Reuters: U.S.: Ex-FBI agent returns to testify at trial of Boston gangster

Changes are afoot at Blogtrottr! By popular request, we're bringing in paid plans with some cool new features (and more on the way). You can read all about it in our blog post.

Reuters: U.S. Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Ex-FBI agent returns to testify at trial of Boston gangster Jul 1st 2013, 12:32 Former mob boss and fugitive James ''Whitey'' Bulger is seen in a booking mug photo released to Reuters on August 1, 2011. Credit: Reuters/U.S. Marshals Service/U.S. Department of Justice/Handout By Richard Valdmanis BOSTON | Mon Jul 1, 2013 8:32am EDT BOSTON (Reuters) - Jurors in the trial of accused Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger on Monday will hear more testimony from a former FBI agent that could shed further light into the bureau's shady dealings with suspected gangsters during the 1970s and ‘80s. Former agent John Morris, who was offered immunity from prosecution in 1997 in exchange for his testimony in hearings about FBI misconduct, has admitted to taking cash from known mobsters like Bulger, making them home-cooked meals, and tipping them off to FBI investigations to protect them. Bulger, 83, is on trial in Boston federal court charged with killing or ordering the murder of 19 people as head of the Winter Hill Gang, which ran extortion and gambling rackets, all while acting as a prized FBI informant. Bulger has adamantly denied providing any information to law enforcement officials, contending that he paid them for tips, but offered none of his own. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He faces possible life in prison if convicted. Bulger's story has fascinated Boston for decades and inspired the 2006 Academy Award-winning Martin Scorsese film, "The Departed," in which Jack Nicholson played a character loosely based on Bulger. The gangster was a fugitive for 16 years, despite being on the FBI's "Most Wanted" list, until his capture in 2011. The trial, which began June 12, has given the jury a glimpse of an era of machine-gun toting mobsters and also a dark side of the FBI during that period. Over two days of testimony last week, Morris said that he and another FBI agent at the time, John Connolly, hosted dinner parties with Bulger and gang associate Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, and took cash and other gifts from them. He also detailed instances where the corrupt FBI duo tipped Bulger and his gang off to active investigations, fingered at least one informant who ended up getting killed, and planted false and misleading information in FBI files. Bulger's lawyers sought to discredit FBI evidence, including a 700-page informant file which they contend was fabricated by Connolly to provide a cover for his frequent meetings with the gang boss. Morris now works as a part-time wine consultant. Connolly is serving a 40-year prison term for murder and racketeering. (Editing by Grant McCool) Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions