FBI nabs ruthless Boston mob boss in California

BOSTON — Federal officials in Boston say a tip led the FBI to begin surveillance on former mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger's apartment in Santa Monica, Calif., Wednesday afternoon.

AP Photo/David Zent

Police and FBI surround the apartment building in Santa Monica, Calif., where fugitivecrime boss James "Whitey" Bulger and his longtime companion Catherine Greig were arrested, Wednesday evening. The two were arrested without incident, the FBI said. Bulger was the leader of the Winter Hill Gang when he fled in January 1995 after being tipped by a former Boston FBI agent that he was about to be indicted.

The FBI finally caught the 81-year-old Bulger and longtime girlfriend Catherine Greig later that day. Bulger had been on the run for 16 years.

U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz says the pair were using the aliases Charles and Carol Gasko.

The arrests come just days after the government launched a publicity campaign to locate the fugitive crime boss by circulating pictures of Greig on daytime TV and on billboards. The FBI says the tip came from that campaign.

Federal officials say Bulger was arrested without incident.