James ‘Whitey” Bulger, the former head of the notorious Winter Hill Gang, was found dead on Tuesday at the Hazelton Penitentiary in Bruceton Mills, WV. Bulger had just arrived there on Monday from the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City, OK – which is the same place where Keith Alan Raniere was housed before he was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, NY. Bulger also spent time at MDC.
Although the Bureau of Prisons has not released the cause of Bulger’s death, multiple news outlets are reporting that he was beaten to death by two other inmates with Mafia ties. The FBI is reportedly investigating his death.
[UPDATE (10-31-2018): The New York Post is reporting today that Whitey was “slocked” to death by at least one other inmate. In prison jargon, a “slock” is a tube sock with a padlock dropped into the toe area. The device is swung around to build up greater force – and then delivered as a blow to the victim, often to the head area.]
At the same time he was running the Winter Hill Gang, Bulger was also serving as a confidential informant for the FBI’s office in Boston, MA. In fact, it was an FBI agent who tipped off Bulger that he was about to be indicted in 1995 – which caused him to flee from Boston and go into hiding.
Bulger was eventually located – along with his long-time companion, Catherine Greig – in Santa Monica, CA in 2011. At the time of his arrest, Bulger had $822,198 in cash hidden throughout his apartment.
In 2013, Bulger was convicted of participating in 11 murders. He was serving two life sentences at the time of his death.
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Approximately 7,000 prisoners die every year while in custody. And while federal prisons have traditionally had lower death rates than state and county prisons, the reality is that even federal prisoners have much higher mortality rates than their non-incarcerated counterparts.
Approximately 90% of prisoner deaths are the result of illness-related issues (Prisons are notorious for not diagnosing and/or misdiagnosing prisoner illnesses). In this regard, heart-disease (26%) and cancer (23%) generally account for almost half of those illness-related deaths.
Most of the non-illness-related prisoner deaths are attributable to suicide and homicide.
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So, how about Vanguard – is he likely to die in prison?
Obviously, the most important factor in answering that question will be how long a sentence he gets. Right now, he’s facing 20 years to life if he’s convicted on the charges that have already been brought against him. And there will almost certainly be more charges.
The next most important factor is Vanguard’s age – and here the news gets rather grim for the Vanguard and his followers. Although prison inmates age 55 or older accounted for only 5% of the prison population for the most recent 9-year period for which data is available, they accounted for 41% of prison deaths during that same time period.
Another important factor is Vanguard’s general health and nutrition – and here the news is somewhat mixed. Although he’s apparently dropped a few pounds since he arrived at MDC, Vanguard gets little, if any, exercise there – and is steadily fed a diet that is high in carbohydrates and low in protein. Regardless of where he eventually serves his time, Vanguard will not be in a healthy environment.
Whether Vanguard will, as some have suggested, commit suicide in prison will ultimately be determined by his mental toughness. Unfortunately for Vanguard, his own attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has described him as a “soft man” – and he’s already been observed openly weeping in his cell at MDC. What happens when the gavel falls – and the judge metes out his ultimate punishment?
Finally, there is the question of whether Vanguard could be the victim of a jailhouse homicide. In large part, that will somewhat depend on where he serves his time – and whether he’s ever placed in “General Population” (Up until now, he’s been isolated with other sexual perverts).
Pedophiles are usually considered to be the bottom rung of the prisoner hierarchy – with rapists on the rung above them. That does not bode well for Vanguard who, of course, is both.
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If a guy with Whitey Bulger’s background and connections can get offed in prison, then clearly someone like Raniere will definitely be “at risk” to say the least. And given Raniere’s well-documented history of lying about his abilities and achievements — and bragging that he’s the smartest man in the world – the odds go up markedly.
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Raniere could concoct his own lethal injection. Perhaps a white, milky like substance. The smartest man surely can do a more effective and cost efficient drug than what the states have been doing. Critics would have a difficult task suggesting that this greatest problem solver created a drug that was cruel or problematic.
Not that I believe Pea is who they say but this April 20th date prison officials should be vigilant that Raniere doesn’t try to become a martyr by suicide. If he were to die before trial it would add to his mystique among the crazy followers. I agree with Scott however. He’d most likely pay another to off him being too soft to do the job himself.
Well, it’s a good thing that Vantard is a judo champ, so he can keep the hordes at bay.
This is more of the Passion of the Vanguard. Comparing Him with Whitey Bulger. Did they not say give us Barrabas? Doesn’t anybody see the irony and the monstrous evil of the Frank Report? The worlds best man compared to the worst man. Vanguard walks amongst us on April 20!
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
Whitey Bulger was pretty much an animal. Getting “slocked” to death seems a fitting and just end. His demise and expulsion from Planet Earth will most likely be a positive thing for mankind.
My sources from heaven tell me God will be denying him admittance and sending him southward.
RIA (Rest in Agony) Whitey Bulger
It will save a lot of tax dollars as well.
Until his family sues the prison system for failing to protect him.
The family wouldn’t get very far with that lawsuit, as long as the prison was following the accepted rules to protect him.
The only family KR has is his elderly father who hasn’t visited his son even once. So i doubt he would sue.
I sincerely hope vantard meets the same fate sooner rather than later. It pains me to know that this oxygen waster is still existing. Existing at taxpayers expense. Taxes he taught were not to paid.
Either way is okay with me. Save the taxpayers money by taking him out or make Raniere suffer for a very long time. It’s a no lose proposition for me.
When one reads what Whitey Bulger did, it is difficult to work up sympathy for him.
He was tried on 32 counts of racketeering, money laundering, extortion, and weapons charges, including complicity in 19 murders.[16] On August 12, Bulger was found guilty on 31 counts, including both racketeering charges, and was found to have been involved in 11 murders.[17]
On top of all that Bulger not only extorted money from drug dealers, he provided weapons to IRA terrorists.
Bulger not only gave the terrorists firearms, Bulger gave them C-4 plastic explosives.
A little C-4 plastic explosives can bring down an airliner.
Bulger shipped overseas a shipment of guns and C-4 in a van at least once.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitey_Bulger
And as far as we know, Whitey was never in Chicago. Shame on him.
As a matter of fact Whitey Bulger was in Chicago to meet one of his co-conspirators.
In his memoirs, Weeks describes a clandestine meeting with Bulger and Greig in Chicago, Illinois.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitey_Bulger
Scott, you should try reading something every once in a while.
Shadow, it was a joke. But thanks for taking the bait.
Let’s see – what did KAR impose on his adoring followers? Limited and interrupted sleep, limited food, a rigid schedule and lack of pleasurable activities? If he gets the same – for life – I am good with that! He should not get away with what he’s done.
I think he will die in prison. The only question is how. I would be surprised if it were old age.
Raniere is too soft to off himself, and his anal cavity is too soft for anybody in prison to want to off him.
I, for one, will not weep should misfortune befall Keith in prison, where he rightly belongs till the end of his days.