Charlestown retiree shares personal experiences with Whitey Bulger case

Former FBI agent to discuss ‘Whitey’ Bulger sentencing, personal experiences during URI Livestream interview, Nov. 15

Dave Lavallee, URI

KINGSTON, R.I. – November 7, 2013 – As James “Whitey” Bulger’s sentencing date nears, the University of Rhode Island will host an exclusive Livestream interview with former FBI agent Robert Fitzpatrick on Friday, Nov. 15 from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. to learn more about his personal experiences with the Boston mobster’s case. EDITOR’S NOTE: Fitzgerald now lives in Charlestown

URI Assistant Director of Communications Dave Lavallee will kick off the live event by interviewing Fitzpatrick on his first encounter with Bulger in 1981, his involvement with Bulger’s trial, and his thoughts on next week’s sentencing. 

Then, Lavallee will moderate a question-and-answer session during which viewers can submit their questions in the Livestream chat box. Viewers can also connect during the live interview via Twitter by tweeting their questions and adding the hashtag #URIfitzpatrick.

In fall 2011, Fitzpatrick spoke at URI’s Forensic Science Seminar Series, telling the audience about his efforts to clean up the Boston FBI operation and to dig into its relationship with Bulger. Bulger was convicted in August on racketeering and conspiracy charges by a Boston jury that found he was involved in 11 murders and numerous other crimes. 

Fitzpatrick detailed his Boston odyssey in a book co-authored with Jon Land, Betrayal, Whitey Bulger and theFBI Agent Who Fought to Bring Him Down. Earlier this semester, Fitzpatrick returned to the lecture series, during which he discussed his testimony during the trial and other aspects of the case.