Admitted Hitman To Be Released

BOSTON (AP) An admitted mob hitman who pleaded guilty to killing Tulsa businessman Roger Wheeler in 1981 is scheduled to be released from federal prison later this week. John Martorano turned government

Tuesday, March 20th 2007, 7:58 am

By: News On 6


BOSTON (AP) An admitted mob hitman who pleaded guilty to killing Tulsa businessman Roger Wheeler in 1981 is scheduled to be released from federal prison later this week. John Martorano turned government witness and -- according to his brother -- has rejected an offer to join the witness protection program and will instead return to the Boston area.

The 66-year-old is scheduled to be released on Thursday after spending about 12 years in federal prison after becoming a government witness in the pursuit of mob bosses James "Whitey" Bulger and Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi and their corrupt FBI handlers.

Martorano pleaded guilty to killing Wheeler under orders from Bulger and Flemmi, and the related slaying of Boston financier John Callahan in Florida.

He also admitted killing eight people in the 1960s, but was never charged.

Bulger is still on the run and on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.

Related Stories:

9/9/1999 Alleged Hitman Reportedly Strikes Deal With Prosecutors

9/10/1999 Boston Mobster Agrees To Plead Guilty For Killing Wheeler 18 Years Ago

1/4/2001 Wheeler Murder Evidence Being Reviewed By Tulsa Co. D.A.

1/22/2001 Sons Await Charges In 20-Year-Old Slaying Of Tulsa Millionaire Roger Wheeler

3/21/2001 Boston Mobster Charged In Tulsa Murder Pleads Guilty To Florida Killing

7/12/2001 Flemmi Finally Gets Lawyer In Case Charging 10 Murders

7/17/2001 Flemmi Pleads Innocent To Murder, Racketeering Charges

5/15/2002 Mob Enforcer Says FBI Agent Warned Mobsters Of Pending Indictments
6/3/2003 Whitey Bulger Still One of America's Most Wanted

10/14/2003 Mobster Pleads Guilty To Racketeering Charges Related To Murders

10/17/2003 Extradition Hearing Of Former Agent Charged In Murder Postponed

10/9/2003 Former Boston FBI Agent Arrested In Connection With 1981 Murder

10/20/2003 Oklahoma's Death Row Helps Break Mob Kingpin

10/21/2003 Paul Rico Extradition Hearing Postponed; New Request For Medical Care

12/5/2003 Ex-FBI Agent Charged In Oklahoma With Mob Slaying To Be Extradited From Florida

12/10/2003 Paul Rico Remains In A Florida Jail

12/24/2003 Paul Rico's Attorney Seeks Mental Evaluation For His Client

1/10/2004 Attorney: Ex World Jai Alai Security Chief Is Now 'Helpless'

1/14/2004 Former FBI Agent Appears In Tulsa County Court On Murder Charge

1/27/2004 Boston Mobster Sentenced Tuesday For Killing Tulsa Businessman Roger Wheeler

9/30/2004 Boston Gangster Sentenced In Tulsa To Life In Prison

11/1/2004 Daughter Wants Investigation Into Father's Death

5/19/2005 Flemmi: Mobsters Paid Off FBI Agents
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