Businessman, latest to testify against Whitey Bulger, says alleged crime boss used machine gun to extort $400,000


BOSTON - A local businessman testified Wednesday that James "Whitey" Bulger once put a machine gun between his legs to extort $400,000 from him.

Bulger is on trial in a racketeering indictment with participating in 19 killings, extortion and money-laundering.

Michael Solimando Jr. described terrifying moments in 1982 when he said Bulger held a handgun to his face, then pushed a machine gun to his groin. Solimando says he eventually paid the money out of fear, even though he was a legitimate businessman.

At least a half dozen drug dealers and bookmakers have testified that Bulger demanded money from them. Another drug dealer is scheduled to testify Wednesday, along with relatives of people allegedly killed by Bulger's gang.

On day 23 of the racketeering trial, Solimando also testified that he knew a friend had run afoul of Bulger's Winter Hill gang before he was murdered in the early 1980s. Solimando, who runs a Massachusetts construction company, said his friend John Callahan was concerned that Bulger's gang saw him as a risk to tell authorities what he knew about the gang's role in the 1981 death of Oklahoma businessman Roger Wheeler.

"He said, 'Whitey and Stevie [Flemmi] don't think I can stand up'," Solimando said. To "stand up" would mean keeping secrets amidst pressure from authorities.


Wednesday's testimony ended with William Lindholm, a former kingpin marijuana smuggler, telling how Bulger extorted and threatened him at a Boston nightclub.

In the 1970s and 80s, Lindholm had been orchestrating international smuggling operations, including one that distributed 125 tons of marijuana from Columbia on the East Coast over six weeks in 1983.

When he first met Bulger at the Marconi Club, he didn't know who Bulger was. Brandishing two guns that had been hidden under towels on a serving cart, Bulger explained that Lindholm had been brought there because he "wasn't with anyone" in his drug business and would need to pay Bulger $1 million.

"A bullet was put in the gun and spun in the chamber and the trigger was pulled," Lindholm said.

Having literally dodged a bullet, Lindholm negotiated to pay Bulger $250,000 in installments. Bulger then reportedly told him what would happen if he ever tried to sell marijuana on his own without informing Bulger.

"He'd cut my head off," Lindholm said.

Since the trial began June 12, several prosecution witnesses have testified that Bulger orchestrated murders of associates who were in position to implicate him and his organized crime partners by going to authorities.

Bulger, who was on the FBI's most wanted list during his 16 years on the lam, has pled not guilty to the charges in the 32-count indictment. Prosecutors allege he participated in 19 murders, as well as money laundering, firearm violations and extortion.

Contributing: Gary Strauss

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