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Infamous Fugitive Crime Boss Whitey Bulger Nabbed In Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA (CBS) — Crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger, on the run for almost 16 years, has been apprehended in Santa Monica, according to authorities.

Bulger, now 81, was the inspiration for Martin Scorsese's acclaimed 2006 film "The Departed."The film starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg. It won four Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Bulger''s also been the subject of several books.

The FBI wanted him in connection with as many as 20 killings, money laundering, extortion, racketeering and narcotics distribution, reportedly spanning nearly 20 years.

A $2 million bounty was offered for information that led to his arrest.

A task force in no fewer than 14 cities was put together to try to suss out his whereabouts. Just Monday the FBI went on the offense saying they were looking for Bulger and his mistress.

Bulger was the 458th person put on the FBI's Most Wanted List in 1999. He was last publicly seen in 2002.

The FBI's Washington bureau also reports that Bulger's girlfriend, Catherine Greig, was also taken into custody.

There was some speculation for a while that Bulger was Orange County's Elderly Bandit.

Within one hour of the announcement of his arrest, Bulger's name was one of the hottest trending topics on twitter.

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