Michael Tabman's Blog: Crime Scene - Posts Tagged "michael-tabman-blog"

There was quite a media buzz surrounding the arrest of aging mobster Whitey Bulger. His story is one of those mob stories that we cannot get enough of. Tipped off about his impending arrest, 16 years ago by an FBI Agent, he went on the lam. And there he remained until his recent capture. We were just as fascinated when Eric Rudolph, the Atlanta Olympics Bomber eluded capture for more than five years, to be found living in the woods.

Word has it, that Bulger has been “talking” to the FBI. But, what is he saying? Bulger probably knows where the skeletons are buried literally and figuratively. He is suspected of being involved in 19 murders. There is no statute of limitations for homicide. Bulger is also wanted for an array of other serious crimes. I assure you, some ambitious FBI Agents are licking their chops in anticipation of some impressive prosecutions.

But, why would Bulger tell the authorities anything?

One of the biggest motivators for any criminal to talk would be in exchange for something – usually to drop charges or some accommodation relative to incarceration.
Given Bulger’s violent history, the charges pending against him, and 16 years on the run, I would guess that there is not much room for negotiating his prosecution.

However, if Bulger has the information everyone seems to think he has, the FBI would want to get that, so I expect there may be some horse-trading. However, complicating that is the fact that Bulger was an FBI informant, supposedly cooperating with the FBI – we all know how that went.

Why else may Bulger talk? For one, even a hardened mobster enjoys attention and has an ego. Having spent the last 16 years in hiding, and now with nowhere to go, Bulger may enjoy being the center of so much attention. And, he may have a few axes to grind. There is also speculation that Bulger will disclose damaging information about the FBI and their part in protecting him. I have no personal knowledge of this case, but I doubt that there was or is any wide-spread corruption within the FBI that assisted Bulger. We know that there was at least one bad FBI Agent. That happens. In my first book, Walking the Corporate Beat, when discussing risk, I refer to the more than one occasion that an FBI agent found himself in trouble over his relationship with an informant. Informants are high risk – high reward.

I am sure you are asking yourself how the FBI found itself in a close working relationship with a mobster. Referring back to my blog of June 18, 2011, the fact is that the FBI and police must develop informants – and those informants are going to be mobsters, drug dealers, gang members and other nasty people who have the information the cops need. The problem occurs when the cops and FBI become so anxious for good information, they put blinders on and see only what they want to see.