Whitey Bulger Wants the Government to Let Him Keep His 1986 Stanley Cup Ring

It's the only thing he's asking for.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

As far as James "Whitey" Bulger is concerned, the federal government can keep the $822,000 that they found stored inside the walls of his Santa Monica, Calif. apartment when he was finally arrested back in 2011 after nearly two decades on the lam. But he does want one item that they seized back: The 1986 Stanley Cup ring that the former Boston area mob boss reportedly received as a gift back in the 1980s.

According to the Boston Globe, Bulger—who was found guilty of racketeering and murder yesterday—struck a deal with the government that will allow him to keep the ring "which the defendant contends was a gift to him by a third-party" (it's believed that the ring was once owned by former Canadiens forward Chris "Knuckles" Nilan). At least for now. The Globe also points out that, in the future, Bulger may face civil lawsuits from those directly affected by his criminal actions. And ultimately, those lawsuits could force him to give up the ring so that it can be auctioned off to help pay any money that he owes as a result of those civil suits.

But for now, the '86 Stanley Cup ring will stay with Bulger. It's one of the very few things he will get to keep in light of his recent trial.

RELATED: 10 Reasons to Watch the NHL Playoffs

[via Boston Globe]

Latest in Sports