FBI Releases Audio of 'Most Wanted' Fugitive

Feds looking for new leads on reputed Boston crime figure James "Whitey" Bulger.

ByABC News
February 11, 2009, 8:43 PM

Jan. 23, 2008— -- The U.S. attorney for Massachusetts announced the release of audio recordings of the infamous FBI most wanted fugitive James "Whitey" Bulger Wednesday in hopes that the public might recognize his distinctive voice.

Investigators would not say when the recordings were made, only that they were made as part of the investigation into the reputed Boston organized crime figure.

Listen to the audio HERE and see the transcript HERE.

Bulger was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list in 1999 and faces charges for racketeering, murder, extortion, narcotics and money laundering.

Video of a suspected Bulger sighting in Italy was distributed by the FBI last September. Bulger, born in 1929, would be 78 years old today.

The FBI says Bulger enjoys walks on beaches, may frequent libraries and historic sights and has a love of animals, which may draw him to shelters. However, the FBI says Bulger also has a violent temper, is known to always carry a knife and should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.

The recording and transcript were released by a federal judge at the request of investigators, but the date of the recording remains under seal. The recordings appear to be the result of telephone wire taps and include short edited snippets of Bulger's voice discussing topics that include sandwiches, cough syrup and one person who had apparently called the wrong telephone number trying to reach someone named Tammy.

A reward of $1,000,000 is being offered for information leading to the capture of Bulger. The FBI's Most Wanted poster of Bulger, which also includes information on his companion Catherine Greig, can be viewed HERE.