Some of the books found inside James “Whitey” Bulger’s Santa Monica apartment.
Credit: US Attorney’s office
The stacks of bills totaling more than $800,000 will not be the only things going to the families of the victims of Whitey Bulger.
Federal authorities are examining whether to auction off items seized during the arrest of James “Whitey” Bulger inside his Santa Monica, Calif. apartment, according to the Globe.
It was during that arrest in 2011 that Bulger was found to be in possession of more than $821,799 in cash, guns, books, sneakers and dozens of other items.
Last month, Bulger, 84, was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $25 million to the government. A federal judge also ordered than the families of Bulger’s victims would receive more than $19.5 million in restitution.
The US Marshals Service will auction off the items found inside Bulger’s apartment and the profits will be split among the victim’s families.
“The reality is there are lots of people who would be willing to pay money for some or all of the contents of that apartment and that money is going to victims and victims’ families. So we want to do what we can to get as much money as we can for them,” First Assistant US Attorney Jack Pirozzolo told the Globe.
The items seized during the arrest are in storage in the state and are being appraised. Bulger’s gold and diamond claddagh ring is estimated to be worth $48,000. Other items including books, cards from girlfriend Catherine Greig and a rat-shaped cup he used as a pencil holder, could go up for auction.
The US Marshals Service manages and sells assets seized by federal agencies. According to the agency, it managed more than 23,000 assets with a value of about $2.4 billion. About $1.5 billion was distributed to victims of crime and claimants in the fiscal year 2012.
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