Is Whitey Bulger Southern California's famous “Geezer Bandit” bank robber?

The notorious Boston mob boss portrayed by Jack Nicholson in The Departed did allegedly have $800,000 in cash stashed in his rent-controlled Santa Monica pad when the authorities finally tracked him down after years being one of the FBI's most wanted men.

It certainly appears to be an angle the FBI is looking at:

“It has been suggested,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller. “The Geezer Bandit is still being sought.”

Possible clues:

-Bulger is around 5 feet, 8 inches tall. The Geezer is described as 5-10 plus.

-They both appear to be old white men.

-The Geezer is believed to have hit banks from San Diego to Bakersfield and beyond, making Santa Monica a potentially central base for such a suspect.

-Speculation on Bulger's possible role as the Geezer goes back to 2006, way before we even knew he was in SoCal for sure.

But, Eimiller notes this fact:

“He (the Geezer) is believed to be wearing a mask so its not necessarily confirmed it is an elderly person.”

Still, where did all that cash allegedly in Bulger's possession come from? Old proceeds from Boston?

The FBI in Boston wouldn't comment, stating that Bulger's case is now in the hands of prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney's office.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

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