Under tight security that included Coast Guard boats with bow-mounted machine guns, Bulger arrived in a caravan of sport utility vehicles to a frenzied scene at the courthouse, where news personnel descended hours before the hearing and throngs gathered in hope of seeing the underworld kingpin in person.
In a packed courtroom tense with anticipation, Bulger came face to face with relatives of his alleged victims and with his brother, former Senate president William M. Bulger. Spotting his brother as he entered the courtroom, Bulger, in handcuffs, smiled and mouthed, “Hi.’’
Appearing fit and composed, the 81-year-old betrayed little emotion in the courtroom, but at one point sparred with the judge over whether he could afford a lawyer.
“Well, I could if you gave me my money back,’’ he said, referring to more than $800,000 authorities seized from his apartment in Santa Monica, Calif., following his arrest Wednesday with his longtime companion Catherine Greig.
Bulger, who was arraigned in two cases stemming from the 1990s, asked both judges to declare him indigent so he could have the services of a government-paid lawyer. Prosecutors bristled at the request.
“He was found with $800,000 in cash,’’ said Assistant US Attorney Brian T. Kelly. “We think he has access to more.’’ Greig filed a document with the court saying that William Bulger “may be willing to assist’’ financially, Kelly said.
Peter Krupp, a lawyer who last summer represented one of two admitted Russian spies from Cambridge against federal charges, represented Bulger at the hearing and probably will handle at least the early stages of his defense.
Bulger faces more than 50 charges in two indictments that allege a wide range of offenses related to racketeering, including 19 murders. The host of accusations includes more than 20 counts of money laundering, extortion, loan sharking, witness tampering, and possession of machine guns in furtherance of crimes of violence.
The most serious offenses carry life sentences. Reading the charges and the maximum penalties took Kelly several minutes.
