Statement on FBI Response to Bulger Tip

Reports of Low Priority Are False

The special agent in charge of the Boston Division of the FBI, Richard DesLauriers, and the United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, John Gibbons, are releasing the following statement relating to the arrest of James J. Bulger and Catherine Greig:

There have been news reports alleging that the tip that eventually led to the arrest of James J. “Whitey” Bulger was initially given a low priority by the FBI. Those reports are false. The FBI supervisory special agent responsible for the Bulger Task Force was the first to review the tip. He then consulted with other members of the task force. Together, they recognized that certain information appeared to be credible and promising. Immediately thereafter, the Boston FBI office requested the Los Angeles FBI office to initiate surveillance at the targeted location. Hours later, less than 24 hours after the supervisory agent first reviewed the tip, Mr. Bulger and Ms. Greig were arrested.

When the tip was received, the command post established to respond to tips generated by the Bulger media campaign was staffed by United States Marshals Service and FBI personnel.

The FBI task force that searched for Mr. Bulger consisted of personnel from the United States Marshals Service, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, the Massachusetts State Police, and the FBI.