In a recent development, notorious Massachusetts gangster Paul J. DeCologero was handed down a sentence of over four years for his involvement in the 2018 brutal killing of infamous Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger in a beleaguered West Virginia federal prison.
The sentence was pronounced on Thursday, following DeCologero's guilty plea to an assault charge. Although the charge could have warranted a sentence of up to 10 years, DeCologero, already serving a 25-year sentence from a 2006 conviction for procuring heroin intended to murder a teenage girl, received a lesser sentence.
As reported by Boston.com, the prosecution initially claimed that DeCologero, alongside inmate Fotios "Freddy" Geas, had used a lock attached to a belt to repeatedly strike Bulger in the head, mere hours after his transfer to USP Hazelton from another Florida-based detention facility. However, the narrative shifted on Thursday, with prosecutors stating that DeCologero had merely acted as a lookout and had not physically assaulted Bulger.
A fellow inmate, testifying before a grand jury, recounted DeCologero's words, stating that Bulger was a snitch and that they intended to kill him as soon as he entered their unit at the United States Penitentiary, Hazelton. Meanwhile, Geas, who faces a hearing on September 6, has been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, charges that could potentially result in a life sentence. The Justice Department, however, announced last year that it would not seek the death penalty for the duo.
Sean McKinnon, another inmate who acted as a lookout, pleaded guilty in June to lying to FBI special agents about his involvement. McKinnon, who had served a sentence for stealing guns from a firearms dealer, received credit for spending 22 months in custody following his 2022 indictment. He was given no additional prison time and was returned to Florida to complete his supervised release.
The plea deals for the three men were disclosed on May 13. Geas and DeCologero were identified as suspects shortly after Bulger's death, but remained uncharged for years as the investigation continued. Court records reveal that inmates were aware of Bulger's impending arrival. DeCologero and Geas spent approximately seven minutes in Bulger's cell during the attack.
The decision to transfer Bulger to Hazelton, a facility already under scrutiny for violence and understaffing, and his placement in the general population rather than protective housing, drew criticism from experts. A 2022 investigation by the Justice Department inspector general concluded that Bulger's murder was the result of multiple management failures, widespread incompetence, and flawed policies within the federal Bureau of Prisons. The inspector general found no evidence of malicious intent by bureau employees, but highlighted a series of bureaucratic blunders that left Bulger vulnerable to rival gangsters.
In response to these revelations, the U.S. Senate passed legislation in July to overhaul oversight and increase transparency within the Bureau of Prisons. This followed reporting from The Associated Press that exposed systemic corruption within the federal prison system, leading to heightened congressional scrutiny.
Bulger, a significant figure in Boston's largely Irish mob during the 1970s and '80s, was also an FBI informant, providing the agency with information on his gang's main rival. He became one of the nation's most wanted fugitives after fleeing Boston in 1994, following a tip from his FBI handler about an impending indictment. Bulger was finally captured at age 81 after more than 16 years on the run. He was convicted in 2013 for a series of 11 killings and numerous other gangland crimes, many of which were committed while he was reportedly an FBI informant.
DeCologero, a member of a gang led by his uncle, was convicted for purchasing heroin intended to murder a teenage girl, as his uncle feared she might betray their crew to the police. When the heroin failed to kill her, another man broke her neck, dismembered her body, and buried her remains in the woods, according to court records.
Geas, a close associate of the Mafia and an enforcer, was not an official "made" member due to his Greek heritage. He and his brother were sentenced to life in 2011 for their roles in several violent crimes, including the 2003 murder of Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno, a Genovese crime family boss in Springfield, Massachusetts. Bruno's murder was ordered by another mobster who was upset that Bruno had spoken to the FBI, prosecutors said.
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