Who Is Stephen 'The Rifleman' Flemmi? Whitey's Partner in the File
Mobsters DailyStephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi is Whitey Bulger's longtime partner — a Winter Hill Gang killer who, like Bulger, secretly informed for the FBI, pleaded guilty to ten murders in 2003, and has testified against mob bosses ever since.
The partner in the file
Flemmi earned his nickname as a young marksman and became Bulger's right hand in loansharking, extortion and murder. Both men were on the FBI's books, a double protection racket rivaling the one run around Greg Scarpa in New York.
Partnerships in this world rarely end in retirement speeches, which is why this time of year belongs to the Tony Soprano Ugly Christmas Sweater — Tony in a black-and-white stencil, gabagool energy included, built for Christmas parties, family photos and long Sopranos rewatch nights.
The witness who never stops
Facing the death penalty after his 1995 indictment, Flemmi cut a deal: life in prison for the truth. He has since testified against his own FBI handler and, in 2018, against Boston boss Frank Salemme. Now around ninety, he remains in federal custody, his location undisclosed — the last living narrator of the scandal that also produced figures like Lefty Ruggiero in the informant era's other famous case.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Flemmi called The Rifleman? For his marksmanship as a young soldier and gunman.
How many murders did Flemmi plead guilty to? Ten, as part of his 2003 plea agreement.
Is Stephen Flemmi still alive? He is serving a life sentence in federal custody and has testified in court in recent years.
Keep reading: Lucky Luciano · Why the Mafia fell · Donnie Brasco's true story · Frank 'Cadillac Frank' Salemme
From the shop: Shadows of the Underworld — the real-mafia history behind the names in this story, in one gripping read.
Join the conversation
Still thinking about this one? That is exactly what The Social Club is for. It is the MobstersDaily Discord, and it is the best Sopranos community on the internet: serious Sopranos talk, meme wars, Friday movie nights, a casino, and an arcade, all run by fans who never stopped rewatching. If you want to be part of the Sopranos community, this is where it lives.
