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Learn More About James "Whitey" Bulger

BOSTON (CBS/AP) - Fugitive mobster James "Whitey" Bulger, on the run for the last 16 years with his girlfriend Catherine Greig, was arrested without incident on Wednesday in Santa Monica, California.

The arrest was based on a tip from the recent publicity campaign that federal authorities had regenerated, a law enforcement official told the AP.

Timeline: A Life Of Crime

Learn more about Whitey here:

James "Whitey" Bulger

  • AGE: 81
  • DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 3, 1929

FAMILY: Grew up in South Boston. His younger brother, William, was one of the most powerful politicians in Massachusetts, leading the state Senate for 17 years and later serving as president of the University of Massachusetts for seven years. William Bulger testified about his brother before a congressional committee and has said he has only heard from his brother once since he became a fugitive.

Photos: Whitey Through The Years

BACKGROUND: He led the violent Winter Hill Gang, a largely Irish mob that ran loan-sharking, gambling and drug rackets in the Boston area. He was nicknamed "Whitey" for his shock of bright platinum hair.

See: The World Reacts To News Of Bulger's Arrest

FBI DEALINGS: He was a top-echelon informant who provided the Boston FBI with information on his gang's main rival, the New England Mob. Bulger later was listed as one of the agency's "Ten Most Wanted" for his alleged role in 21 murders, including the slayings of businessmen in Florida and Oklahoma. He was next to Osama bin Laden on the list and had a $1 million reward on his head.

(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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