The FBI's $2 million reward for information leading to capture of its former informant James "Whitey" Bulger isn't enough to loosen the lips of the South Boston minions who could give him up, according to retired Bulger hunter agent John Gamel.
The "one or two people" in the crime boss' old neighborhood who could offer the tips ending 80-year-old Bulger's 14 years on the run would want more than $5 million at least, Gamel told an audience tonight.
The retired FBI supervisor, who headed the organized crime section from 1995 to his retirement in 2001 and spent 22 years with the bureau, said he has been criticized within the bureau for believing Bulger won't be brought in without a bigger tipster paycheck.
Gamel, who is now a private eye and does investigations for the city of Boston's legal department, talked for more than a hour to an audience at a suburban library. His friend FBI agent Richard Egan helped field questions about agents' training (nobody over 37 can become a new agent) and placements.
Gamel doesn't do investigations for criminal defense as a PI, he said, because he "wore the white hat too long." "I figure the guy's gotta be guilty," he said.
Asked how former agent John Connolly managed to protect his murderous informants Bulger and Steve Flemmi so long, Gamel claimed he didn't know about Connolly's deception.
He said he began investigating Bulger himself in 1990 for extortion when a victim came to the bureau. Federal prosecutors with the help of State Police brought an indictment against Bulger in 1995.
Connolly tipped Bulger to get out of town before he could be arrested.


