In a shocking turn of events, one of the three inmates charged in the death of notorious Boston underworld figure James (Whitey) Bulger has pleaded guilty to a charge of lying to federal agents. Sean McKinnon, 38, avoided additional prison time after prosecutors dropped a more serious murder conspiracy charge against him.
McKinnon was initially accused of serving as a lookout while two other inmates, Fotios (Freddy) Geas and Paul DeCologero, brutally attacked Bulger within hours of his transfer to a prison in West Virginia. The attack resulted in the death of the 89-year-old Bulger, who was found beaten to death in his cell.
Despite facing up to five years in prison and a hefty fine, McKinnon was credited for the time he had already spent in prison and was allowed to leave the courtroom without an additional sentence. At the time of Bulger’s murder, McKinnon was serving time for firearms-related charges.
Both Geas and DeCologero have also reached plea agreements with the government, with sentencing dates set for the coming months. The details of their arrangements have not been made public yet.
The circumstances surrounding Bulger’s death have raised questions about the handling of high-profile inmates within the federal prison system. A report by the Justice Department’s inspector general revealed a series of preventable mistakes and failures that led to Bulger’s death, including a lack of security measures and the spread of information about his arrival to other inmates.
McKinnon, who had previously denied any involvement in Bulger’s murder, admitted in his plea agreement to lying to FBI agents about his knowledge of the attack. He confessed to discussing the assault with Geas and DeCologero on the day of Bulger’s death.
As the legal proceedings continue for the other inmates involved in Bulger’s death, the case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by high-profile prisoners within the prison system.
