A second suspect in the prison killing of “Whitey” Bulger has been identified as a member of a notorious mafia.
Paul DeCologero, 44, is believed to have assisted Fotios “Freddy” Geas, another organized crime figure in Massachusetts, savagely beat Bulger to death in his cell on Oct. 30, reported the Boston Globe.
DeCologero, a member of a group called DeCologero Crew, headed by his uncle, is serving a 25-year sentence for racketeering and the conspiracy that led to the 1996 murder of 19-year-old Aislin Silva, which included members of the crew cutting up and disposing of the teen’s body.
Geas, 51, is a Mafia hit man serving a life sentence for two murders.
Both men hate informants because former partners in crime helped convict them. Bulger was outed as an FBI informant.
Bulger, who was one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, was sentenced to two life terms in prison plus five years for 31 counts, including 11 murders, in 2013. He led a crime group known as the Winter Hill Gang.
“The criminal enterprise was involved in extortion—both of individuals and also businesses that they would target; murder—for anyone that got in their way; drug distribution; money laundering; and other violent acts,” said Richard Teahan, supervisory special agent for the FBI’s Boston Division, in a podcast.
Prison Switch
Jose Rojas, who represents workers at the Florida prison where Bulger was held before going to a federal penitentiary West Virginia, said the switch was like giving the mobster a “death sentence.”
Bulger was beaten to death just hours after he arrived at the new prison BOP [Bureau of Prisons] Hazelton.
Rojas told The Associated Press that someone “dropped the ball” when they decided to transfer Bulger.
He said officials should have checked to ensure that Bulger wasn’t being housed with any potential enemies.
After the death, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) called for an investigation into the “alleged appalling conditions” that inmates are facing at the prison.
“Today’s reports of another inmate death at Hazelton heighten the need for an IG [inspector general] investigation into the operations and prisoner conditions at this federal prison,” Norton said in a statement.
“The two other killings at Hazelton earlier this year were of inmates from the District. Based on reports from my constituents who are housed at Hazelton and their relatives, there appears to be a serious shortage of staffing and other resources, leaving prisoners and guards vulnerable to attacks,” the statement continued.