When James “Whitey” Bulger was murdered in prison in 2018, it marked the end of an era in Boston organized crime that dates to the 50’s when Bulger was just another thug in the streets of ‘Southie’. At the time, Boston was the site of heist so big it was dubbed The Crime of the Century. While Bulger was in prison in the 60’s the Irish Gang War erupted with the infamous Winter Hill Gang coming out on top. During the 1970’s, Bulger rose up the ranks of Winter Hill. With the help of his crooked FBI handler, his competition was removed, one by one, until he emerged on top as the face of organized crime in Boston.

While James ‘Whitey’ Bulger was ascending the ranks of organized crime in Boston, other mobsters were up to their own nefarious business, from stealing priceless art from world famous museums, to robbing armored cars and using the proceeds to fund arm shipments to the IRA. But when the head of the Italian Mafia was arrested in the 80’s, a power vacuum resulted in chaos on the streets of Boston. With a bloody gang war on their hands, law enforcement had finally had enough. In the mid 90’s, as indictments finally rained down, Whitey Bulger vanished. He’d spent over 15 years as America’s most famous fugitive, until the US Marshall’s Service found him hiding in plain sight.

When James “Whitey” Bulger was murdered in prison in 2018, it marked the end of an era in Boston organized crime that dates to the 50’s when Bulger was just another thug in the streets of ‘Southie’. At the time, Boston was the site of heist so big it was dubbed The Crime of the Century. While Bulger was in prison in the 60’s the Irish Gang War erupted with the infamous Winter Hill Gang coming out on top. During the 1970’s, Bulger rose up the ranks of Winter Hill. With the help of his crooked FBI handler, his competition was removed, one by one, until he emerged on top as the face of organized crime in Boston.

While James ‘Whitey’ Bulger was ascending the ranks of organized crime in Boston, other mobsters were up to their own nefarious business, from stealing priceless art from world famous museums, to robbing armored cars and using the proceeds to fund arm shipments to the IRA. But when the head of the Italian Mafia was arrested in the 80’s, a power vacuum resulted in chaos on the streets of Boston. With a bloody gang war on their hands, law enforcement had finally had enough. In the mid 90’s, as indictments finally rained down, Whitey Bulger vanished. He’d spent over 15 years as America’s most famous fugitive, until the US Marshall’s Service found him hiding in plain sight.