After 16 years on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List, the FBI finally captured infamous Boston fugitive Whitey Bulger. Bulger was living in a cozy oceanside rent controlled apartment with his girlfriend. He was lured outside (with what 2 for 1 coupons to Denny's?) and arrested quietly.
Bulger was a reputed Boston crime lord. He has been implicated in nearly 20 murders. He's also implicated in a decades long reign of terror, violence, extortion, and robberies.
That it took the FBI 16 years to catch an old man is sad enough. What is sadder is that the FBI fostered his career, during much of which he was a paid FBI informant. The FBI covered up his crimes. The FBI aided him in battles with other gangs. His FBI handler is in prison for helping Bulger. The same FBI agent who tipped off Bulger to his imminent arrest in time for him to flee, and begin his 16 year life on the lam.
Amazingly, the arrest came just two days after the FBI began running ads featuring Bulger's longtime girlfriend.
Oh, by the way, during much of his criminal career and life on the lam, his brother, Billy, was President of the Massachusetts State Senate or President of UMass. The highpoint of Massachusetts hackocracy
Not the greatest chapter in FBI or Massachusetts history.
16 years to catch an old man.