FBI Pursuing “The Departed” Mobster
Fugitive Boston Irish mobster James “Whitey” Bulger, an inspiration for the Oscar-winning film “The Departed,” has likely blended into society and is staying clear of crime, a top federal agent said on Thursday.
America’s most-wanted fugitive after Osama bin Laden, Bulger also likely squirreled away enough money to survive before fleeing Boston and sparking an international manhunt, said the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston office.
“No lead goes uncovered related to this,” Warren Bamford, who took over as head of the FBI’s Boston office a month ago, told Reuters in an interview.
“We are addressing that investigation until either he is captured or someone tells me to do otherwise.”
Bulger, who has been linked to corrupt federal agents, was the inspiration for the character of Frank Costello played by Jack Nicholson in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed,” which won best picture and best director honors at last month’s Academy Awards.
The convicted bank robber and federal informant has eluded federal agents since December 23, 1994, when he vanished with his girlfriend and sparked a manhunt with unconfirmed sightings spanning nearly every continent — from Europe to South America and Thailand.
Bulger has been indicted for 19 murders. His Winter Hill gang has generated more than 60 convictions in about 30 cases.
“He’s probably stayed very much below the radar, so to speak, stayed out of the public view and blended into society wherever that society happens to be,” said Bamford. “He may have had a very good plan when he was leaving. He may have had funds put aside for this, to plan for this,” he said.