OCALA, Fla. – An Ocala man charged with the murder of a former Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger will stay in jail until his trial.
Sean McKinnon, 36, was arrested in Ocala last Thursday.
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According to a federal indictment, investigators accused McKinnon and two others in beating Bulger, 89, to death at a West Virginia federal prison in 2018.
McKinnon is charged with making false statements to a federal agent and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
During a detention hearing at the federal courthouse in Ocala on Monday, McKinnon’s defense attorney argued that his client should be allowed to post bond and be released from jail.
The federal magistrate ruled against him, arguing keeping him in jail will keep the community safe and guarantee his appearance at future court hearings.
According to court records, McKinnon will be transferred to West Virginia to face the federal charges.
McKinnon was on a federal supervised release at the time of the indictment and was arrested Thursday by FBI agents in Ocala, according to FBI Jacksonville Public Affairs Officer Amanda Videll.
Bulger was serving a life sentence during his incarceration at USP Hazleton following a conviction in 2013 for a multitude of crimes, including 11 murders. He was one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives for 16 years before his arrest in 2011.
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