3 Men Charged Over 2018 Beating Death of James ‘Whitey’ Bulger

The circumstances surrounding the 2018 beating death ultimately spurred a lawsuit from Bulger's family, although a judge dismissed the suit earlier this year.

August 19, 2022

James Whitey Bulger is seen in a mugshot — Image via Getty/Bureau of Prisons
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Three men have been charged in connection with the 2018 beating death of mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of West Virginia announced on Thursday that 55-year-old Fotios “Freddy” Geas, 48-year-old Paul J. “Pauly” DeCologero, and 36-year-old Sean McKinnon had been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Geas also faces a separate charge of murder by a federal inmate serving a life sentence, while McKinnon faces a separate charge of making false statements.

Prosecutors allege that Geas and DeCologero hit Bulger in the head “multiple times,” ultimately resulting in his death, while behind bars at a prison facility in West Virginia. As a result, these two individuals are also facing charges of aiding and abetting first-degree murder and assault causing serious bodily injury, as well as the aforementioned counts. At the time of the alleged attack, Bulger was 89 years old and recently been transferred from another federal facility.

In a statement shared Thursday, U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins said the newly announced indictment marks the beginning of prosecutors’ efforts to hold the individuals accused to have “violently ended a life” accountable for their alleged actions.

“In the truest of ironies, Bulger’s family has experienced the excruciating pain and trauma their relative inflicted on far too many, and the justice system is now coming to their aid,” Rollins said.

In January, per the Associated Press, a judge dismissed a lawsuit from Bulger’s family in connection with the beating death. The family had alleged that prison officials didn’t adequately protect Bulger when transferring him, including by not acting on the fact that he was a known individual when he entered the facility at which he ultimately died.