More than 30 years after he led mob violence in South Boston, and after 16 years on the lam, the infamous James "Whitey" Bulger could be permanently off the streets. A jury found him guilty of 11 murders.

It’s been so long since James “Whitey” Bulger wandered the streets of South Boston, many who live here now never knew him. Still, some express emotional relief.

“I think the jury did their job," said resident Peggy Kelly. "For the victims, you know there’s no price to give them back their life. I just wish them all the best."

Kelly is wiping down the bar at Murphy’s Law, a popular watering hole in Southie. She knows several family members of victims.

"It's one thing to watch it in the movies or in something that comes out of Hollywood," she said. "But to live it in real life, it's not fun, it's not glamorous, it's despicable."

Aside from the murders, Bulger was also found guilty of extortion. He held the owner of a local liquor store at gunpoint in 1984, forcing the sale of the business. Bulger used it as a headquarters for his gang.

“I knew him a long time ago but the verdict is the verdict," said Noreen Donahue. "He’s old. He worked here, he had the store here. I knew all about him but I was just a young kid and I used to go to the store.”

Donahue's neighbor, Robert, feels more strongly. He’s happy to know Bulger will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

"That's what he deserves," Robert said. "He's nothing but a scumbag. Whitey always picked on the weak. He's nothing but a punk, and he got what he deserves."

Robert says Southie feels safer with Bulger behind bars.

“Southie’s safe," he said. "Southie’s very safe. It’s a good neighborhood. I never let him persuade me or make me do anything I didn’t want to do.”

The former owner of that liquor store – Stephen Rakes - was found dead last month. His death has not been linked to the Bulger trial. But there’s still intrigue. A woman named Shondra, who lives a block away, says even though Bulger is 83 years old, she wonders about his influence.

“At his age … I don’t know how much safer it could be," she said. "Unless he can order from jail, hits. See, that’s the thing. I think he still has something left. I think he has more people.”

He does have an attorney, J.W. Carney, who says Bulger intends to appeal the case.