Former FBI Official Tells of Mob’s Bribes

A former FBI supervisor testified Thursday that he took bribes of wine and cash that retired Agent John J. Connolly delivered to him from top-ranking mob informers.

John Morris, Connolly’s boss when he handled James J. “Whitey” Bulger and Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi, took the stand on the second day of Connolly’s trial on charges of racketeering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.

“In the past I’ve lied to stay out of trouble,” said Morris, who has pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe and was given immunity to testify. “The only way I can stay out of trouble since the immunity order is to tell the truth.”

Morris said Connolly twice gave him cases of fine wine that he indicated were gifts from the gangsters.

One time, he said Connolly “told me to be careful with the case, because there was something special in the bottom”--an envelope with $1,000 in cash.

After a 1986 meeting, Morris said Bulger handed him an envelope with $5,000 in cash, saying: “This is for you.” His voice choking with emotion, Morris said he used the money to buy his daughter a car.

Morris said the relationship with the mob informants soured in 1995 after he leaked Bulger’s identity as an FBI informant to the media. Bulger called shortly after.

“He told me I had taken money from him. If he went to jail I was going with him,” Morris said. “I was fearful of the repercussions against me professionally--that I would lose my job, lose my pension, disgrace myself, embarrass the bureau.”

Prosecutors charge that Connolly accepted gifts from Bulger and Flemmi and, in exchange, gave them confidential information that helped them avoid prosecution--and led to at least two murders.

Connolly’s defense attorneys say he became the fall guy when the FBI’s too-cozy relationship with the mob was exposed.