Boston Criminal Lawyers Blog

James “Whitey” Bulger Arrested, Agrees to Return to Boston

Published on: June 23, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

James “Whitey” Bulger, the purported Boston mobster who has been on the run for 16 years, was arrested last night in Santa Monica, CA, where he had reportedly been living in a rent-controlled apartment complex with his long-time girlfriend, Catherine Greig, 60.

Whitey Bulger, now 81, wanted for 19 murders and who had been on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List, was brought into Federal court this afternoon where he executed the paperwork waiving any contest to extradition and agreed to return to Massachusetts. When asked, Bulger admitted his true name was James J. Bulger; and also stated that he was pretty familiar with the charges against him.

Catherine Greig also agreed to return to Massachusetts without contest to face her own criminal charges.

Wakefield Couple Charged With Armed Robbery

Published on: June 21, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

A Wakefield couple was charged with several Massachusetts Crimes of Violence Charges in connection with the robbery of Wakefield gas station.

Eugene Bertini has been charged with three counts of Armed Robbery, Armed Assault with Intent to Rob, Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Larceny Over $250.

According to the Wakefield Police Department, Eugene Bertini allegedly pistol-whipped a teenage cashier in the head at a Wakefield gas station before robbing it of an undisclosed amount of cash on April 25. He was arrested in his hotel room in Saugus following the alleged incident.

Boston Man Arrested in Stolen Car After Police Chase

Published on: June 15, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Misael Fuentes, 23, was arrested by Boston Police Officers Monday morning following a stolen car chase in Roxbury. He was charged with several Massachusetts Theft Crimes Charges, as well as Crimes of Violence Charges. Fuentes has been charged with Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Failure to Stop for Police, Receiving Stolen Motor Vehicle, Leaving the Scene of an Accident After Causing Property Damage, and Unlawful Possession of Burglarious Tools.

According to the Boston Police Department, officers were conducting surveillance of a stolen car that was, at the time, not occupied. Sometime later, police allegedly observed someone get into that stolen car and drive off. Boston Police initially lost sight of the car, but were then able to locate it, but it was again unattended. A short while later, however, officers observed a person get into that car and drive off. At that time, Boston Police reportedly tried to stop the car, but the Fuentes allegedly sped up and led police on a chase in Roxbury.

During the chase, Boston Police allege that Fuentes “bumped” an officers’ car, and also allegedly struck two other cars. The person driving the car was reportedly able to evade police, and when the car was again relocated, it was unoccupied.

Brockton Man Charged with Murder of Woman Leaving Church

Published on: June 14, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Frank James Webb, III, of Brockton, was arraigned yesterday morning in Brockton District Court on Massachusetts Murder Charges in connection with the death of Jennifer Teixeira, 51, who was shot in the back as she was leaving church.

Webb has been charged with 1st Degree Murder and Gun Crimes Charges.

According to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, Frank J. Webb, III, got into an argument with another man this past Saturday inside a Boost Mobile store in Brockton. At some point, the argument became physical, at which time a man wearing a red hooded sweatshirt went outside the store and and from the street, started firing from a handgun. One of those shots, however, struck Jennifer Texeira, who had just left the Mount Moriah Baptist Church.

Alleged Serial Rapist Arraigned in Boston Court for 7 Chelsea Rapes

Published on: June 1, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Jose S. Castillo, 35, was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston yesterday in connection several Massachusetts Sex Crimes that took place in Chelsea between September and October 2010. Castillo was formally indicted on various sex crimes including seven counts of Aggravated Rape, four charges of Indecent Assault & Battery.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the alleged victims were all prostitutes who were picked up by a man, taken to a remote area, and threatened with a knife before they were attacked or even raped. One of the woman, however, reportedly took the license number of the man’s car, which then led them to Jose Castillo.

Aggravated Rape:

Boston Court Rejects Charges for JetBlue Passenger Who Slapped Flight Attendant

Published on: May 31, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Massachusetts State Police arrested a man on Assault & Battery Charges this morning at Boston’s Logan Airport for having allegedly slapped a flight attendant on a JetBlue flight from Florida to Boston. The Clerk-Magistrate of the East Boston Division of the Boston Municipal Court, however, declined to issue charges against the man for lack of jurisdiction.

