X

Mobster “Whitey” Bulger’s Girlfriend Pleads Guilty

Catherine Greig, the girlfriend and harborer of notorious gangster James “Whitey” Bulger, who was wanted on 19 murder charges and who evaded the law for 16-years, has herself pled guilty. Greig, 60, has plead guilty to one charge of conspiracy to harbor a fugitive and two counts of identity theft. Adopting legalese, she intoned:

“In early 1995, I agreed to join Bulger and travel with Bulger during his flight from law enforcement. From January 1995 through June 22, 2011, I also agreed with others, including Bulger, to harbor and conceal him from law enforcement,” her statement read.

“Moll” Greig does not strike sympathy in most people due to the aid she gave to the notorious Irish-American mobster, Bulger, 82, who was known for his vicious murders and the ruthless lengths he went to hide his crimes. Said Dick Lehr, who has authored a biography on Bulger:

“When they [Bulger and his thugs] killed someone — this is pre-DNA — they pulled the teeth out, cut the fingers off, tried to make it so the victims, if they were discovered from their graves, couldn’t be identified. There’s just no bottom. It doesn’t get much uglier than someone like Whitey Bulger.”

Greig was a divorcee and a dental hygienist before she met Bulger when she was in her 20’s; she was reportedly an intelligent and diligent woman who nevertheless became docile to the mob leader. The couple were hidden in plain sight near Los Angeles, in Santa Monica, California. Her plea was not part of a legal bargain according to U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz:

“There was no deal–certainly no sweetheart deal. I want the record to stand that at no time we compromised our ability to make a sentencing recommendation. The chapter is not closed on this matter on this case.”

“We think that bringing this matter swiftly to a conviction is a fair and just result. We can focus on an ongoing investigation now. We can focus on the trial of Mr. Bulger. The taxpayers don’t want to see a trial that’s not necessary to be had, and I think this is a very appropriate conclusion.”

Greig will be sentenced on June 12, when she may get less than three years in prison, due to having no prior criminal record.

Daniel June: Daniel June studied English literature at Michigan State University, graduating in 2003. Working a potpourri of jobs since, from cake-decorator to proofreader, his passion has always been writing, resulting in books of essays, novels, and children’s novellas.