Semi-OT Whitey

[forty_three]

Whitey Bulger convicted of racketeering, conspiracy - U.S. News

So, we know from a previous thread that he was in Vancouver at a Cup Final game. Now I just saw this:

A few hours before the verdict, court papers revealed Bulger agreed to forfeit $822,000 seized from his California hideout, but he'll hang onto a Stanley Cup ring he got as a gift.

A court document did not say who gave Bulger the prized professional hockey memento, but he did have ties to Montreal Canadiens enforcer Chris Nilan.

Nilan, 55, who retired from the NHL in 1992, was married to Karen Stanley, the daughter of Bulger's longtime girlfriend. A photo released by the defense during Bulger's racketeering trial to depict him in a better light showed him posing with Nilan next to the Stanley Cup.

 

[Vadered]

Not sure why that's WTF. Yeah, if he is guilty of racketeering he has to repay the money, but if the ring was really a gift from a source unrelated to the racketeering then it's his to keep if he wants (or sell to help repay the money). You can't* seize somebody's assets because they committed a crime unless the assets are related to or a product of the crime.

*can't meaning shouldn't be able to, not meaning cannot. Governments don't always do this, including ours.

Fun fact: in the US, civil asset forfeiture suits are the government suing the assets, NOT the owner. So you have neat case titles like U.S. v. Eight Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Dollars.

 

[forty_three]

Not sure why that's WTF. Yeah, if he is guilty of racketeering he has to repay the money, but if the ring was really a gift from a source unrelated to the racketeering then it's his to keep if he wants (or sell to help repay the money). You can't* seize somebody's assets because they committed a crime unless the assets are related to or a product of the crime.

*can't meaning shouldn't be able to, not meaning cannot. Governments don't always do this, including ours.

Fun fact: in the US, civil asset forfeiture suits are the government suing the assets, NOT the owner. So you have neat case titles like U.S. v. Eight Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Dollars.

Sorry, more WTF in the sense that you have one and you give it away.

Especially to a gangster.

 

[DevilishWon]

Sorry, more WTF in the sense that you have one and you give it away.

Especially to a gangster.

Maybe he threatened him...gimme yer ring asshole and I wont kill ya...or something along those lines.

 

[Vadered]

Sorry, more WTF in the sense that you have one and you give it away.

Especially to a gangster.

Ah, yes, I get what you mean now. Dunno, maybe Bulger saved his life. Maybe Bulger forgave a (legal) loan in exchange for it. Who knows!

 

[forty_three]

Nilan insists Boston mobster didn?t get his Stanley Cup ring

Didn't belong to Knuckles...

Now I am really curious who's it is and how he got it.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Maybe he threatened him...gimme yer ring asshole and I wont kill ya...or something along those lines.

 

[dash]

I realize it would be cool to have a Stanley Cup ring, but I thought Whitey was a Bruins fan and the last thing any Bruins fan would want would be a Habs Stanley Cup ring.

I guess it's true what they say, there's no hono(u)r amongst thieves.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I realize it would be cool to have a Stanley Cup ring, but I thought Whitey was a Bruins fan and the last thing any Bruins fan would want would be a Habs Stanley Cup ring.

I guess it's true what they say, there's no hono(u)r amongst thieves.

Maybe taking a Habs ring away appealed to his sense of spite.

 

[dash]

Maybe taking a Habs ring away appealed to his sense of spite.

You mean like returning a jacket to a store because you don't care for the salesman who sold it to you?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

i liked the deadspin story on this turn of events

oh sure it was just a recap of what Nilan said to tsn radio and to the montreal gazzette but .. lol

All that said, Nilan says he wasn't the one who gave Bulger a ring. Now a broadcaster for TSN radio in Montreal, Nilan issued the following statement today:


"Recent media reports have inaccurately asserted that James Bulger is in possession of a 1986 Stanley Cup ring given to him by me. Those reports have no basis in fact. James Bulger was never given a Stanley Cup ring by me at any time.

I won a Stanley Cup ring as a member of the 1985-86 Montreal Canadiens. I gave that ring to my father, Henry Nilan. I am currently in possession of that ring as it is being resized as a gift to my son, Christopher.

In 1988, Montreal Canadiens general manager Serge Savard heard that I had given my original ring to my Dad and Serge generously presented me with a second Stanley Cup ring which I wear to this day.

I commissioned a jeweller here in Montreal to make three women's Stanley Cup rings for my mother, my former wife and my late mother-in-law, Teresa Stanley. My former wife and my mother remain in possession of their rings. Mrs. Stanley wore her ring in her casket and before her burial, at Mrs. Stanley's prior request, that ring was given to my daughter.

At no time, to my knowledge, did I or any member of my family give James Bulger a Stanley Cup ring. I have no idea where any ring in Mr. Bulger's possession was made and I hope that this statement provides absolute clarification in this matter."

In an interview with TSN radio, Nilan indicated that Bulger used to admire his ring, adding that he must have had a copy made on his own. Should the Bruins not win the Cup next year, that might be an approach for Jarome Iginla to keep in mind.

 

[DevilishWon]

Maybe taking a Habs ring away appealed to his sense of spite.

Makes you wonder if he took it with or without the finger....

 

[dash]

In an interview with TSN radio, Nilan indicated that Bulger used to admire his ring, adding that he must have had a copy made on his own. Should the Bruins not win the Cup next year, that might be an approach for Jarome Iginla to keep in mind.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

You mean like returning a jacket to a store because you don't care for the salesman who sold it to you?

Exactly. I teed that one up and you hit it outta the park sir.