Bryan Garnett, the passenger on the JetBlue flight to Boston, allegedly slapped a flight attendant who ordered that he move his carryon luggage beneath his seat. The incident allegedly occurred before the flight took off and while the plane was still in Florida. Upon the flight’s arrival Boston, Massachusetts State Police arrested Bryan Garnett for Assault & Battery.

Following his arrest, Massachusetts State Police sought an application for a criminal complaint to be issued against Bryan Garnet for Assault & Battery, but the Clerk-Magistrate declined the application for “jurisdictional reasons” – i.e., that the alleged incident did not occur in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Woman Charged with Motor Vehicle Homicide in Death of Elderly Dennis Woman

Published on: May 28, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Inez Digiovanni, 29, of Harwich, was arrested yesterday on several Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Charges after allegedly running a stop sign and striking and Dorothy Kuczinski, 91, of Dennis. Inez Digiovanni is reported to be charged with Motor Vehicle Homicide, Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Driving to Endanger.

According to the Yarmouth Police Department, Inez Digiovanni was allegedly driving her husbands truck at 11:30 a.m. Friday morning and did not come to stop prior to going through an intersection. The truck then allegedly struck Kuczinski’s car. Dorothy Kuczinski was eventually flown to Boston Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries.

According to police, Inez Digiovanni reportedly did not have a valid Massachusetts Driver’s License, and for that reason, her husband, Charles Digiovanni, will also be charged with Permitting an Unlicensed Person to Operate his vehicle.

Haverhill Teen Charged with Motor Vehicle Homicide for Texting While Driving

Published on: May 26, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Aaron Deveau, 17, of Haverhill, was arraigned on several Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Charges yesterday in connection with the February 20th accident that killed another driver. Deveau was arraigned in Haverhill District Court on several driving charges including Motor Vehicle Homicide, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Texting While Driving.

According to the Haverhill Police Department and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Aaron Deveau was allegedly texting when his car cross the double-yellow line and struck another car. Both persons in that car, Donald Bowley, Jr., and Luz Selena Roman, were both flown to Massachusetts General Hospital to be treated for their injuries. Donald Bowley, Jr., later succumbed to his injuries on March 10.

Following his arraigned in Haverhill District Court, Aaron Deveau was released on his own personal recognizance, but he has been ordered not to drive while the car remains open.

Teenager Charged for East Boston Murder

Published on: May 24, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Marco Tulio Flores, 17, was arraigned on Massachusetts Murder Charges this morning in East Boston District Court in connection with the death of Jaime Galdamez, 28, who was found dead lying in bed in the basement of an East Boston home Monday morning.

According to Boston Police and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the body of Jaime Galdamez was discovered Monday morning when the Boston Fire Department responded to 877 Saratoga Street for a fire in the basement. A search of the basement revealed the body of Jaime Galdamez, who was lying in his bed. Because he was bound with duct tape, Boston Police Homicide investigators were called to initiate a murder investigation.

Today, however, prosecutors reported that Marco Tulio Flores went to the Boston Police allegedly admitted that he was the person responsible for the death of Jaime Galdamez. In his statement, Flores allegedly explained that the two had a verbal argument, which then became physical and led to Flores allegedly strangling Galdamez. He had bound Galdamez with duct tape and then set him on fire.

Revere Couple Charged in $4M MBTA Fraud Scheme

Published on: May 21, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Andres Townes and Gloria Escobar, both of Revere, were arrested on Massachusetts Theft Crimes Charges in connection with fraudulent fare-evasion scheme that police allege bilked the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority of $4 million. Both were arraigned in Salem District Court earlier this week on charges including Larceny and Conspiracy to Commit Larceny.

According to police, Andres Townes and Gloria Escobar allegedly conspired in the production and sale of discounted MBTA passes to thousands of people in the greater Boston area and across Massachusetts. The alleged scheme was reportedly initiated from a single ad on Craigslist, and grew to a conglomerate involving a entire network of distributors serving customers making orders of the passes to a post office address.

The scheme was reportedly discovered by an MBTA conductor who noticed that a customer’s pass was faded. Further investigation led to authorities to question that rider, who informed the inspector that he had purchased the pass on Craigslist, which then revealed that the MBTA had no record of its serial number.