Miami State Attorney Intends To Try Whitey Bulger

According to Local 10, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office has issued a statement claiming that they intend to try Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger on charges that he ordered the killing of a Miami jai alai executive. The famous gangster, who was fictionally portrayed in the 2006 film "The Departed," had been on the run for 16 years. He was arrested in Santa Monica, California, earlier this week.

Bulger remains under a first-degree murder indictment in the 1982 death of John Callahan, who was found stuffed in the trunk of his car at Miami International Airport.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle released this statement Thursday:

"James 'Whitey' Bulger’s criminal activities have been marked by the corpses his killers and associates have left behind in car trunks and alleyways. After a 16-year delay, I will be working to ensure that a Miami jury has the opportunity to look him in the eyes and determine his fate, just as we did with his associate, ex-FBI agent John J. Connolly Jr."

John Connolly was tried and convicted in 2008 for his role in the same 1982 murder.

Even if the indictment had not been handed down, Bulger would still face prosecution as there is no statute of limitations on first-degree murder. Bulger is 81-years old and can be sentenced to death if the State determines that his alleged crime has the necessary aggravating factors to be death penalty eligible.

Bulger faces charges in other jurisdictions. He will likely be extradited to Miami in the near further to face arraignment on the charges.

Eric Matheny is a criminal defense attorney serving Miami-Dade and Broward. Call today to discuss your case.