Families of Bulger victims offered compensation

BOSTON — The belongings of James “Whitey” Bulger will soon be sold and the proceeds will be given to families of his victims.

When he was arrested in 2011 officers seized art, furniture, a Stanley Cup ring and $822,000 in cash from the apartment in Santa Monica.

There is a catch though.

Earlier this week the U.S. Attorney’s office mailed a settlement offer to families of the 16 people Bulger murdered during his time as a leader of Boston’s Irish mob.

The families have to make a decision by the end of February, and if they agree they will give up any future claims against the government.

Some say it’s an offer they just can’t pass up.

“We've waited a long time. All the victims,” Mary Callahan said.

This will be the first compensation Callahan will receive for the 1982 murder of her husband John.

In 1982 his bullet ridden body was found in the backseat of his Cadillac in a parking lot at Miami International Airport.

“It's not very much money according to some, it will be a lot to many of us,” she said.

Callahan expects to receive a check for more than $50,000 from the government.

The Burlington grandmother lives on a fixed income with subsidized heat.

She says the money will go a long way with her bills

“When you are senior citizen and live on a tight budget, the only thing I would really like to have is new kitchen floor,” she said.

If a family refuses to sign their cut will go back into the pot, meaning more for those who do agree.

Federal agents also seized dozens of guns from Bulger when they captured him, but for safety reasons those guns will be destroyed.

Cox Media Group