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U.S. Marshals Service / Reuters
Catherine Greig, long time girlfriend of former mob boss and fugitive James "Whitey" Bulger, who was arrested in Santa Monica, California on June 22, 2011, is seen in a booking mug photo released to Reuters on Aug. 1, 2011.
BOSTON -- The longtime girlfriend of former mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges she helped Bulger evade capture during 16 years on the run.
In a deal with prosecutors, Catherine Greig pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to harbor a fugitive, identity fraud and conspiracy to commit identity fraud.
Bulger, who was captured with Greig last year in Santa Monica, Calif., has pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in 19 murders.
Each of the three charges Grieg pleaded guilty to carries a maximum sentence of five years, but prosecutors told families of people believed killed by Bulger that Greig could face less than three years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.
Greig's plea agreement doesn't require her to testify against Bulger, and prosecutors have agreed not to charge her with anything else. They also won't make a sentencing recommendation to a judge.
Sentencing is set for June 12.
Steven Davis, who says his sister, Debra David, was killed by Bulger, was allowed to give a victim impact statement in court Wednesday. He called Greig a "monster," and said she delayed the families' their opportunity to get justice for more than 16 years.
Greig didn't look at Davis as he spoke but stared straight ahead.
Before Greig entered her plea, Judge Douglas Woodlock questioned her about her background and whether she understood she was giving up her right to defend herself at a trial.
When Woodlock asked whether she had received any psychological counseling, Greig broke down in tears and composed herself before responding that she received counseling in 1984 after a family member's suicide.
Patricia Donahue, who says her husband, Michael, was killed by Bulger, said afterward that Greig's tears didn't make up for hiding Bulger.
"Where was she when I was crying?" Donahue said. "I don't think she's a monster. I think that she just made a lot of bad choices, and those choices hurt a lot of people."
In a statement of facts filed in court Monday, Greig acknowledged that she agreed to join Bulger on the run beginning in early 1995.
She also acknowledged that she agreed to conceal him from authorities for 16 years, used aliases and unlawfully obtained identification documents and repeatedly helped him obtain prescription medication from a pharmacy by claiming to be his wife.
"I engaged in conduct that was intended to help Bulger avoid detection from law enforcement and to provide him with support and assistance during his flight from law enforcement," the document states.
Bulger, now 82, headed Boston's notorious Winter Hill Gang and also was a longtime FBI informant who gave the agency information on the rival New England Mafia. Bulger's former FBI handler, John Connolly Jr., was convicted of warning him that he was about to be indicted, prompting him to flee Boston in late 1994.
Bulger and Greig were caught in June, just days after the FBI began a new publicity campaign focusing on Greig and aimed at a female audience. The FBI said on Greig's wanted poster that she frequented beauty salons and had well-kept teeth and multiple plastic surgeries. The Boston Globe has reported that the tipster who reported the couple's whereabouts was a woman from Iceland who spent months at a time in Santa Monica and had bonded with Greig over a stray cat.
The 60-year-old Greig, a former dental hygienist, has been held in jail since her arrest. During a bail hearing in July, her lawyer described her as a subservient woman who was in love with Bulger and unaware of the extent of his crimes when she fled with him.
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Leave a Comment:
In Boston, many are afraid of the things that Bulger is going to ultimately say about law enforcement and other officials I have heard. From what we know of his FBI handler (also in jail I think) there is much to tell.
As for Greig, speculation abounds about Whitey's capture and her cooperation? Wonder what else she has proffered?
Stay tuned -- this is nowhere near over.
I tend to agree with you, there is much more to this story. But I imagine anybody who could be directly hurt by his testimony is either dead, already in jail, or too unimportant to matter.
He was probably being shielded by some bigwig in law enforcement or government, who either retired or died. How else could he escape detection living in a stylish seaside community in California, within walking distance of close relatives?
For over 20 years he evaded capture, by the FBI, Interpol, and the U.S. Marshals office, while hiding in plain sight, no less, only to be ratted out by a woman from Iceland.
Why should anybody have trouble believing that scenario?
