Possible plea deal for Bulger's girlfriend

BOSTON (WHDH) -- Federal prosecutors are talking about a possible plea deal for James “Whitey” Bulger’s longtime girlfriend, Catherine Greig.

The possible deal for Greig will be put into play next week.

“I think they want to try a guilty plea with the government,” Steven Davis said.

Steven Davis's sister, Debra, was one of 19 people allegedly murdered by Bulger. Davis received a phone call Friday afternoon from federal officials, saying Catherine Greig may be pleading guilty next week.

Davis says he’s fine with any plea, because it gets Greig’s case out of the way.

“I think it’d be to the government’s best because with her in the picture, we’re losing focus on Whitey. And that’s the fish we want to fry,” Davis said.

Bulger was captured with Greig last summer in an apartment in Southern California apartment. Greig is charged with conspiracy to harbor a fugitive -- a crime with a maximum penalty of five years in prison, if convicted.

“If it’s a guilty plea, how much more can we ask for? We can’t crucify her over it,” Davis said.

Federal prosecutors have painted Greig as an active participant in joint efforts with Bulger -- helping to conceal his identity for more than 16 years.

Davis says Friday’s phone call came as a surprise. He says he'd be even more shocked if Greig agrees to testify against Bulger in his trial, but Davis says he'd welcome that testimony.

“I think she’d have a lot to say, but I don’t think in our lifetime we’ll ever see that,” Davis said.

Greig could enter the plea deal as early as next Wednesday.

(Copyright (c) 2012 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)