Feds won't seek death penalty against men charged in Bulger's prison killing

BOSTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors will not pursue the death penalty against two men charged with the prison killing of notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger, according to court papers filed Wednesday.

Prosecutors said in a court filing that in the event Fotios “Freddy” Geas, a former Mafia hitman, and Paul J. DeCologero, a Massachusetts gangster, are convicted of murder in Bulger’s killing, they will not seek a death sentence.

Geas also faced a possible death sentence if found guilty of an additional charge of murder by a federal prisoner serving a life sentence. But prosecutors said they would not seek it in the event he is convicted of that charge either.

Geas and DeCologero were charged last August in the 2018 slaying of Bulger, who ran the largely Irish mob in Boston in the 1970s and ‘80s and served as an FBI informant who ratted on his gang’s main rival. Bulger was killed just hours after he was transferred to a prison in West Virginia from another lockup in Florida and placed in the general population.

Geas and DeCologero are accused of striking Bulger in the head multiple times while a third man, Sean McKinnon, acted as a lookout. An inmate witness told authorities that DeCologero said he and Geas used a belt with a lock attached to it to beat Bulger to death.

Geas, DeCologero and McKinnon are all charged with conspiracy to commit murder, which carries up to life in prison. McKinnon, who is charged separately with making false statements to a federal agent, did not face a possible death sentence. The men are scheduled to go on trial in December 2024 in federal court in West Virginia.

Patrick Nash, an attorney for DeCologero, called it the “correct decision by the Department of Justice.”

“We are looking forward to our day in court. We trust the system and trust the fairness of the system and will put the facts in front of the jury,” Nash said.

Attorneys for Geas didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment on Wednesday. An attorney who has represented Bulger’s family also didn’t respond to an email.

Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2021 placed a moratorium on federal executions. But the Justice Department has continued to press for the death penalty in certain cases.

https://www.salemnews.com/news/feds...f857de2-20eb-11ee-be4e-6bd6929f2cdc.html

Another article that goes a bit more in depth:

https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/...t-see-death-penalty-prosecutors-say.html

Still don't get why DeCologero took part in it so close to being released. The lure of prison status must have won out.

My opinion is if these guys are going to trial then so too should the prison staff who made all those cell changes moving people around before Bulger got there...in addition to the prison officials who decided to move Bulger there in the first place. But, we know that won't happen.

To be honest, they should of got the death penalty. This is the united states and although Bulger was a scumbag, he should not be allowed to be killed in prison. Is that guy Gaes some kind of animal or something? Giviing them the death penalty would of reverberated throught the entire prison system. This was not a fight or self defense, it was pre meditated and brutal.
The guards are just as guilty.

Bulger received his "karma" and these guys should only receive additional sentences. Thats it. As MafiaStudent already said, all of the prison staff from that "faithful" day should also get arrested but that won't happen. So I wonder if theres more to the story that we already know about?!

I happen to agree with you TD, on all counts.

If a lifer tell you do kill a snitch,you can't say no way,I'll soon back.There are other rules in prison and DeCologero should be seen as weak even McKinnon was involved because feared Geas.

The prison staff charged? Why exactly? It's been reported Bulger denied the offer to be segregated and insisted on being in general population. So be it.

Seems like prison staff willingly turned a blind eye a la Epstein… “I see nothing! Nothing at all… “

Report about prison staff from 2022

A damning report from the Justice Department watchdog has revealed that “serious” failures from prison officials ultimately led to the murder of high-profile mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger just 12 hours after he was moved to a notoriously dangerous jail infamously dubbed “misery mountain”.

The bombshell 99-page report, released on Wednesday by the DOJ Office of the Inspector General, revealed that inmates at Hazelton in West Virginia knew well in advance that Bulger was being transferred there from Coleman in Florida and that his arrival was discussed among staff and inmates around the prison.

Interviews with inmates, multiple prison emails and at least one jailhouse phone call reveal how inmates openly spoke about Bulger’s impending arrival and knew that he would be in serious danger as soon as he reached the facility, the report finds.

One inmate told DOJ investigators that both inmates and staff were speculating “how long Bulger would stay alive at Hazelton” and that some inmates were even taking bets on the matter.

Rest of article here:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...murder-police-failings-doj-b2240762.html

The death penalty was abolished in its entirety (also in peacetime) in the Netherlands in 1983 ; the last peacetime execution was carried out in 1860. In Belgium, the last civilian execution was in 1863; after that, until 1950, 259 people were executed for war crimes, mostly by bullet.