Three men indicted in Whitey Bulger’s beating death in federal prison

BRUCETON MILLS, W.Va. — Three men have been indicted in connection with the death of notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger in federal prison.

Fotios “Freddy” Geas, 55, Paul “Pauly” DeCologero, 48, and Sean McKinnon, 36, have been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Bulger was beaten to death at Hazelton Federal Prison in Bruceton Mills, W.Va. in October 2018. He was 89 years old at the time.

James 'Whitey' Bulger dead: History of notorious gangster's life

Geas and DeCologero are accused of striking Bulger in the head multiple times. In addition to the conspiracy charge, they have been charged with aiding and abetting first-degree murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Geas faces a separate charge of murder by a federal inmate serving a life sentence.

McKinnon faces a separate charge of making false statements to a federal agent.

Geas is still incarcerated at USP Hazelton. DeCologero is an inmate at another federal prison.

McKinnon was on federal supervised release when he was indicted and was arrested Thursday in Florida.

Bulger was found dead in a cell at Hazelton on October 30, 2018. Authorities said Bulger was savagely beaten using a lock wrapped inside a sock.

James 'Whitey' Bulger dead after transfer to prison in West Virginia

Bulger had been transferred to the prison just a day earlier after being moved through a federal transfer facility in Oklahoma.

The one-time South Boston mob boss was arrested in Santa Monica, Calif. in 2011 after 16 years on the run. He and his girlfriend, Catherine Greig, were found living in a small apartment under the names Charles and Carol Gasko after a former neighbor tipped off the FBI.

Greig was convicted and sentenced to prison for eight years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to harbor a fugitive, identity fraud and conspiracy to commit identity fraud.

Bulger faced 32 counts of racketeering, money laundering, extortion, and weapons charges, including complicity in 19 murders.

On Aug. 12, 2013, Bulger was convicted of 31 counts, including both racketeering charges, and was found to have been involved in 11 murders.

He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus five years.

For relatives of Bulger’s victims, his violent end was justice.

“The guy that did this, I would go put money in his canteen account,” Tommy Donahue, son of murder victim Michael Donahue, told Boston 25 News at the time. “I know what kind of person he probably is and I know he’s probably a bad person, but I’d go put money in his canteen for helping my family move on.”