Three inmates accused of killing notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger in prison in 2018 are set to appear in court for a plea hearing and sentencing. The hearing for Fotios “Freddy” Geas, Paul J. DeCologero, and Sean McKinnon will take place in federal court in northern West Virginia. Bulger, 89, was beaten to death in his cell at a troubled West Virginia prison six years ago, shortly after being transferred there. Geas and DeCologero are accused of repeatedly hitting Bulger in the head, while McKinnon acted as a lookout during the attack. DeCologero allegedly revealed a plan to kill Bulger as soon as he entered their unit and used a belt with a lock attached to it to beat him to death. The three men were charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, with Geas and DeCologero also facing murder charges.
Last year, the Justice Department announced that it would not seek the death penalty for Geas and DeCologero. Bulger, who led the largely Irish mob in Boston during the 1970s and 1980s, became a fugitive after fleeing the city in 1994. He was captured at age 81 after more than 16 years on the run and was convicted in 2013 for 11 killings and numerous other crimes. The three inmates accused of killing him in prison will now face sentencing for their roles in his death. DeCologero reportedly referred to Bulger as a “snitch” and shared plans to kill him with another inmate. The plea deals for the three accused killers were revealed last month, and the hearing on Monday will determine their fate.
Geas, DeCologero, and McKinnon were all charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, with Geas and DeCologero facing additional murder charges. McKinnon was also charged with making false statements to a federal agent. The inmates allegedly used a belt with a lock attached to it to beat Bulger to death in his cell. DeCologero revealed a plan to kill him as soon as he entered their unit, labeling him a “snitch.” The hearing on Monday will involve plea deals that were agreed upon last month, with the three accused men set to learn their sentences for their roles in the murder of Whitey Bulger.
The Justice Department decided not to seek the death penalty for Geas and DeCologero in relation to Bulger’s murder. Bulger, who was on the run for more than 16 years before being captured and convicted in 2013, was killed in prison by Geas, DeCologero, and McKinnon in 2018. The three inmates will now face sentencing for their roles in the notorious gangster’s death, with the plea deals that were revealed last month determining their fate. DeCologero reportedly referred to Bulger as a “snitch” and shared plans to kill him as soon as he entered their unit. The hearing on Monday will involve the plea deals agreed upon by the accused killers of Whitey Bulger.
The three inmates accused of killing James “Whitey” Bulger in prison in 2018 will appear in court for a plea hearing and sentencing. Fotios “Freddy” Geas, Paul J. DeCologero, and Sean McKinnon face charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, with Geas and DeCologero also facing murder charges. The inmates allegedly used a belt with a lock attached to it to beat Bulger to death in his cell, with DeCologero referring to him as a “snitch” and sharing plans to kill him with another inmate. The Justice Department decided not to seek the death penalty for the accused killers of Whitey Bulger, who was captured in 2013 after more than 16 years on the run. The hearing on Monday will determine the sentences for the three men involved in his murder, based on the plea deals agreed upon last month.
