Bulger's offense? Being part owner, with three friends, of a winning Massachusetts lottery ticket worth $14.3 million. Some enraged citizens suggested that the winnings be withheld, and embarrassed State Treasurer Joseph Malone ordered an investigation. His finding: "There was absolutely no foul play in the drawing."
Instead, law-enforcement officials reportedly believed that Bulger may have "pressured" the ticket's real owner—Michael Linskey, the brother of an alleged associate—to let Bulger sign on as a cowinner. "It's not uncommon for wiseguys to buy [winning] lottery tickets to explain to the IRS where their money comes from," a federal agent told the Boston Globe. Bulger, who, ironically, is the brother of powerful State Senate President William Bulger, is now entitled to pocket $89,500 a year after taxes for the next 20 years. It may take almost that long for skeptics to regain their faith in the Massachusetts Lottery. The only thing worse than Bulger winning, said Treasurer Malone, "would be if my mother won."
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
