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.