Jackie,” 76, 371, 387
Bulger, William “Billy,” 348n
advocacy for brother, 79
Boston media and, 8–9, 212, 213–14, 216
brother’s relationship with, 8–9, 13–14, 171, 212
Burton committee hearings, 284–85
Connolly and, 125, 219–20, 284
St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, 219–20
as senator, 8–9, 13–14, 69
“Bulger Mystique, The” (Boston Globe series), 213–14, 217
Burton, Dan, 284–93
Bush, George W., 285
Café Pompeii, 1–2, 4, 7, 276, 277, 279, 293–94, 297
Cahill, Joe, 315–16
Callahan, John, 200
murder of, 130, 150–53, 409
Wheeler murder, 146–47, 200
Camuti, William, 351
Capizzi, Frank, 176–80, 277
Cardinal Cushing High School, 13, 14
Cardinale, Anthony “Tony,” 19, 276–83, 290, 335
Carney, Jay W., 59
assignment to case, 12, 41–42
background of, 41
Capizzi testimony, 179
closing argument, 393, 396–97
defense motion to adjourn, 306–9
DeMasi and, 161
Fourth of July recess, 239–40
Katz testimony, 89–90
Long testimony, 63–66
Marra testimony, 187–89
media appearances, 49–50, 211, 399
Morris testimony, 197, 203–4
“Nee matter,” 371–73
O’Brien testimony, 95–96
opening statement, 40–49, 50, 181, 204
Patricia Donahue testimony, 318–19
Sideropoulos testimony, 383–84
the verdict, 399
Weeks testimony, 263–70
witness list, 308, 352–53
Carr, Howie, 137, 139, 142, 143, 146, 216, 273–75, 403–4
Casper, Denise J., 34–35
background of, 34
Bulger informant file, 184–85
Bulger potentially taking the stand, 386–88
Capizzi testimony, 179–80
defense motion to adjourn, 308
defense witness list, 308, 352–53
Flemmi and, 340, 343–44
Fourth of July recess, 239–40
imposes gag order, 49–50
jury nullification, 345, 346
Lindholm testimony, 327–28
Long testimony, 63–66
Martorano testimony, 131
Morris testimony, 194, 196–97, 200, 204
“Nee matter,” 371–73
O’Brien testimony, 90
prosecution’s motion, 60
sentencing of Bulger, 409
Twomey case, 379–80
Weeks testimony, 269
Cassesso, Ronald, 117–18
Castro, Fidel, 141
Castucci, Richard “Richie,” 145–46, 172
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), 20, 78, 166
Chandler’s Bar, mob summit meeting at, 82–84, 93–94, 155–56, 165
Charlestown, 80, 105, 183, 246–47, 316, 343
Ciulla, Anthony “Fat Tony,” 174
claddagh ring, 166, 305, 312
Clarke, Ramsey, 116–17
Clement, Gerald, 61, 183
Cloherty, Jack, 348n
CNN, 99–100, 274, 366
cocaine, 218, 220–27
Condon, Dennis, 190–92
background of, 115
Burton committee hearings, 287–88
Deegan murder case, 107–8, 117–20, 121, 191, 287–88
McLaughlin murder, 109–10
Morris and, 191–92, 206–7, 220, 279, 378–79
Patriarca case, 115–17, 191
retirement from FBI, 220, 285
use of informants, 115–21, 123–24, 126, 127, 191, 244, 245, 285, 288
Connolly, John
Angiulo and, 279, 280, 281
author’s interview with, 16–18, 173–74, 389
background of, 124–25
Bulger’s relationship with, 16–18, 40, 43–46, 47–48, 55–56, 126–27, 146, 169, 171–76, 182, 186–90, 192–96, 198–99, 203–4, 212, 213, 231, 245, 279, 290, 337, 347–48n, 355–56, 357, 376–77, 381–82, 389, 391–92
Callahan murder, 150, 151
Carney’s opening statement, 43–46, 47–48
corruption of, 16, 55–56, 149, 171–76, 189–90, 194, 195–96, 280–81, 289, 294, 309, 310, 343, 378–79, 391–92
criminal investigations, 16, 193–94, 215, 335
Cronin’s testimony, 376–77, 378–79
