6/4/64 FIELD MEMO
From Boston agents to the office of the FBI director, regarding efforts to recruit Vincent J. "The Bear" Flemmi as an informant:
Flemmi is suspected of a number of gangland murders and has told the informant of his plans to become recognized as the No. One "hit man" in this area as a contract killer.
10/15/64 FIELD MEMO
From Boston agents to the director's office, regarding Flemmi and his brother, Stephen:
(Vincent) Flemmi told the informant that (name deleted) had offered to help Flemmi and his brother to "whack out" an individual with whom the Flemmis were having trouble at (name deleted) Cafe in (place deleted), provided the Flemmis would first join him in hitting (name deleted).
3/10/65 FIELD MEMO
From Boston agents to the office of the FBI director, reporting on a conversation between Vincent Flemmi and Gennaro (Jerry) Angiulo, who ran the Boston rackets for the New England Mafia boss, Raymond L.S. Patriarca:
(Angiulo) pointed out that Patriarca had a high regard for Flemmi but that he, Patriarca, thought that Flemmi did not use sufficient common sense when it came to killing people. Angiulo gave Flemmi a lecture on killing people, pointing out that he should not kill people because he had an argument with him at any time. If an argument did ensue, he should leave and get word to Raymond Patriarca, who, in turn, will either "OK" or deny the "hit" on this individual, depending on the circumstances.
3/12/65 FIELD MEMO
From Boston agents to the office of the FBI director, regarding the plot to kill Edward "Teddy" Deegan:
(An informant) advised on 3/9/65 that (Vincent) Flemmi and Joseph Barboza contacted Patriarca, and they explained that they are having a problem with Teddy Deegan and desired to get the "OK" to kill him. . . . Flemmi stated that Deegan is an arrogant, nasty sneak and should be killed. Patriarca instructed them to obtain more information relative to Deegan and then to contact Jerry Angiulo at Boston who would furnish them a decision.
3/19/1965 FIELD MEMO
From Boston agents to the office of the FBI director:
On 3/12/65, Edward "Teddy" Deegan was found killed in an alleyway in Chelsea, Mass. in gangland fashion. Informants report that Ronald Casessa (misspelling of Cassesso), Romeo Martin, Vincent James Flemmi and Joseph Barboza, prominent local hoodlums, were responsible for the killing. They accomplished this by having Roy French, another Boston hoodlum, set Deegan up in a proposed "breaking & entering" in Chelsea, Mass. French apparently walked in behind Deegan when they were gaining entrance to the building and fired the first shot hitting Deegan in the back of the head. Casessa and Martin immediately thereafter shot Deegan from the front. Anthony Stathopoulos was also in on the burglary but had remained outside in the car. When Flemmi and Barboza walked over to Stathopoulos's car, Stathopoulos thought it was the law and took off. Flemmi and Barboza were going to kill Stathopoulos also.
8/5/1968 MEMO FROM HEADQUARTERS
From J. Edgar Hoover, FBI director, to Boston agents, following the convictions of six men in the Deegan murder. (Four of them were innocent, and had not been named in the 3/19/1965 memo):
The successful prosecution of these subjects was a direct result of your noteworthy development of pertinent witnesses. I want you to know that I am most appreciative of your fine services.
3/9/65 FIELD MEMO
From Boston agents to the director of the FBI regarding informant Vincent Flemmi:
Vincent James Flemmi is presently operating an after-hours drinking establishment and blackjack game upstairs over Walsh's TV store, Dudley Street, Boston, according to (informant). Flemmi also is believed to be involved in the murders of the following individuals: (names deleted.)
2/12/1970 MEMO TO JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
From Walter T. Barnes and Edward F. Harrington, Justice Department attorneys in Boston, to their supervisor in Washington, regarding Joseph Barboza, an informant whose false testimony had sent innocent men to prison. Barboza had changed his name to "Baron":
He states that he is without any money and feels that the government has reneged on its promise to provide him with sufficient money. He has indicated that he will publicly retract his testimony given in the aforesaid cases and will make known to the press that the government did not give him a fair chance to go "straight." In the opinion of the writers if either of the above should occur, the federal government will receive a severe setback as the Patriarca and Tameleo cases might be overturned and plunge the government into protracted and acrimonious litigation. In addition, informants willing to testify will be almost impossible to secure. We recommend that by some manner or means Baron's request be honored to the degree possible.
2/8/67 FIELD MEMO
From Boston agents to the office of the FBI director, regarding informant Stephen J. "The Rifleman" Flemmi:
Through informants of this office, it has been established that this individual enjoys a reputation of being a very capable individual and that he will now be the leader of the group formerly headed by Edward "Whimpy" Bennett, who, according to informants, has been murdered and buried around 1/19/67. Informant also has been engaged in bookmaking, shylocking, robberies and is suspect of possibly being involved in gangland slayings.
2/23/1983 FIELD MEMO
From Boston agents to the office of the FBI director regarding upgrading James J. "Whitey" Bulger to "top echelon" informant:
Captioned source is the titular head of the Winter Hill mob and as such sits as an equal at the policy making level with major Boston LCN (La Cosa Nostra) figures.
11/25/87 FIELD MEMO
From Boston agents to the director's office, regarding upgrading Stephen Flemmi to top echelon informant:
(Stephen Flemmi) is at the policy making level within this group (the Winter Hill Gang). In his capacity as liaison with the Mafia, source meets on a regular basis with LCN (La Cosa Nostra) capo Matty Gugliamette from Providence, Rhode Island and Boston LCN members.
12/3/87 MEMO FROM HEADQUARTERS
From the office of the FBI director to Boston agents, regarding the informant Stephen Flemmi:
BS (the Boston field office) is to be congratulated on the development of this TE (top echelon) informant in that informants such as this TE, when developed and operated to their fullest potential, will ensure that coverage is established for investigative matters under FBI jurisdiction.