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Bulger Girlfriend Greig Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison

U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock, right, sentences Catherine Greig, center, to eight years in prison for helping James "Whitey" Bulger stay on the run. (Margaret Small for WBUR)
U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock, right, sentences Catherine Greig, center, to eight years in prison for helping James "Whitey" Bulger stay on the run. (Margaret Small for WBUR)

Catherine Greig, the longtime companion of James “Whitey” Bulger, was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison for helping the reputed mobster elude authorities for 16 years.

"We are all responsible for what we do. We all make choices," said U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock in Boston's federal court. "There is a price to be paid."

Woodlock also imposed a $150,000 fine on Greig and ordered her to serve three years of supervised release. Greig, 61, had no visible reaction to the sentence, said WBUR's David Boeri. (Update: Here's David's feature.)

Police captured Greig and Bulger, who had been one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, last June in Santa Monica, Calif. In March, Greig pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to harbor a fugitive, identity fraud and conspiracy to commit identity fraud.

Catherine Greig, in her booking photo
Catherine Greig, in her booking photo

She faced a maximum sentence of 15 years for the three charges. Probation officials had recommended a sentence of 27 to 33 months, but Woodlock calculated the sentence to be between 87 and 108 months, under federal guidelines.

Prosecutors had requested a 10-year prison sentence, citing "the most extreme case of harboring [a fugitive] this district has ever seen."

Greig's attorney, Kevin Reddington, said her conduct "arose out of the love she had for Bulger," as he sought a 27-month sentence for his client.

Following the sentencing, Reddington said Greig is still devoted to Bulger.

"She doesn't believe for one minute that he is guilty or culpable of these crimes," he said. "She doesn't buy it, doesn't believe it, and absolutely stands by her man."

Bulger, 82, awaits trial this fall on charges that he participated in 19 murders.

During the hearing Tuesday, five family members of some of Bulger's alleged murder victims delivered impact statements.

Among them, Tim Connors, whose father was allegedly shot to death by Bulger, called Greig a "cold-hearted criminal," according to WBUR's David Boeri.

This article was originally published on June 12, 2012.

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Benjamin Swasey Digital Manager
Ben is WBUR's digital news manager.

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