FBI investigated possible sighting of Bulger in Italy
A possible sighting of fugitive gangster James "Whitey" Bulger and his girlfriend in Italy recently led members of the Boston-based Bulger Task Force to travel overseas to investigate, said a source familiar with the investigation.
A Providence television station, WPRI-Fox, reported last night that a source provided the US Drug Enforcement Administration with two photographs taken in Italy, one of an older man with glasses and the other of a woman. The two bore a strong resemblance to Bulger and his traveling companion, Catherine Greig, the station reported.
When the photographs were run through facial recognition software, the computer was unable to determine whether the man was Bulger, but indicated that Greig was "a possible match" for the woman, the station reported. The DEA turned the evidence over to the Bulger Task Force, which sent FBI agents to Italy three weeks ago, according to the report.
Robert Krekorian, chief of staff for US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, refused to comment on the possible sighting yesterday, saying, "I'm not going to confirm nor deny specific lead activity."
Bulger, 77, a longtime FBI informant who is on that agency's 10 Most Wanted list, fled shortly before his 1995 federal racketeering indictment. Since then, he has been charged with more crimes, including 19 homicides. Greig, 56, was indicted on charges of aiding the fugitive.
The FBI has said that the last confirmed sighting of Bulger was in London in September 2002. Hundreds of sightings have been reported worldwide and ruled out.
Shelley Murphy can be reached at shmurphy@globe.com. 