Fotios "Freddy" Geas, already serving a life term for his Mafia-related crimes, received an additional 25-year sentence on Friday for the 2018 slaying of former Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, according to AP News.
Authorities sentenced Geas for carrying out the deadly attack on Bulger shortly after transferring to U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton.
In October 2018, an assailant fatally bludgeoned Bulger at the facility, causing his death within hours of arriving from a Florida prison. Authorities implicated Geas, a former hitman, in the assault, which reportedly involved a lock attached to a belt. The defense, however, argued that the injuries came from a fist rather than a weapon.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Kleeh handed down the verdict, which includes 15 years for voluntary manslaughter and an additional 10 years for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. These sentences will run consecutively with Geas's existing life term. Despite the defense's claims, the evidence led to the dismissal of more severe allegations, including murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Judge Kleeh stated, "I find [the sentence] to be fair, reasonable, and just" during the sentencing. This statement is reflected in the recommendation, which surpassed typical government guidelines. It underscored the court's stance on the severity of the crime, considering both the method and the high-profile nature of the victim, an 89-year-old known gangster and former FBI informant.
Bulger's infamous criminal history includes involvement in numerous gangland crimes across Boston before he became an informant for the FBI. Authorities captured him in 2011, leading to his 2013 conviction, after years on the run following a tip-off about impending charges in 1994. Critics heavily scrutinized the decision to transfer Bulger to Hazelton, citing bureaucratic incompetence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower commented on the sentence, noting, "Mr. Geas is not really going to have an opportunity to step outside," implying the life-altering impact of the additional years given Geas’s age of 57 at sentencing.
After the murder, authorities implicated two additional inmates. They accused Paul J. DeCologero of serving as a lookout during the incident, resulting in over four years for assault, while they sent Sean McKinnon back to Florida to complete supervised release for lying to FBI agents.
The long delay in bringing charges against Geas and his accomplice drew scrutiny. Authorities identified them swiftly as suspects, but they filed formal charges only years later, prompting discussions about investigative and procedural delays in high-profile prison murders.
To avoid a potential death penalty decision, the Justice Department pursued sentencing that would effectively ensure Geas’s permanent incarceration. This high-profile case’s broader implications extend beyond the individuals involved, highlighting systemic issues within the criminal justice and federal penitentiary systems.
Defense attorney Nathan Chambers ardently challenged the prosecution's account of the murder weapon. Chambers asserted, "There's no evidence that a weapon was used, let alone a padlock," suggesting that other means could have caused the injuries.
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Bulger's transfer and subsequent death continues to unfold, with federal authorities facing ongoing criticism. These blunders point to larger questions about inmate safety and the implications of transferring high-risk individuals like Bulger.
Furthermore, as the legal outcomes ripple out, the case against Geas further solidifies his life behind bars, setting a somber precedent for managing criminal conduct within the U.S. prison system.
