James ‘Whitey’ Bulger arrested in Los Angeles
After being on the run for over 15 years, crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger has finally been apprehended by the FBI in Santa Monica. Bulger fled his home in Boston in 1994 when a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with a slew of crimes that took place in the 1970s and ’80s, including 21 murders, narcotics distribution, and racketeering.
The LA Times reports that 81-year-old Bulger was arrested without incident inside a building, and that details remain unclear as no law enforcement agencies have been authorized to speak on the matter at the moment. The FBI had recently launched an extensive media campaign to raise awareness about the search for Bulger in 14 cities.
Bulger was the inspiration for Jack Nicholson’s character, Frank Costello, in Martin Scorcese’s “The Departed” — particularly because of his time in the 1970s as an FBI informant. In 1999, Bulger was added to the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list.