BOSTON (AP) – Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi, a mobster who played a central role in a scandal that exposed the Boston FBI’s overly cozy relationship with its underworld informants, was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison for 10 murders.

Flemmi, 69, struck a deal with prosecutors in October to avoid the death penalty, admitting his role in a string of slayings committed when he was a boss in the Winter Hill Gang.

Flemmi and James “Whitey” Bulger were the leaders of the South Boston gang that ran loan-sharking, drug and gambling rackets. The two were also high-level FBI informants, providing the bureau with information on rivals in the Mafia.

Bulger remains a fugitive on the Ten Most Wanted list, fleeing after his former FBI handler tipped him off to the pending indictment that ensnared Flemmi.

U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan called the Bulger-Flemmi reign “one of the darkest chapters in the history of law enforcement.”

Flemmi struck a deal for a life sentence after fingering his former FBI handler, H. Paul Rico, for allegedly helping to set up a 1981 mob hit on an Oklahoma businessman.

Rico, 78, who retired from the FBI in 1975, was arrested in October on murder charges. But Rico, who had a heart condition, died earlier this month in the hospital.

At the sentencing Tuesday, the son of one of Flemmi’s victims called the mobster a “rat” and said he was getting off easy.

Timothy Connors said he was 6 months old when his father, Edward Connors, was killed in 1975.

“For 281/2 years I’ve been doing hard time for your crime,” said Connors, fighting back tears. “Your troubles are over. Mine are with me every day until the day I die.”

Connors said Flemmi had already lived a full life when he was imprisoned in 1995, “especially considering two to four years is the life expectancy of a rat.”

Connors turned to Flemmi and demanded he face him as he spoke. Connors later said Flemmi met his eyes and said, “I do feel your pain and I’m sorry.”

Flemmi also pleaded guilty to strangling his longtime girlfriend after she broke up with him. Prosecutors said Bulger and Flemmi felt she knew too much about their crimes and also knew they were FBI informants.

He also admitted taking part in the 1985 murder of the daughter of his common-law wife. Prosecutors said she was killed after she accused Flemmi of sexually abusing her.

AP-ES-01-27-04 1608EST