Possible Sighting in Taormina, Italy Resolved
On February 20, 2008, members of the Bulger Fugitive Task Force appeared on a German crime TV program, Aktenzeichen XY...ungelost, to talk about the search for two individuals who were considered look-alikes of James J. Bulger and his girlfriend Catherine Elizabeth Greig. Following the airing of the program, a German couple came forward to German law enforcement authorities identifying themselves as the couple depicted in the photograph and video. Law enforcement is satisfied that this couple is not James J. Bulger and Catherine Elizabeth Greig.
By way of background, on April 10, 2007, in Taormina, an Italian city on the island of Sicily, an individual observed a couple believed to be the FBI Top Ten fugitive James J. Bulger and his girlfriend Catherine Elizabeth Greig. The coordinated efforts of the FBI, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Italian law enforcement authorities were not able to eliminate the two people photographed in Italy as James J. Bulger or Catherine Elizabeth Greig. A facial recognition analysis was used which proved to be inconclusive. Additionally, interviews of associates of Bulger and Greig did not resolve the question for law enforcement that these two individuals were look-alikes or in fact Bulger and Greig. Therefore, law enforcement released the photographs and video.
A reward of up to $1,000,000 is being offered for any additional information leading to the arrest of James J. Bulger. Individuals with information concerning Bulger should take no action themselves, but instead immediately contact the nearest office of the FBI, or local law enforcement agency. Bulger is considered armed and extremely dangerous. For any possible sighting outside the United States, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Tips may be directed to 800-CALL-FBI or http://www.fbi.gov/tips.
Additional information regarding James J. Bulger, including his wanted poster, is available on the FBI’s Internet Home Page at www.fbi.gov.
The Bulger Task Force wishes to thank the couple from Germany for coming forward and helping to bring this search for the look-alikes to a conclusion. Their cooperation and the cooperation of German law enforcement authorities is greatly appreciated.
Although this matter is resolved, the Bulger Task Force will continue a world wide media outreach in order to locate and arrest James J. Bulger and his companion, Catherine Elizabeth Greig.
