Three men accused in the 2018 prison killing of notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger are scheduled for a plea hearing and sentencing in federal court in northern West Virginia. Fotios “Freddy” Geas, Paul J. DeCologero, and Sean McKinnon are set to appear in court for their involvement in the death of Bulger, who was beaten to death in his cell shortly after being transferred to a West Virginia prison.
Geas and DeCologero allegedly struck Bulger in the head multiple times, while McKinnon is accused of acting as a lookout during the incident. DeCologero reportedly referred to Bulger as a “snitch” and planned to kill him upon his arrival in their unit. It was revealed that DeCologero and Geas used a belt with a lock attached to it to fatally bludgeon Bulger.
Last year, the Justice Department announced that it would not pursue the death penalty for Geas and DeCologero, who were charged with murder. The three men face charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, which carries a potential life sentence. McKinnon also faces a charge of making false statements to a federal agent.
Whitey Bulger, who led the Irish mob in Boston during the 1970s and ’80s, became a fugitive in 1994 and was captured at the age of 81 after over 16 years on the run. In 2013, he was convicted of 11 murders and numerous other gang-related crimes.
