BOSTON (WPRI) – A retired FBI agent – accused of committing perjury during the James “Whitey” Bulger trial – has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Robert Fitzpatrick, 76, of Charlestown R.I., was charged with six counts of perjury and six counts of obstruction of justice last April.
At Bulger’s trial in 2013, Fitzpatrick said he attempted to end the FBI’s relationship as an informant with the South Boston mobster. Fitzpatrick testified Bulger wasn’t providing any useful information to the agency and he was concerned the gangster was still committing crimes.
In the indictment against Fitzpatrick, prosecutors said he exaggerated his role in an attempt to boost sales of a book he wrote about Bulger.
Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty to the charges last year.
On Tuesday both sides filed a request for a change of plea hearing stating “the parties have reached an agreement in principle to resolve this case.”
“In light of the agreement that has been reached, the parties respectfully request that the Court cancel all remaining pretrial deadlines,” according to the court filing.
The trial was set for June 13.
It’s unclear what the details of the plea agreement are yet. Fitzpatrick is set to appear in Boston federal court on May 5.
Fitzpatrick gave an interview to Target 12 prior to the Bulger trial:
Tim White ( twhite@wpri.com ) is the Target 12 investigative reporter for WPRI 12 and Fox Providence. Follow him on Twitter: @TimWhiteRI