Well, either way, Whitey Bulger ends up the winner. He spent most of his life free. Now, at 82, he faces the remainder of his life in jail. How terrible.
She should be in prison for that atrocious coiffure.
So we get to see Bulgar behind Bars rather than at the bar and the tab is 10 grand per year till he dies. Now the gal 60 knows where the stash is. If they cut her loose, that might be recovered to pay Whiteys Bills. Think ya would remember her mug shot if she turned up in your townie market on Witness Protection? The net is such a good slap fight and no one ever gets HIT!
I agree
this women looks tuff. I bet she could whip my azz.
That's because she goes for the dangerous bad-boy types. Maybe she'll end up on "Married to the Mob."
See 'The Departed', substitute Jack Nicholson for Whitey, and Matt Damon (State Police in the movie) for the FBI rat who used to tip him off when the authorites were getting close.
This lady is chilling to look at. Must have been a hoot to be on the lam with her for 16 years.
And Morphine Carnival you are a hoot as well.
They ought to let her go like they John Dillinger's girlfriend. Whitey's going to die in prison so why bother to put her there.
Wow...she looks like a frigid b*tch. LOL!!
Wow, there are some real strange ones on here i.e. (p)ink slip trash-mouth. Where is the posting police???
This lovely lady looks like she killed a few in her day...As for Whitey, his tale, most assuredly is a complicated one.
At 80- something years of age, the man should be laid to rest already. He is at the last years of his life, and now, for whatever bloody reason, he is about to reap what he has sowed. I love how in this scenario "Justice" decided to make itself known at the last hour.
As for the lady of the hour...well, her estrogen and emotional issues seemed to get the best of her.
Counseling does wonders for the right side of the brain...
Just read the book "Hitman" for a real life drama (better than fiction) AND you will see how YOUR government really operates at state & federal level, (even today not much has changed from Whitey).
What a defense, she was in love and didn't know the extent of Bolger's crimes. She was in love with her dental plan and trips to her plastic surgeon. She knew exactly what she was doing and should get the toughest sentence the law prescribes. Book her Dano.
He had a loving & trusted relationship with her & she with him. More then I can say for a lot of other people who are not on the Lam. At least she didn't rat him out & she could of, maybe getting a big break from the law. She probably was a decent woman in love with an Irish Mick.
She didn't know the extent of his crimes when she fled with him? What did she think that the FBI was looking for him for? Unpaid parking tickets? Plueesse...Not only should she go away for a long time, but so should her lawyer for telling such an incrediable lie.
WTF is up with pink slip-Morphine Carnival???
Drugs are bad, m'kay???
if our 'government' can not even get the REAL Terrorist in our Country - THE MOBSTERS - on the lamm for how many years???? and only catch a poor sperm donor - HOW CAN WE EVEN BEGIN TO THINK THEY CAN TAKE OVER THE WORLD???? And eliminate BAD People on the other side of the world????
I believe that one of the murders he (BULGER) committed was either her (GREIGS) ex-husband or her brother. So she knew he was a bad man. She must have loved him, and feared him, but she certainly seemed to enjoy the years she spent traveling the world on his ill-gotten gains.
This b*tch looks like Whitey in drag!!
This recent development tells us nothing about Ms. Greig's involvement -- or lack of -- in her boyfriend's crimes. There are reasons the prosecution and defense find this plea deal acceptable, but we aren't told what those reasons are.
The only important thing we know is that we aren't fully informed and should not jump to conclusions. Although the basic information we've been given about this case is probably accurate, there are plenty of behind-closed-doors aspects of every news story.
If you're willing to make quick assumptions, you'll fit in just fine with the crowd that buys the low-brow, research-free true crime accounts which are written for entertainment. The trashier true crime writers thrive on readers who never engage their critical thinking skills.
No matter. Details, or non. If one has blood on their hands, they should stand before the scales and let 'justice' be done upon them. We may not have all the details(and, why would we?) but, when a life has been taken...or several, well, you know the rest. This women has undoubtedly broken the Law. She, and Whitey have a debt and it's about time they paid it.
CRIMINALS and all I'm reading is sympathy...Hmmm.