Bidding For Whitey Bulger Prison Jumpsuit Starts At $25K
PEABODY (CBS) -- What's an orange jumpsuit allegedly worn by Whitey Bulger worth?
One local memorabilia dealer is hoping someone will shell out $100,000 for the one-of-a-kind item.
Interest in all things Whitey is at a fever pitch thanks to the newly released movie "Black Mass." The bidding is already up to $25,000 for the garment, which is said to have been worn by the notorious Boston gangster when he was convicted in 2013.
Phil Castinetti, owner of Sportsworld in Peabody, says an ex-cellmate of Bulger brought it in to the store when he was released from prison. It has Bulger's signature on it, as well as his prison ID number.
"Whitey told him to do the right thing, get a good start back on your life," Castinetti told WBZ-TV Monday night.
Castinetti said he doesn't have any reservations about auctioning something once belonging to someone responsible for so much suffering.
"I don't agree with everything that he did, but I'm in the business of memorabilia," he said. "If I don't do something with it, someone else will."
The Plymouth County Sheriff is questioning the authenticity of the jumpsuit.
Sheriff Joseph McDonald says Bulger never had a cellmate during his stay, and he finds it deplorable that someone would attempt to profit financially from Bulger or his crimes.
The sheriff also says the mobster never used the prison ID number used on the jumpsuit.
The phone auction runs until Oct. 4, and prospective bidders can call 1.781.233.7222