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2 plead not guilty in Mass. extortion attempt case

By Denise Lavoie
Published June 8, 2012 11:46pm ET
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2 plead not guilty in Mass. extortion attempt case
Howard "Howie" Winter, left and James Melvin listen during their arraignment at Somerville District Court on Friday, June 8, 2012 in Somerville, Mass. Winter, 83, and Melvin, 70, were arrested Thursday after authorities said they tried over several months to extort $35,000 from each of two men who had arranged a $100,000 loan for a third man. Both men pleaded not guilty to attempted extortion and conspiracy charges. Winter is the former head of the Winter Hill Gang, that was later run by James "Whitey" Bulger. (AP Photo/The Boston Globe, Jonathan Wiggs, Pool) | Jonathan Wiggs

SOMERVILLE, Mass. (AP) — Howie Winter, the 83-year-old former head of a Boston-area gang that was later run by James “Whitey” Bulger, pleaded not guilty Friday to attempted extortion and conspiracy charges.

Winter and co-defendant James Melvin, 70, were arrested Thursday after authorities said they tried over several months to extort $35,000 from each of two men who had arranged a $100,000 loan for a third man.

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