Although Black mass Centers on Boston-based crowd James “Whitey“Bulger (Johnny Depp), the biographical crime drama has viewers wondering What, exactly, happened to FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) in the wake of his partnership with Bulger. Based on the book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish MapDepp’s controversial crime movie delves into what unfolded in Boston during the mid-1970s. Bulger, who helped run the Winter Hill Gang of the Irish Mob, was the most powerful organized crime leader in South Boston, though his family’s roots caught Connolly’s attention.
The FBI agent, who grew up in the tight-knit South Boston community, was a friend of both Whitey and his brother, another member of Black mass‘ cast of letters. In a strange twist of fate, Whitey becomes an informant for Connolly, who hopes to infiltrate a rival Italian crime syndicate – the Angiulo brothers. Since The Angiulos are a real threat to Bulger’s powerSouthie Magazine decides that becoming a rat for the FBI is his best way forward. However, Whitey Bulger cleverly exploits Connolly’s protection, allowing the Winter Hill gang to continue its criminal operations relatively unscathed.
John Connolly’s racketeering offenses explained
In Black Mass, Connolly’s federal charges included racketeering
Ultimately, John Connolly was saddled with racketeering offences, among many other charges. Even after Bulger helped Connolly and his FBI colleagues arrest the Angiulo brothers, Connolly was seduced by the mobster’s charm, refusing to see the dangerous criminal for whom he really was beyond the informant title. Connolly’s FBI colleague, Brian Halloran (Peter Sarsgaard), turned everything over to his superiors, but, as seen in Black massUltimately, the move resulted in Halloran’s death. finally, The petty – and increasingly corrupt – nature of Waity and Connolly’s relationship landed on the front page of The Boston Globeprompting Bulger to flee Boston.
On a federal level, Connolly was charged with racketeering for his involvement with Whitey Bulger and the Irish Mob. In general, racketeering is a type of organized crime that hinges on the creation of an illegal scheme that is disguised as a legitimate business, allowing those involved to make a profit through illegal means. As seen in Johnny Depp’s mob movie, Connolly was so embedded in Whitey Bulger’s establishment, and willing to accept money and gifts, it is not surprising that he received racketeering charges. in 2002, Connolly was officially convicted and sentenced to a decade in federal prison (via The Guardian).
John Connolly was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2008
Charges of second-degree murder landed Connolly in a Florida prison
In addition to racketeering charges, Connolly was initially saddled with obstruction of justice charges for helping Whitey Bulger evade capture — but neither crime earned him a 40-year prison sentence. In 2008, just a few years after serving the first chunk of his ten-year federal prison sentence, Connolly was convicted of second-degree murder in the state of Florida. Without a doubt, the turn of events is one of the more convoluted elements in Connolly’s fall-from-grace story. As shown in Black massThe FBI agent gradually looked the other way, eventually helping Whitey Bulger’s criminal exploits.
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Although John B. Callahan was murdered by Winter Hill gang hitman John Martorano in 1982, prosecutors have indicated that Martorano was acting on the orders of Bulger and his longtime associate Stephen Flemmi. The Winter Hill gang criminals decided to put a hit on Callahan just after John Connolly informed them that the FBI was investigating the businessman’s ties to the gang, hence the second-murder charges. Leveraged against Connolly. The trial judge noted that the former FBI agent had “crossed over to the dark side,“Sentencing him to 40 years in prison in 2009 (by CNN).
John Connolly was granted parole in 2021
The former FBI agent was released from prison on medical grounds
Before his parole in 2021, John Connolly’s second-degree murder conviction was a real roller coaster. Even after the sentencing, Connolly maintained that he was not involved in the killing of John Callahan, either directly or indirectly. nevertheless, When Connolly was released from federal custody in 2011, he was immediately transferred to a Florida state prison For the 40 year sentence for second degree murder. While a 2014 appeal overturned Connolly’s murder conviction, it was immediately reinstated by a full court the following year ( via The Boston Globe). Still, the possibility of parole is not out of the question.
Connolly was released from Florida State Prison on medical grounds…
After serving a third of his 40-year sentence in Florida State Prison, John Connolly became eligible for parole. The potential for parole added yet another wrinkle to an already convoluted situation. In 2021 — a decade after finishing his federal prison sentence — Connolly is officially granted parole from prison in Florida. announced, The parole came on the heels of prison officials learning that Connolly was seriously ill And he wrote to the police in the prison at Alma. Officially, Connolly has been released from Florida State Prison on medical grounds, with experts claiming he has roughly a year left to live.
Where is John Connolly now?
Connolly lives in Massachusetts and his health is improving
Released from Florida State Prison in February 2021, John Connolly returned to his home state of Massachusetts. Despite his medical release, and status as “terminally ill,“Whitey Bulger’s former associate will remain under law enforcement surveillance until 2047 (via Boston Herald) – although he probably won’t live that long. Initially, medical experts said that Connolly only had a year to live, but that was several years ago. Now in his mid-eighties, Connolly lives outside and, despite his convictions, even receives a pension From his time with the FBI.
When Connolly was initially released on parole, officials deemed that Connolly was to remain confined to a hospice facility or residence unless he was seeking medical care for his terminal condition. It’s possible that the added risk of COVID-19, which spreads more easily in confined spaces, was another reason officials agreed to Connolly’s parole. However, according to the US Boston Herald, The agent-turned-mob-informant’s health appears to have improved, prompting officials to revise his password. If John Connolly is well enough to serve the remainder of his prison sentence, the Black mass The subject’s password may be reevaluated.
Sources: The Guardian, CNN, The Boston Globe, Boston Herald