Flemmi as informant, 40, 55–56, 126–27, 146, 174, 175, 245, 279, 290, 330, 347–48n, 376–77
Halloran-Donahue murder, 149, 200–202, 363
illegal drugs and, 219–20
Martorano and, 47–48, 71, 132, 133, 150, 151, 175
Miami murder trial, 16, 17, 18n, 60, 215, 289, 348n, 378–79
Morris and, 46, 172, 192–96, 198–204, 205–6, 220, 281, 294, 369, 391–92
retirement of, 284
Salemme arrest, 125–26, 192
Senator Bulger and, 125, 219–20, 284
use of informants, 43, 126–28, 145, 146, 200–201, 258, 281, 283, 310, 347–48n, 363
Connors, Eddie, 315
Constitution, U.S., 240–41, 397, 404, 406
Crawford, James, 376–77
Criminal and an Irishman, A (Nee), 30, 164, 246
Cronin, Matthew, 375–77
Cuba, 140–41
Cullen, Kevin, 77n, 216–17, 370n
Daily Beast, 16
Daley, Kevin, 27–29
Danbury Federal Correctional Institution, 15
Davis, Debra
exhumation of remains, 311–12
murder of, 97, 98–99, 270, 310, 336–39, 385–86, 404
wrongful death lawsuit, 99
Davis, Fred, Jr., 377–81
Davis, Michelle, 339
Davis, Mickey, 337
Davis, Olga, 98, 338–39, 342
Davis, Steve, 97–101, 273–74, 337, 399, 404, 407
Deegan, Teddy
Burton committee hearings, 285–89, 291, 296
murder of, 105–8, 108n, 117–19, 121–22, 344–46; framing of Salvati, 5–7, 49, 113n, 118, 119
Defago, Don, 319
DeMasi, Ralph, 161–64, 398
De Niro, Robert, 47
Departed, The (movie), 11, 35
DePasquale, Frank, 275–76
Depositors Trust bank robbery, 61–62, 183, 255
DePrisco, Thomas, 346
Dillinger, John, 113, 173
Discovery Channel, 52–53, 320, 329, 370, 372, 410
“discovery material,” 42
Doherty, Thomas, 61, 183
Donahue, Michael
murder of, 100, 149–50, 164–65, 200–202, 251–54, 252–53, 267, 318–19, 362
wrongful death lawsuit, 99
Donahue, Patricia, 100, 101, 308, 318–19, 388, 398, 407
Donahue, Tommy, 100, 165, 211
Donnie Brasco (movie), 348n
Drinan, Robert, 78–79
drug dealing, 44, 218–37, 325–27
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 20, 274–75
due process, 241
Dukakis, Michael, 219
Eatherton, Gigi, 183
“fair game,” 196
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Boston media and, 212–13
Bulger trial and, 375–88
Burton committee hearings, 284–93
Carney’s opening statement, 43–46
culture of corruption in, 189–92
C-3 Squad, 126, 172, 191, 192, 194, 195, 198, 199, 214, 217, 279–82, 284, 354, 376–77, 378, 392
C-7 Unit, 375–80
D.C. meeting, 357–58, 362–63
Deegan murder, 106–8, 108n, 117–19
Fitzpatrick and, 353–70
informant program, 16–17, 19–20, 113n, 114–15, 284–93, 309–10, 347–48n, 411–13. See also specific informants
Femia, Nicky, 62
Ferrara, Vincent “Vinny,” 334–35, 335n
Fidler, Alan “Suitcase,” 168, 311
Fifth Amendment, 75, 161, 179, 241, 284, 321, 371, 372, 373
Fitzgerald, John E., Jr., 116, 120, 127, 330
Fitzpatrick, Jane, 358–57, 368
Fitzpatrick, Robert “Fitzy”
author’s meetings with, 353–54, 356–57, 368–69
background of, 358, 359
Betrayal, 353, 358, 366–67
efforts to close Bulger as informant, 356–58, 360–62
meeting with Bulger, 354–56
punishment of, 370n
witness testimony, 19, 353–58, 359–70, 392, 404
Flemmi, Michael, 332
Flemmi, Stephen J.
arrest of, 332
Barrett murder, 37–38, 255–57
Bennett murder, 120, 126–27, 394
bookmaking, 88–89, 90, 96–97
Bulger trial and, 39–40, 47, 394–96; witness testimony, 323, 330–33, 336–49
Davis murder, 97, 98–99, 336–39, 385–86