Boston Gangster Whitey Bulger Sentenced To 2 Consecutive Life Terms, Plus 5

Laurel J. Sweet has been covering the James "Whitey" Bulger trial for the Boston Herald.

Southie mobster James "Whitey" Bulger was sentenced today to two consecutive life terms -- plus five years -- after a federal judge ripped into the aging gangster for his "unfathomable" crimes all for the love of blood money. 

Bulger, 84, who remained quiet again refusing to address the court or family members of his victims, was also ordered to pay $19,510,276 and 43 cents in restitution to the families. There was no reaction inside the court from families when the sentence was handed down.

U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper took last night to sleep on her decision and what she heard yesterday from 12 sons, daughters, widows and siblings whose impact statements spoke of despair, family suicides, lost loves and even the triumph of moving on.

Today, she is not holding back: "It is hard to know where to begin," Casper said. "The scope, the callousness, the depravity of your crimes is almost unfathomable ... it was all about money.

You can read the rest of the story via the below link:

 http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/herald_bulldog/2013/11/whitey_bulger_sentenced_to_2_consecutive_life

You can also read my interview with Dick Lehr, one of the authors of Whitey: The Life of America's Most Notorious Mob Boss, via the below link:

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2013/06/crime-beat-column-q-with-dick-lehr-co_17.html 

North Philadelphia Drug Kingpin Kaboni Savage's Life In Jury Hands

Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal murder-racketeering trial of North Philadelphia drug kingpin Kaboni Savage for Bigtrial.net.

Will Kaboni Savage be the first defendant sentenced to death in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania since the federal death sentence was reinstituted in 1988?

That's the question the anonymously chosen jury that convicted Savage of racketeering and murder two weeks ago began wrestling with today. The nine women and three men deliberated for about four hours after being instructed by Judge R. Barclay Surrick on the legal issues that apply in the capital murder case. They recessed around 4:30. Deliberations are set to resume tomorrow morning.

The only two options for the panel are death or life without parole. The jury, which heard arguments and testimony for five days during the penalty phase of the trial, must first unanimously decide that the death penalty is warranted. The panel must then vote unanimously to impose it.
You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/05/savages-life-in-jurys-hands.html#more

Mob Turncoat Details The 1997 Slaying Of NYPD Cop Ralph Dols

Mitchel Maddux at the New York Post is covering the trial of Colombo crime family members for crimes that include the murder of NYPD officer Ralph Dols (seen in the above photo).

A mob hit man today detailed the sickeningly intricate steps taken to rub out NYPD cop Ralph Dols, who'd innocently asked “what’s up” to his killers just seconds before they pumped him up with lead.

Mafia capo-turned-stool pigeon Dino “Big Dino” Calabro told jurors in Brooklyn federal court that Dols, who was killed because he was married to an ex-mob wife, never saw it coming on that deadly 1997 night in Brooklyn.

Calabro is testifying against his cousin Dino “Little Dino” Saracino and Thomas “Tommy Shots” Gioeli, who are being prosecuted for murder and racketeering.

You can read the rest of the story via the below link:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/mob_turncoat_details_the_slaying_mNhz671LPGf6ZosOzXVT3H?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Manhattan